Hotwire.com - paid for ticket which wasn't received, unable to get refund

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on March 15, 2002:

From: Email User

Hotwire.com - paid for ticket which wasn't received, unable to get refund

HERE'S MY STORY: ON 10/01/01 WE DECIDED TO TRY AND GET AIRLINE TICKETS FROM "HOTWIRE.COM". IN ORDER TO MAKE A RESERVATION YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM A CREDIT CARD FIRST, BEFORE THEY WILL TALK TO YOU.

THEY MADE A RESERVATION FOR US, BUT DIDN'T MEET UP TO OUR TIME. I CALLED FIRST TO TRY AND CHANGE THE RESERVATION AND THEN MY WIFE TRIED FOR A HALF HOUR. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE RESERVATION GOES TO THE AIRLINES AUTOMATICALLY (WHICH IS A LIE). THEY SAID IT WOULD BE UP TO THE AIRLINES.

I CALLED THE AIRLINES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED A RESERVATION (WHICH WAS ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER), SO I TOLD THEM I DO NOT WANT ONE EITHER ( SO I THOUGHT THE RESERVATION WAS CANCELED). WHEN I GOT MY CREDIT CARD STATEMENT THE CHARGE FOR $714.00 WAS STILL ON THERE.

I CONTACTED MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND THEY HAVE BEEN OPENING AND CLOSING MY CASE. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO HELP ME. HOTWIRE TOLD MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY THAT I NEVER CONTACTED THEM TO RESOLVE THIS ( WHICH WAS THE SECOND LIE). I NEVER RECEIVED ANY ITINERARY OR TICKETS IN THE MAIL, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF.

PLEASE HELP ME, BECAUSE $714.00 IS A LOT TO PAY FOR NOTHING. WOULD YOU PAY FOR SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE OR USE? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME,

MIKE LANDIE