travel agent help

Hey....any help/advice would really be appreciated. Kinda long story......we had gone to a travel agent 2/18. We had spoken to them and thought we had found a good deal. We went back on 2/23 for a sandals night. We spoke again to the travel agent, and he printed us out an 'itinary', including the flight #s and price. The price was written by the computer, as well as in his own handwriting. I called the next morning 2/24 to leave a credit card for them to charge the air and room deposit. We called them that day to confirm they charged it, but thye never retruned the calls. We called them everyday for the next couple days. Finally today 3/6, they finally got back to us and told us they did not try to charge the card until 3/1 and since we had spoken the air fare had gone up $600 (it's christmas week). Is there anything that can be done legally? We had also been conisdering booking on-line, and since we have waited, those prices have gone up too. Not sure what to do.....anyhelp appreciated. thanks

Re: travel agent help

if you have something on paper than they should honor it. But if they don't, bring the paper to another agent with a 'can you match or beat this price' attitude. I bet you'll find someone who will at least match it (though I'd first go in there and play dumb -- like you've never priced out the trip before. Just make sure you request the exact same room type, etc. on the second quote.) Then at the very end you bring the paper from the first agent out. the agent wants their commission. i'd be shocked if they don't honor the first price you got.

Re: travel agent help

Try to get in touch with as many travel agents as you can... play the numbers game. If you contact enough people, you will have a better chance of getting a lower price. You can email travel agents quickly and just ask them their best price, and then when they give you their best, ask for even lower. I used 'in and out travel' and really, really like them so far, after i had to cancel with a not-so-good agent. Good luck! I know this is stressful, but just try your best. I know you may feel pressured because you feel like the prices are going up as the time goes on, but this is not always the case. (we had to rebook our honeymoon two months later, and actually got a better deal).