Fait A.

I have used cashback sites for years and TopCashback would be decent except it doesn't always work. Maybe it does five out of ten times? Then you have to submit a cashback claim. Then you have to encounter its customer service, which is a frustrating experience. These employees do not read what you've written and re-ask questions or you find yourself going around in circles and wanting to bang your head against a wall. Excuse after excuse is given for not awarding cashback, even if you didn't get it due to TopCashback's error - eg: I was told auto cashback at one vendor was 10 percent but after spending $450 on tires it turned out tires were excluded from earning cashback but TopCashback's page did not make that clear! It chooses to not live by its 'fair play' policy. It must simply be a marketing gimmick.

I like a good deal but I enjoy my time more.

I would rather use coupons from RetailMeNot or earn cashback through Ebates - I've never had a problem there.

I booked an international round-trip flight through ExploreTrip for $684. The next day I was sent an email asking for a copy of the front of my credit card (an Amex, so the security code is on the front), a written letter of authorization and a copy of a government-issued ID. Not only, in my 18 years of making transactions on the internet, have I not encountered this requirement with any company before; I thought the request was invasive and excessive. This is especially so considering this is my first (and last) transaction with the company.

I was too busy to call ExploreTrip that day. Within 24 hours of the first email I received another email to say my booking had been canceled.

I am currently - more than an hour and 20 minutes in - on the phone with ExploreTrip. The first customer service representative was not helpful when I said I would like us to handle the verification over the phone. She passed me to another person, who did not identify himself as a supervisor, who was ineffective in explaining why ExploreTrip needed this when other companies are able to process transactions securely/without hard-copy evidence.

It took a lot of digging and painful communication on my end for the supervisor to admit that I could book the flights again with another credit card where ExploreTrip's additional verification may not be necessary. The person then realized the flights I originally booked were now being sold for $932.51 - around 40 percent more.

I asked what ExploreTrip is going to do about it and was told it could only give me a $20 credit towards the re-purchase. I said I wanted to speak to the supervisor's manager. An hour and a half later, I'm still waiting on the phone and have used the time to write this account on multiple websites.

I like a good deal but I enjoy my time more.

An hour and 37 minutes later... ExploreTrip has ended the call while I was on hold.

I do not recommend ExploreTrip and I hope it reads about this experience. There are so many travel websites out there that I would be foolish to use it again.

I am going to write to the CEO, Prasad Gundumogula, with a complaint via: pgundumogula at mondee.com.