Recently I got myself hacked. Wasn ́t thinking (happens a lot these days) and clicked on a link from a Facebook friend. Result. Facebook account locked, messenger, e-mail, the full nine yards compromised.
Took ages to clear the crap out and apologize to everybody in the loop, reset the passwords that took ages to remember. Lots of hassle and a pissed off Slammer.
Now I am trying to book the Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry via DFDS (Dänische Falle für Deutsche Seefahrer) Used to work for them buggers.
And I get to the point where the website wants personal details and payment, I don ́t have a credit card and I am by now totally cowed giving my debit card details away. That is when I hit "Cancel"
Why oh why can ́t I go to the desk in Amsterdam and look some chick in the eye and hand over money, why does everything have to be so ruddy complicated?
I know, but my imagination goes into overthink. Am I really dealing with DFDS, or have I been redirected to a cleverly made scam site? Due to the work I do I am bombarded with courses on pfishing and scams and the more shady bits of the internet and I am gettin paranoid.
Ok, so I tried booking, site wants me to register, so I registered. Site tells me that I am already registered. Have I forgotten my password.? Yes, gets a new password. Password wrong.
Starts again from scratch.
Same result.
Starts again from scratch.
Same result.
Starts again from scratch.
Same result.
Then amazingly I get through and reach the part where I have to pay.
In the option I choose "Debit"
During the process I get a popup message that the price has suddenly gone up by 10 Euros and do I accept. I click "Yes" and get redirected to the beginning again, only the price is now up from 342 Euros to 543 Euros.
Travel agents don ́t to ferries, at least not here in the Fatherland.
Having said that I booked a trip to Turkey a few weeks ago to get rid of leftover vacation from last year and decided to go to a travel agency for the very first time...
Went to Landsberg and walked into the first agency:
"Have you booked?"
"No, that ́s why I am here!"
"Sorry, I mean you have to book an appointment online."
Uhhh! Why, then I ́ll book my own trip and I don ́t need you"
Slammer walks out and into the next agency.
"Hallo, there is a 40Euro consultation fee!"
"Not for me there isn ́t" and I walk out again.
Booked online, screw the travel agencies.
Anyway I have managed to book myself and the car on the 11th from Amsterdam to Newcastle for 352 Euros, could not get over the 10 Euros suddenly manifesting themselves though.
Me, neither! I loathe this kind of stuff! So annoying to have to go round in circles when trying to book (or even just read!) something, which happens partly, I believe, because of bad website design.