Otakon headaches...

[mandolin]

So, let's see here.

On May 5th, I pre-registered for Otakon with a group.

On May 12th, I gave the group leader the check for six registrations.

On June 6th, the group leader mailed out all the payments.

On July 29th, the check in question was finally cashed.

It's August 4th, and there has been no e-mail notification that the registration's been processed. The only contact form for Otakon registration keeps crashing every time I submit a polite request for help. I know the e-mail form's not getting through because there's no "Automated reply" in my mailbox. Their voicemail box is full. I can't contact anyone about this, not even to leave a message.

The registrations were paid for. SOMEONE cashed that check made out to Otakon. But there's been no confirmation. And we're talking six different registrations, not just mine (otherwise I'd say "screw it", pay for another one via credit card and demand a refund later).

Otakon's in 2 weeks.

I'm a bit annoyed.

Any suggestions?

ETA: Got a hold of someone via e-mail, and got directions to try to log in on the Members Only part of the site. I discovered that my registration is still marked as "pending." HOWEVER, a different Member ID came up with that message, which tells me that they're probably going to treat the entire Anime Society group as one lump sum and then send out all the confirmations at once when everyone's checks have been processed. They're not doing anything via snail mail, so that at least will be quick - but it depends on when the total sum for the group is finally processed.

I am, however, taking patrickat's advice and am going to be bringing a copy of the cashed check with me to pre-reg. And my settlement sheet in case they give me a hard time about the address not matching. (Although I seriously doubt that's going to be an issue, considering how behind they've been in getting registrations processed.)

Comments

[patrickat.livejournal.com]

Get a copy of the cashed check from the bank. Take it with you to the con and be prepared to show them proof of their ineptitude if they try to say that you haven't paid.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time a con has been plaqued by poor bookkeeping practices. I attended the Ohio Valley Filk Fest at the end of last October. I pre-registered in September. I never received a confirmation. When I arrived at the con, my check had still not cleared but my badge was waiting for me. The check was finally cashed sometime in March of this year.

- Patrick

[weirdweb.livejournal.com]

I think I've figured out the reason for the delay now - I think they're waiting for all the Anime Society people's checks to go through (since it was part of a large group registration).

However, I have taken your advice and ordered a copy of that cashed check to shove in the staff's face if I don't get confirmation by Otakon time. Given the amount of trouble they've already had getting registrations processed, I seriously doubt that they're going to give me too much of a hard time. Thanks for the tip. :)

[jonathlee.livejournal.com]

... allow me this moment of squee that I will be seeing you at Otakon. :)

And, also, my friend paid by cheque, and I think she received her confirmation via snail mail rather than email. But I'm not sure.

[(Anonymous)]

Then I can kill them doubly, because I informed their staff that my address would be changing between registration time and Otakon time. So if they send the confirmation via snail mail, I won't get it til AFTER Otakon.

[weirdweb.livejournal.com]

Oops, that was me, didn't manage to log in.