= . ---€6-Wednesday, September 10, 1980 - North Shore News WARNING! TAKE CARE! I just got “shafted” by the Visa (Chargex) people and I'd like all readers to take warning. No, it didn’t cost me any money BUT it left me with a red face and a shortage of cash. When Mother and I checked into the Howard Johnson Hotel in Manhattan 1 handed them mine - un- derlining the fact that this card would not be used to pay our eight-day stay. We intended to pay cash. My Visa card is still suffering from the effects of Fiji and Australia - plus a collection of back-to-school stuff for the kids. Anyhow. the $750 limit which I allow myself was used-up to the - tune of about $400. Knowing that the account was fully paid and therefore a sound credit risk, I charged - or TRIED TO CHARGE - $70 worth of clothing for the kids to be split between Mom and I as gifts. (No, Canada Customs! I really was buying only the shirts while Mom brought back the skirts). The clerk phoned the Visa center - although she really shouldn’t have bothered (amount under $75) but she was new and scared and wanted to be sure of any purchase to “foreigners”. To my horror, my Visa card was refused. Our travellers’ cheques were firmly locked in the safety deposit box at the hotel - except the $100 we kept with us for expenses. It was Saturday afternoon. We were heading to the theatre (tickets, luckily, already purchased). We used our cash to pay for the .presents, left ourselves dangerously short of money and carried on. I'm sure that WAIKIKI *°419 8 Days, 7 Nights, Aw & Hote! WAIKIKI 9 *429 15 Days. 14 Nignts Aw & Hotel LAS VEGAS *219 5 Days 4 Nights As & Note: RENO 4219 5 Days 4 Nights Aw & Hore: RENO '299 @ Daya / Nights Ak & Hote: 1666 Robson Street 10607 K. Geo. Hwy. Surrey 689-7117 Reg. Travel Agent No. 167-3 the store operator thought that we were two credit risks out to storm New York on a buying binge. All through the play (Children of a Lesser God, which is excellent) I couldn't by Barbara McCreadie concentrate. What in hell had gone wrong with my perfectly good Visa card? Why was I, a sound citizen, denied credit in New York when Canda thinks I’m safe enough to carry a “Key Account” card? Why did it all have to happen on a Saturday afternoon when banks are closed, the Visa center is manned by a small staff and --- Why? on my last day in New Y ork! As I sat. through the NOW ON YOUR LOCAL NEWS STAND matinee, the light began to dawn! The Howard Johnson Hotel! They had FROZEN my Visa card for the payment of our hotel room. Sure enough. When I returned to the hotel, they admitted that this had been done, despite the fact that I had told them that we in- tended to pay cash. Despite the fact that we had a fat bundle of travellers’ cheques in the hotel safe. Despite the fact that I hadn’t SIGNED THE VOUCHER! Still, they had the power to freeze my account. At this point I got mad. The Visa center assured me that it was highly irregular (Oh yeah?) and shouldn't have been done. They reversed the process. How nice of them - it would take until Wednesday! At this point I started yelling. It had better not take until Wednesday! The hotel blamed Visa and Visa blamed the hotel. Visa suggested I phone the Visa center in Vancouver to get the whole thing cleared up immediately. I suggested they do it themselves. No way. There was no-one who wanted, on a weekend, to take the responsibility of a long distance phone call. They were quite convinced that I'd bear the costs just to make up for their corporate goofs. YOU'LL BE PROUD OF ME! I explained to them in words of small syllables that this time they picked the onwith the: ommplaments of your boda! gown retailer VANCOUVER LADY EVE HOUSE OF BRIDES SR44 Camtie St 444 Seymour St Seven Seas Floating Seafood Restaurant Paeve tela atic Oba wos has more Than GO tempting ou savervgrbe coans vevebin cheaadly gree geared Seated aed vEve Veabrovey steak area Wittens earn we eS Nave Neve we aboard ship on an atmosphere thal Larmous leash seat the bers cba beeen feapevy vanet area trast why net treoaradd the Sea Baas tn and when Vou do col Vaan ase anneal cvcrad trate t Sadrverbees tare bye cornea beavers Gartobe oteadl vot fasee oot meat dishes arabe un the bouey Norby Naan otel freezes credit-traveller gets wrong lady. Apparently I could be heard clear across the lobby of the hotel although I think a friend’s. estimate of the third floor was slightly exaggerated. In the end, the hotel phoned Vancouver and my _.Who needs to be told that burnt The thing that hurt the worst was the total em- barrassment at the shop passport ph you're a poor credit risk? In front of other customers? NOT ME! oTos hile you wait North Shore Darkroom 1527 Lonsdale 988-9813, card got cleared. Don't think it can’t happen to you. I’ve just proven that it can. Don't accept the “pass the buck” syndrome between the hotel and the Visa center. YELL! If I'd been scared enough, I'd have picked up a phone bill for twelve (or fifteen) dollars to get the thing straightened out. Wouldn't I have been the world’s biggest Grade-A fool? Lend a hand v ™ Keep Canada Beautiful JENN-AIR Mwai * BUY THE PAIR! Sept. 22, 8pm Piaza international North Vancouver Invitation You are cordially invited to a film Presentation on the Caribbean. For tickets visit P. Lawson Travel Park Royal North Mall SUPER SALE NEVER AGAIN WILL YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A JENN-AIR COUNTERTOP GRILL-RANGE AND A JENN-AIR CONVECTED WALL OVEN , AT THESE PRICES. DURING OUR ANNUAL SHOWROOM CLEARANCE | OUR PRICES ARE EXCEPTIONAL. SPECIAL INCLUDES: {Jenn-Air model 89890C single side convertible Counter-top Grill-Range sand model 800181C Convected Wall Oven. * TRY OURSALE * PRICES ON JENN-AIR @R lon 4 & ACCESSORIES |<" 3 Switch up to JENN AIR, The Range That Breathes * After P.N.E. Specials x Get them while they last Limited Quantities ALSO SPECIAL PRICES ON JENN-AIR NZ NSN GRILL RANGES POLYMAR anchored post ment hoor boot ot b onsadabe Ax 987-3344 recommended KITCHENS & BATHROOMS 156 W. 3rd St:. N.V. 986-3111 or 987-5012 ‘*North Shore’s finest Kitchen & Bathroom Speclialist’’ Lasts of tree parhang Maene OC a beoeym Ne evevaghy (Open typo Mircheveaghyt C homed Marnalag s