There’s Always a Catch 22.

More and more, I’m reading about travelers—be it for business or pleasure—getting ripped off. And sometimes that means big bucks.

 For instance, what if something mechanical goes wrong with a rental car while you’re driving it? I understand and agree that a rental car company can hold me responsible for fixing the dent if I back into a parking meter. But what if the clutch fails? You may very well get a whopping bill for a new one, but the clutch shouldn’t fail! And if it does, how is that your fault?
 
What really rankles me is when the consumer gets screwed on a technicality.
 
Case in point: last summer a group of migrant workers blocked the entrance to the tunnel on the French side of the English Channel. I was on a Eurostar train heading for London when the trouble broke out and we returned to Paris. Unfortunately, that caused me to be a no-show for that night at a London hotel. Ka-ching! I had reserved the room with my credit card and they charged me for that night’s lodging.
 
I have no quarrel with that. Those were the conditions. Besides, I had travel insurance. After I got home, I filed a claim for the $280 the London hotel charged my credit card.
 
Claim denied.
 
Huh? Why? Because, said the representative of the insurance company, it was a “demonstration” that caused me to be a no-show at the London hotel and the policy I bought does not cover loss incurred as the result of demonstrations.
 
Then she added insult to injury by informing me that the policy does cover “disruptions”.
 
So I’m out $280, because the disruption (covered) was caused by a demonstration (not covered). Go figure!