Passenger Trains > Girl Scouts troop fights for $3,000 refund from Amtrak

Girl Scouts troop fights for $3,000 refund from Amtrak
By WPTV - Staff
Published: Jan. 19, 2023

A Girl Scouts troop from Palm Beach Gardens said it's still waiting on a refund from Amtrak nearly seven months later.

Their trip to Savannah, Georgia, in June of last year got off on the wrong track from the start.

"Hours upon hours go by. At this point, the train never showed up," said troop leader Ebonie Taylor.

Taylor said Amtrak couldn't tell her exactly when the train would pull into the downtown West Palm Beach station. She said the ticket agent told her the delay was heat-related and could have something to do with the safety of the train tracks.

This delay was on top of another one that morning in which Amtrak alerted the group by phone before they got to the station.

Since the girls had plans early the next day and reservations, the group made the decision to ditch Amtrak and drive more than six hours to Georgia.

Some families had to rent a vehicle. Some hadn't budgeted for gas prices, which were at a premium during the summer of 2021.

Fast-forward and the troop leader and parents said they are still waiting for a more than $3,000 refund Amtrak assured them wouldn't be a problem before they left the West Palm Beach station.

The Girl Scouts troop raised the money through car washes and cookie sales.

"We've come to you and followed the guidelines you had set for this situation like this and you're not doing your part," said Andrea Vest.

Vest has two children in Girl Scouts Troop 24307.

Taylor said she has sent correspondence and copies of their train ticket, certified mail to Amtrak to recoup their money. She said that on one occasion after several calls, an Amtrak representative told her the money had been refunded into their account.

She said it never posted.

Amtrak did not return WPTV's calls for comment.

The company's online policy doesn't outline if refunds are issued in the event of delays.

Parents said they now plan to contact elected officials to see if they will intervene and help them recoup their money.

https://www.wflx.com/2023/01/19/girl-scouts-troop-fights-3000-refund-amtrak/

                All of  this and much more is why you NEVER use Amtrak anymore. You cannot afford to gamble your money on this kind of poorly operated transportation .

Yip, i learned that the hard way last year... did get burned by southwest too, but they already reimbursed me for expenses... and gave 25000 points way better than Amtrak, see ya wouldn't want to be ya.

Posted from Android

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>                 All of  this and much
> more is why you NEVER use Amtrak anymore. You
> cannot afford to gamble your money on this kind of
> poorly operated transportation .

I personally have been burned like this by several different airlines with no refunds or other financial accommodations made. It's not like you can avoid these situations by using other services. So much in today's world is such a crapshoot anymore, but most people are ok with it.

Posted from Android

For $3K, Amtrak is just stupid for what to them is pocket change. Just refund it and stay out of the negative limelight given they are dealing with a national organization.
Grandma and Grandpa seeking $3K would not be getting any publicity. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For $3K, Amtrak is just stupid for what to them is
> pocket change. Just refund it and stay out of the
> negative limelight given they are dealing with a
> national organization.
> Grandma and Grandpa seeking $3K would not be
> getting any publicity. 
Gardner and his cronies should fork over the money from their undeserved bonuses that they paid themselves.  They are crooks all the way.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

You can request a refund if a long distance train is two or more hours late or a corridor train is one hour or more late at the departure station with no restrictions and fees. 

-"Julie, via Amtrak.com
====================================================================

"Can request" is not sufficient. 

Amtrak MUST follow through with the request and refund the fare.  Or does Amtrak need the money to prop up the "profitable" Northeast Corridor, and fund its obscene executive bonuses???

All we are hearing/reading is one side of the story, and that is through the mass media.

I am sure there is more to this story than what is being offered here so far.

Amtrak, a room temperature railroad (kind of like the UP).
—Mac

I was scolded last year for telling a gentleman I know not to book a trip on 5&6 to the west coast. Call me a heretic but how in good conscious could I tell someone to gamble their time and money on Amjoke?

Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle…

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Drknow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was scolded last year for telling a gentleman I
> know not to book a trip on 5&6 to the west coast.
> Call me a heretic but how in good conscious could
> I tell someone to gamble their time and money on
> Amjoke?
>
> Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle…
>
> Regards
>
> Posted from iPhone


I don't recommend Amtrak anymore either.

Posted from Android

Tragic.

Coincident with reading this I am going through papers for a CUS Files post
that will eventually appear.  It will be about the summer of 1965 when the Burlington 
ran 11, eleven, e-l-e-v-e-n Girl Scout Specials out of Chicago over three days in July.
The shortest train was 11 cars, the longest was 27 cars. They were handed off to the GN
at St. Paul.

Most of the scouts came into Chicago from the east on specials or extra cars operated by
the B&O, NYC, PRR, Erie, etc.

From some Q correspondence " Arrange supervision and good handling to insure on-time
performance of these important trains.  I suggest that train dispatchers be advised of the importance
of on time performances.......Please note that Train 302 (Girl Scout Spcl designation) is due out of 
Chicago behind and at St. Paul ahead of No. 47."

amjoke, indeed.........................
the rest of railroading has also turned into a bad joke.

The amtrak apologists on here will say that railroads then were equipped to handle
the traffic. Well, what has changed?  Despite their best attempts to totally ruin it,
CUS has the same track arrangement as in 1965.  The Q coach yard is still there.
The East End is still 3 MT CTC.  The rest of the way is still a mix of single track
and double track.  The dial phones, typewriters and carbon paper have disappeared.
Is that why they can't railroad anymore ????  Or is it something else ???????



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/23 06:33 by Englewood.