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Fiascos and Fixes
Consumer reporter and ombudsman columnist
On their recent Alaskan adventure, a Tennessee couple spent $1,850 on an engraved mammoth tusk to commemorate the trip. But by the time United Parcel Service delivered the delicate artwork to their home, it was smashed. Even worse, UPS quickly denied all responsibility and rejected the insurance claim. Now what?
Ron Samborsky and his family were on their way to Europe to board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway… until they weren’t. After American Airlines canceled their flight and offered no replacement until the next day, the trip was in serious jeopardy.
Then a scammer stepped in to save the day.
A Florida couple missed their much-anticipated Princess cruise after a flight delay caused them to miss their connection to Australia. However, that’s not the worst part of this story – not by a long shot. The real shock came when the stunned duo learned the fate of the $21,000 they spent on the 41-day sailing aboard Crown Princess.
According to their travel insurance company, the couple would receive just $1,000 for their missed cruise.
An Airbnb guest planned a trip to Las Vegas. She was not anticipating that her biggest gamble would be on her Airbnb rental. Unfortunately, this thoroughly unsatisfactory illegal Airbnb rental in Sin City was anything but a winner, and now Mary wants a complete refund.
Can we help?
Would a car rental company permanently ban a customer and offer no way back – ever? Joseph H. learned firsthand that when Hertz tells you it will never rent to you again, it means forever.
A shady Airbnb host charged former guests of his Parisian vacation rental $3,500 for a coffee stain. But even more shocking than that outrageous payment request was Airbnb’s response to it.
Despite the host having no evidence of damages to his vacation rental, Airbnb approved his claim.
Fake Carnival Cruise Line customer service centers are scamming passengers into giving away their personal information and money. Here’s how to spot these bad actors — and protect your vacation dollars.
Two Carnival Cruise Line passengers missed their cruise because of a traffic accident on the way to the port. Now they are wondering how to get their full refund.
But are they owed anything?
That’s the question for today.
Two more cruise ship passengers say they’ve been scammed during port stops in Nassau, Bahamas. However, the remarkably similar details shared by each of these solo travelers may leave you scratching your head.
Are there dangerous schemes lurking in beauty shops along Bay Street, or are these simply cases of extreme buyer’s remorse?
You decide.
Here are the latest cruise ship passengers to report their unpleasant experiences after accepting free facials in Nassau.
American Airlines passenger and frequent traveler June Lee recently checked his sturdy aluminum suitcase on a cross-country flight. Although Lee’s much-loved 2-year-old designer bag had successfully weathered many trips worldwide, it would not survive this journey.
When American Airlines reunited Lee with the $1,700 suitcase at baggage claim in New York, it was destroyed. In fact, the luggage looked like it had been run over by an aircraft instead of transported inside one.
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© 2025 Consumer Rescue / Michelle Couch-Friedman
