Pathgone tour operator- sending credit card details per fax

hi there

i have booked my accomodation in torres del paine nat park by P@thgone tour operator,

Departamento de Ventas
Pathagone S. A.
Fono:56-61-413291
Fax :56-61-413290
Puerto Natales.

my question is, if sending CREDIT CARD DETAILS is safe or not?! as this is the only way to book, there is no western union opportunity, I have to do so... do I risk a lot? has any of you booked accomodation in the park through them? pls let me know!

cheers, gerry

You are lucky. Many places don't accept credit cards and you have to use Western Union. The credit card is protection against fraud. If you wire the money and they don't deliver...not much you can do.

I find this post both interesting and alarming, as I understood that Path@gone, the agency which operates Refugios Lago Grey, Dickson and Los Perros, is the one which is now out of business!!

So my first suggestion would be to ensure the agency is financially secure BEFORE giving card details....and I would then ask all other posters, if they have up-to-date data on this issue, to please add their post for all our benefit.

hi there

thanx for comments. luckily i have not sent any card details by now...

IS THERE ANY ONE READING ME WHO COULD REPORT ON CURRENT EXPERIENCES WITH THEM? PLS POST YOUR COMMENTS, ON THE ONE HAND I DO NOT WANT TO BE RIPED OFF, ON THE OTHER HAND, PROVIDED THE BUSINESS RUNS SMOOTHLY, I DONT WANT TO STAY WITHOUT BED IN THE REFUGIOS!!

BY THE WAY, ANY ALTERNATIVE TO P@THGONE IN TERMS OF OTHER AGENCIEES??

ALL POST IS WELOCOME, PLS HELP!

GERRY

Path@gone is an agency in Pt. Natales they book the refugios not operate them, Andescape (Grey, Pehoe?, Los Perros camp) and Fantasitco Sur (Torres, Chileno, Los Curenos) operate the refugios in TDP. The Fantasitco Sur refugios are still operated by them, it may be Andescape that is having problems.