Jetstar or should it be rebranded as Scumstar? $585 to change a name, no 'Customer Care'.

Booked a trip for myself and son to Japan. I should have stuck to my vow NEVER to use this foul company again.

FIRST: It staggers me just why a company in a seemingly strong international competitive environment would ACTIVELY seek to alienate it's customers in the most consummate manner?

I have been a long time campaigner to give Australian business a fair-go, but Jetstar needs the blow torch of Asian competition.

My son has a compulsory Professional Education course which cropped up after booking. It cannot be changed.

Tried to contact Scumstar. Only 'chat' with Philippines call centre and these poor unfortunates are 'trained' in how NOT to assist customers.

Told that some ridiculous fees to change dates applies to each flight -- totally unreasonable -- but let's go with that and try to substitute my son off for someone else on the same dates.

They said that will cost $585-00. They said it is part of the fare structure -- in reality a very UNfare structure.

With computers, a name change involves nothing physical, ie flight schedules. It is done ONCE by computer entry, it is INSTANT and GLOBAL. If it took 2 minutes MAX that would equal $17,550-00 per hour. Good on your UNfare structure Scumstar.

I have spent literally hours on their 'Chat' service going round in circles. Philippine call centre staff have a great way of repetition on nothing. The time and cost to Jetstar would have been 'n' times more than a simple name change.

They were told the matter was urgent in that Rail Passes for Japan needed amending. Still no reply after 10 days and promise of escalation.

Be warned -- never ever travel Scumstar. They for some reason make an art-form of bad practice.

The antithesis of the old business adage "The customers is always right."