Receipts on Call, Finding the Ones You Lose

My college buddies and I used to take an annual canoe trip down the Guadalupe River in Texas, near the German town of New Braunfels.  Before the insurance companies got wind of the river, you were able to rent canoes and take a nine-mile trip down a lazy river full of beer drinking college kids.  It was awesome!  At the end of every trip, we’d take a group picture with a camera that was meticulously watched over, stashed in an array of waterproof bags.  Those pictures were great, all of us crazy hooligans standing there amidst an array of empty beer cans, battered canoes, an empty box of Fruit-loops (don’t ask), and an empty Tequila bottle.  We were young and “Full of juice” as my friend Forrest used to say, and unfortunately, not a single one of those photos survives today.  Since we’re all 20 years older (and wiser), I’d sure like to have a look at the lot of us “then,” to remember how we were.

The ironic thing is that had that trip been taken today, that photo (instantly digitized) would have found its way to Facebook, Twitter, electronic pages all over the internet, and I wouldn’t have to use my mind’s eye to picture any of us hoisting that magnificent Tequila bottle.  Film is dead, and so are those pictures.

Well, the same digital revolution is responsible for electronic storage records, too.  Not too long ago, a hotel tried to charge me for a “Lite Champagne and Strawberry Brunch,” something I wouldn’t eat if I were being held at gunpoint.  I asked to see their copy of the receipt with my signature on it and in seconds, the scanned record of the receipt was displayed before me.  The only problem (for them) was, it wasn’t my signature.  We had the problem corrected very shortly after.

Another incident I had involves a late night drive home from the airport.  Tired after a two week trip, I mindlessly scanned my credit card in the parking garage at the airport and shot through the gate to get home before midnight.  I didn’t even think about the receipt, still dangling in the wind back at the parking gate.  Fourteen dollars per day, multiplied by 14 days was almost $200 worth of parking that I was going to have to “eat” if I couldn’t get my hands on that receipt.  I called the parking garage, told them the dates of my stay and my credit card number and viola, a new receipt was emailed to me within the hour!

So, take heart weary travelers… lost or forgotten receipts and records are easily found these days if you don’t mind a phone call or two and a bit of time for them to find the records.  Meanwhile, I think I’ll use the extra hour or so I have this afternoon to re-connect with some more of my old college canoe cohorts; one of them must have that photo, right?

EXTRA: If you have questions for Ken regarding business travel, hotels, airplanes, etc, please send an email!  Your questions will be recorded and Ken will answer the best ones in his Ask the Expert podcast show.