June 22nd, 2010. By AbiK

Given where I work, you realize I tend to lean on the side of reasonable litigation where consumer wrongs are concerned. Key word: reasonable. But I, like you, am susceptible to feelings of profound absurdity when I receive a settlement check in the mail for fifty-six cents. As I just did, from the Expedia settlement. I also received a plea to “Act now!” from Go Daddy Girl Danica Patrick that also borders on the absurd (did Danica major in Computer Science in college? did I miss that?)—but that’s perhaps for another post sometime.

So.

56¢.

2 quarters, a nickel and a penny.

And I love the added insult on the check (above) where the amount is spelled out: “Zero Dollars…” Oh sure—I realize it’s protocol. But it taunts me. It’s as if it’s Expedia’s snidely sly way of delivering a “Take that, you claimant!”

Take it I will.

Mere pittance though it is, I do realize the settlement was only applicable to hotel reservations. Not flights. And I’ve booked way more flights via Expedia than hotel stays. Those of you who know me know that I kind of have an “in” on the hotel front, so why go through some middle man?

Still, 56¢ is not worth the gas to go to the ATM to deposit the check.

It is also not worth my time to do so.

And, it was not worth the postage and processing it probably took to send it to me.

So why am I going to go to the bank and schlep up to the ATM to deposit it?

Because, much like the classic MasterCard ads—the ones that end with a statement about something being “priceless”, this is in its own way, priceless. It’s not about the money. It’s about calling someone on the carpet for a wrongdoing—in this case, bilking travellers by bundling fees.

So off I go. Just do me a favor—if I ever get to the point where I’m defending a lawsuit brought about by attorney Alfred Rava—who’s apparently big on the concept of suing on “principle” (and who surprisingly hasn’t been in the news as of late)—please feel free to call me on the carpet.

Tags: Expedia, Expedia Settlement



This was posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 11:14 am and is filed under Emerging Issues, Settlement . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.