Action: Arrival of air fare refund is imminent after long delay

On April 28, I purchased on my credit card a ticket on British Airways for my sister to visit her family in France for the last time, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 20. I purchased the ticket from RCI Travel Services Center in Nashville.

On July 8, a change in air travel was sent in which she had to stay in London overnight. I called RCI Travel to let it know my sister was 85 years old and in very poor health and couldn't stay in London overnight by herself. RCI Travel told me to return the ticket for a full refund.

I sent the ticket per RCI's instructions by certified mail to the accounting department. It was received July 31. I have yet to receive the $1,108.30 refund. I have called four times and sent letter after letter, to no avail. The only explanation I get is that the airline doesn't respond. I also contacted British Airways and haven't had a response from it, either. Is there any way you could help me out? I live on a small retirement income and can't afford to lose $1,108.30. Joseph Rodriguez

Response: RCI Travel in Nashville did not respond to either of our letters, the second sent certified, return receipt requested, on Dec. 19, so thanks for letting us know you received the good news from British Airways that your long-overdue refund is in the works. Apparently it has taken since July 26 to locate the ticket.

Computer shuffle

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 8100 at the end of 2001 for $1,586.81. The laptop was defective and problematic from the beginning. When I called about the problems, I was told I had to work with the Dell support staff to attempt to correct the problems before I could return the computer. I did as instructed over a period of six months. Dell then had me return the computer to it repeatedly so it could attempt to correct the defects. As this, too, was unsuccessful, I was told I would receive a "new laptop, comparable or better" and that I should then return my Inspiron to Dell.

What I received was a refurbished Inspiron 8200 with scratches and marks on the outside of the case and a "bubble" in the center of the screen. That was when Dell advised me it is only required to provide me with a refurbished computer unless mine was returned within the first 30 days. My response was that in the first 30 days I had been told I couldn't return the computer without first working through the problems with Dell support staff. Then the repeated attempts to service the computer in-house were unsuccessful. Finally, I was sent a refurbished computer in far much less than new condition and worth, per the accompanying invoice, less than half the amount I had paid to begin with.

I wrote to Dell on Oct. 31, requesting either a new Dell Inspiron laptop like the one I originally purchased, or reimbursement in the amount of $808.94. I have not heard back. Carl Petronius

Response: After contacting Dell Computer Corp. twice, we finally received a response from Mary Gordoa with the company's executive support in Round Rock, Texas. She apologized for your disappointment and said you may return your entire system at the company's cost for a refund of your original purchase price. She said you can then reorder a new system of your choice.

Action alert

The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, which provides certification and registration of contractors, is adding competency license requirements for finish carpentry contractors and cabinet contractors. This brings the total of trades requiring licensure in Pinellas County to 41. Through June 1, the board will accept applications for certification without an examination. After June 1, finish carpentry contractors and cabinet contractors will be required to pass a written examination to obtain the required competency license.

Before hiring any contractor, consumers are urged to check with their local building departments for licensing requirements and to make sure the contractor they hire is licensed for the kind of work to be performed.

Bear in mind that not all counties have licensing boards, and not all counties license the same trades. For information, call Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, (727) 536-4720; Citrus County Building Division, license inspector, (352) 527-5349; Hernando County Development Department, contractor licensing, (352) 754-4109; Hillsborough County Development Services Division, (813) 635-7308, (813) 635-7309, (813) 635-7312, (813) 635-7312; Pasco County Building Development, contractor licensing, (727) 847-8009. Even better than calling, however, is to go in person to look at the contractor's file. That way you can get the details of any complaints that have been filed and how they were handled.

Note also the difference between a competency license and an occupational license. The latter simply indicates that the contractor has paid the necessary tax to work within a certain jurisdiction. It does not address his qualifications to perform the work.

- If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited.

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