Grecian Earn
Three and half years ago, I took a business trip to Greece. Normally I don’t mind travelling, but this was a trip right out of a travel book by Kafka. I was subject to the whims of a clueless, boorish, duplicitous salesman for four weeks.
Three weeks into my absence, my (then) 3-year-old remarked to my overworked wife: “Daddy’s not coming home is he?”
The only thing that preserved my sanity was a daily missive to my co-workers back home to blow off steam. With each one I vented on the sub-optimal state of things and as the month progressed it got circulated to a wider audience. I suppose it was a precursor to this blog. Angst and all.
When I started veering into non-work related topics (like Athenian taxis), my project manager requested that I only sent the e-mail updates to him. At least until the CEO complained that he no longer got the unvarnished scoop.
That particular development opportunity turned out to be a boondoggle and while I’ve gone onto to more productive pursuits, I still wince when I am reminded of it.
I was gone so long that I was issued a corporate American Express to cover my expenses. Eventually my company realized my time was better spent in the office programming, so I now travel much less and the card was cancelled within the year.
This weekend I got a letter from the LiPuma Settlement Administrator. Evidently Edward LiPuma, an American Express cardholder, sued the company because they did not accurately disclose their fees for converting foreign purchases into U.S. currency. Apparently Turkish purchases were remarkably overcharged due its devaluation years ago.
Now I don’t know how much of a world traveller Eddie was, but for just that month I racked up $3600 in foreign expenses. I’m guessing that due to the “Alleged Rounding Damages” I was overcharged about $30 in fees. The total settlement for cardholders is for about $75M.
If my refund ever comes, I think I’ll take take my wife out to dinner.
Probably not Greek though.
Is this Lipuma thing for real? I was so sceptical that when they asked for my Amex card # in their letter, I decided to live without it!
PR
I too, am wondering if this case is for real? I would appreciate more comments.
I also received the same notification and I was also sceptical. I will also appreciate if anyone can shed light to this so called “class action”….
In My Opinion
No one should be sending in a request for refund for this ridiculous lawsuit and the most ridiculous IMO, Edward Lipuma should be ashamed. Multi millionaire attorneys do not give one crap about the cardholders or customers for retail outlets etc. They sue corporations for only one reason, steal money from them in a guise of appropriate legal fees. Our legal system sucks and everyone who falls prey to these low scum suckers need to stop and think before joining into these stupid suits. Every person who get $10 to $20 refund from this suit means somewhere down the road that defendant corporation will regain those funds via increased prices or fees. The only winner if you can call dishonorable people winners, are the corporate attorneys making billions.
I sent in the form… I didn’t include my entire AMEX number and told them only an idiot would. If I get 10.00, fine. As for those that don’t send them in, that means I get your 10 bucks as well…and we’ll have to split the fee increase. Does that make me dishonorable? Hmmmm… Well the US Gov. screwed me on immigration which kept me in Canada living there for 10 months on my AMEX card…. I think I deserve the 10 bucks.