Hi! I am iy”H going to learn in Israel next year. When I received my acceptance letter to the seminary, it said to send $300 toward the group flight. Several weeks later the travel agency sent more details about the flight and was charging an exorbitant amount of money for the flight. I did some of my own research and realized I could fly on the same flight through miles (which is worth money but worth alot less than what they are charging). I contacted the travel agency and they said that they won’t refund all the money I already gave they will not refund $100. This may not seem like so much money but adding $100 makes my flight (practically) cost almost what they would charge. My question is: is it halachically OK for an agency to take $300 toward a flight without telling me how much the flight will cost? Is it halachically OK for them not to be willing to refund the $100? Thank you very much!
Answer:
Although it isn’t OK for a travel agency, or other store or establishment, to take money without agreeing on or revealing the price, in this case the question is whether the price was “kept secret” or unknown, or whether the agency would have happily revealed it to anybody asking. The same applies to the $100 fine for cancellation: If this was known, or could have been found out, at the time of payment, then the agency is within their rights. Moreover, it is possible that the seminary knew about the terms, but forgot or didn’t think about telling the applicants. However, if the policy was not in place at the time of payment, and was only conceived of after you paid, they are not in their rights to withhold money.
