Complain about a product or service

Orbitz - MWI

Orbitz • Air travel • Hotels • Minors • MWI charges • Unauthorized charges --- News • Orbitz Takes Top Spot in J.D. Power Study

You would think a company as well-capitalized as Orbitz wouldn't need to associate itself with MWI, the odious negative option scheme. Obviously, Orbitz doesn't see it that way. Fine but Orbitz ought to think about how much repeat business it's losing from angry customers like those below.

Edie of Sandy Hook CT (7/19/04):
In checking my Mastercard bill I found a charge for $9.95. I called the telephone number on my statement and spoke to a Sabrina, she told me Orbitz signed me up for a connections program and I had to call Orbitz. I called Them and spoke to a David who could not tell me much of anything and told me to call back to connections. I checked my statments and found I was also charged for the past two months also. No one could tell me what I got for 9.95 a month. They did cancel my subscription to get nothing.

I am out $29.85 and no one will reimburse me. I suggest that anyone foolish enough to use Orbitz check the crdit card that they used.

Pascual of Owens Cross Roads AL (6/19/04):
I ordered a ticket via the Orbitz web site and it trigerred a monthly charge of 9.95 on my credit card in two months so far. I immediately called MWI and they told me that the charge would be reversed in 7 to 10 days. I also called and reported it to American Express. The issue is that Orbitz should never release my credit card info.

Ismail of Austin TX (5/24/04):
Purchased ticket from Orbitz, they popped up $10 discount, I clicked, and there was no way to get out. I called them 5 months ago, and they are still charging me. I stil could not get off their list. The only way is to cancel my credit card so they can not charge again, and NEVER to shop from Orbitz. They are affiliated with those xxxxxxx, so be careful!

Paul of Marietta GA (5/12/04):
On December 8, 2003, I purchased an airline ticket on the Orbitz website. Upon review of my bank statement this past month, I noticed a charge for $9.95 from MWI Membership. Since I knew I had never purchased any memberships, I had my bank do a review on this withdrawal. Upon completion of their investigation on this withdrawl, they realized this withdrawal has been made on a monthly basis since January of 2004.

I contacted MWI and was transferred to an Orbitz representative that proceeded to tell me that I had signed up for this membership. I am fully aware that this never occurred. I requested that I be refunded the entire amount that was illegally withdrawn from my bank account without my consent or notification. I am very angry about this violation of my privacy and my credit card information being obtained in an illegal manner. I wish to have my money refunded and peace of mind that this is not occurring with other indiviuals innocently trying to purchase an airline ticket over the internet.

I have had $9.95 withdrawn from my account for the past 5 months. The total is $49.75 plus the loss of interest that I earn from my checking account.

Kathleen of Ann Arbor MI explains how it works (1/13/04):
ORBITZ is supplying credit card information to an "affiliate" company called MWI*Connection. MWI*Connection is a "discount entertainment membership service," which collects a monthly fee, automatically billed to your credit card. MWI*Connection is just one name that this company uses. In all, according to a MWI*Connection representative, there are about 30 different membership "services."

I got suckered into the scam after booking a reservation through ORBITZ. On completing my reservation, I was notified through the ORBITZ site that I was eligible for a $10.00 credit. When I tried to claim my $10.00 credit, I realized that this was actually an enrollment scam for a membership in a "discount entertainment service." With no option to cancel the "transaction," I closed the window.

As a result, two charges have appeared on my credit card in the amount of $9.95. I made two calls to ORBITZ. In the first call, I was told that ORBITZ does not supply credit card information to anyone. I was also told, in response to my questions, that MWI*Connection is not an ORBITZ company. After a call to MWI*Connection confirmed that ORBITZ did supply my personal information and credit card number, I called Orbitz again. On the second call, an ORBITZ customer care person confirmed that they had supplied the information to MWI*Connection and in fact, MWI*Connection is an ORBITZ "affiliated" company.

Steve of The Woodlands TX (4/8/04):
I was duped by Orbitz. I agreed to a $10 credit on my next travel purchase with them. Well guess what, the lengthy terms and conditions disclaimer that I clicked OK to basically gave Orbitz the right to send my credit card information to MWI Connections (a subsidiary of MemberWorks). My credit card was charged $9.95 and was considered a 'continuous' charge according to my Credit Card Bank. Now, how scary is that.

I've had the charge reversed with my CC Bank and cancelled the subscription (over the phone) with Connections. Although, according to your site that might not be enough. I have informed Orbitz customer service that I will never do business with them again and deleted my CC information on their website. I learned my lesson.

Stewart of Hoffman Estates IL (3/25/04):
I too was a victim of MWI Connections. They got me for three months and $9.95 each time. I will say that my money was promptly refunded when I called the phone number listed for them on my credit card bill. As a precaution I obtained a new credit card. What shocked me the most was that MWI received my credit card information from Orbitz. I have not used Orbitz since and complained to them about it. I never signed up for MWI, I don't even know what they pretend to offer, but never received anything, not even an email, for my so-called membership.

Igor of Lake Wylie SC (2/6/04):
I noticed recently a $9.95 direct charge on my credit card account from MWI Connections. This is the third time. I had never heard before of MWI or done any business with them. But I had been used ORBITZ service on-line. So, without my knowledge or authorization, Orbitz gave my credit card info to MWI Connections and they charge on my family credit card every month. At this point I have to cancel the Orbitz service which I was using lota of timea.

Deependra Singh of Elmwood Park NJ (2/2/04):
I took a flight ticket through Orbitz.com. After some time i realized that MWI Connections had charged 9.95 on my card. I have been calling and telling them to cancel my account for the last 4 months but each time they tell me that the account has been cancelled and next month they again charge me. I am sick of this. This time they were not even listening to complaint, the customer service was busy telling all the benifits of being a Connections member. I talked to Orbitz also and they are telling me that Orbitz is no way related to MWi connections. I am asking for refunds for last 3 months but nothing seems to bother them.

Christy of Tyler TX (1/20/04):
A mysterious charge was on my account and come to find out it was from MWI Connections. I have never done any business with them. But I did do business with Orbitz in Dec. What is a person supposed to do?

Linda of Sausalito CA (1/15/04):
Much like the other complaints listed on your website, I, too, was a victim of Orbitz' sale of my personal information, including my credit card number. When I contacted both Connections and Orbitz, they pointed the fingers at each other. Connections said I had authorized them to start my membership by purchasing something on Orbitz and Orbitz claimed that Connections is some kind of hacker pop-up program that seizes the information without their knowledge.

I contacted my local D.A.'s office and suggest everyone do the same. The only way to stop this type of odious behavior of online companies is to hit them where it hurts, through legal channels and their pocketbook.

Yuli of New York NY (1/12/04):
In my last 2 bank statements I noticed a direct charge from MWI Connections for $9.95. I never gave them authorization for that and I had never heard of MWI before. Now, I had read a lot of bad news about MWI, I think it is a violation of privacy, and if Orbitz is the company who give them the information about credit card, Orbitz have to do something with that and refund the money.

Joanna of Iowa City IA (1/6/04):
I noticed a fee on my credit card that was not authorized. When calling the company, they said they are a discount service that I signed up for through Orbitz.com. I never gave this company any personal information, and never authorized payment withdrawl from my credit card, I have never heard of them. When I called the company I was asked if I received my membership package. I had not received a membership package. They have been charging me since Sept. 8, 2003, and I have seen nothing from them. I canceled my membership and am filing a dispute with my credit card company. I also wrote Orbitz to let them know about this business. I am awaiting reply from them.

Shayle of Portland OR (1/5/04):
I recently noticed a $9.95 direct charge on my debit account from MWI Connections. Apparently this is the second charge. I had never heard of MWI before so I did a search on the internet. The most related sites were three different webpages on consumer fraud and rip-offs. I found 6 different phone #'s I called to find out where this charge was coming from. LOng story short - they said when we bought an airline ticket through Orbitz we were enrolled in this membership (Which by the way we have never received any info on, only billed for it).

Orbitz apparently gave our info to this MWI who uses a negative response trick to sign you up. They sent as an email which we saw as junk and deleted it. By not responding to it we were supposedly giving them the ok. Both companies are at fault here. I have read a lot of bad new about MWI, but I think Orbitz needs to be seen as a factor in this problem as well. Giving out our information, INCLUDING or CREDIT CARD # is unbelievable, when it says that"s the kind of thing they don't do.

"F" of Hudson OH (12/12/03):
Without my knowledge or authorization, Orbitz gave my credit card info to MWI Connections and they charged my card several times. Received no goods or services of any type. Pure unadulterated credit card fraud.

William of Boston (10/31/03):
Orbitz.com released my credit card and expiration date to a third party in direct violation of their privacy policy. About four weeks ago I booked a hotel through Orbitz.com for a long weekend in Paris. Yesterday, I found a charge on my credit card from a company called MWI Connections. I have never done any business with them.

What I found out about MWI Connections is not good. They are a subscription service. They have a reputation of charging people for subscriptions and services never ordered. Orbits either released my credit card with the expiration date to MWI Connections or they enrolled me into some subscription program without permission and charged my credit card for this.

MWI • Consumer complaints • Act fast! • It adds up • Who did it? • Lightning strikes twice • What to do • Sample letter --- • Vertrue - the parent • An insider's view --- News • MWI Will Pay $1 Million to Settle Florida Suit • Minnesota Sues MemberWorks

I discovered today at my gym, that a member had a recent similar experience. He booked flights with Orbitz and about two months later started get subscriptions to magazines he never ordered.

The econimic impact was minimal to me. But I experienced credit card fraud two years ago, so I am sensitive to this. This is scary, because they are releasing financial information, my credit card, to a company I do not have any relationship with. Then I am getting charged by them. Orbitz and MWI Connections are probably getting away with this because the amounts carged are small.

Jason of Oklahoma City (8/25/03):
After checking my bank statement I noticed a pre-auth for a debit of $9.95 from a company called MWI Connections. I have not heard of this company before at all. I called the company and spoke to a customer service person who asked me for my details etc. I asked her what the company was and why I have been charged. I was told that I joined Connections through Orbitz and that was the monthly membership fee.

I had used Orbitz to purchase an airline ticket a month earlier but had not given any credit card details or approval to be charged this fee or join this company. After questioning this charge the person asked if I had received my membership pack, which I had not. She apologised and said she would send it out and it would be there in 7-10 days.

At this point I asked to cancel this service I had not asked for and to remove the charge. I was just offered a reduced membership fee until I finally had to be stern to make her cancel it. I'm waiting to see if the charge will be cancelled.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top | Travel Agencies