My Rant on Hotels

[CloudOnMyTongue 0]

Okay, So I booked a hotel with Best Western by phone for a trip I was making last Novemeber.
I then decided to change hotels, and dates, so I clld them up and canceled (so I thought) one and booked another.

So then I go on my trip, and I get back and found out that they charged me for both hotels, saying that I no showed on the one I didn't go to.
so I call them, and they say that I didn't cancel it. But I did, I gave them the cancellation # and they said that the number I gave them was not a cancellation # and that I have to pay for it.

How is one suppose to fight something. When they simply just say, that's not a valid cancellation #. How am I suppose to know what a best western cancellation # should be? I just trusted that he gave me the right #.


And I don't want to nor can I afford to (i'm a skydiver see) To pay $200 for something I didn't even use.

>end of rant

[SkiD_PL8 0]

Call and request someone higher up on the foodchain so to speak. Let them know that you were a good customer and would like to continue to be, but if they can't help you with this problem you will gladly take your business elsewhere.

Greenie in training.

[chaoskitty 0]

Have your credit card company dispute it. Hopefully you used a credit card. Never ever ever book a hotel on your debit card.

[NWFlyer 2]

Get your credit card company involved - dispute the charge. Give them all the information and let them try to fight it.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[happythoughts 0]

Last weekend, a skydiver walked into the lobby and mentioned that the showerhead had just come off the shower. He also asked if there was another ice machine, the one near them wasn't working.

The answer was - only one ice machine, sorry.

He turned to some other people and said, "They advertise a pool, which is dry. The restaurant is closed. The shower is broke and there is no ice machine. There was no towels in our room. I'd go somewhere else."

He tried to get his money back on the room and was arguing with the clerk when the other people returned to ask for towels. The ones in their room were dripping wet for some reason.


Then the clerk told him that he was being an asshole and called the cops.

I don't know if they got the refund because I got a 20-minute call before the end of the story.

[CloudOnMyTongue 0]

See I did put it on my mastercard.
So I called mastercard and told them. I disputed it, filled out all these forms, and they refunded my money to me. In december, then last week I got my bill and it said, REPOST beside it.

So I thought that mastercard had come through for me. But when I called them to ask why the charge was back, they said, that the hotel said I was a no show. And that I'd have to pay it.

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

Call and request someone higher up on the foodchain so to speak. Let them know that you were a good customer and would like to continue to be, but if they can't help you with this problem you will gladly take your business elsewhere.

Quote

And KEEEP going up the food chain until you get
things straight.

Pen a letter of complaint...send a copy to the regional manager with a promise to have it put in the 'consumer compaints' area of all the newspapers you can find.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[WFFC 1]

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Never ever ever book a hotel on your debit card.

Not necessarily...The little pamplets that come with your credit cards and debit cards once per year? Read them...The rules are in there. You should be able to dispute a charge on your debit card as easy as on your normal Visa/MC.

-----
~~~Michael

[WFFC 1]

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So I thought that mastercard had come through for me. But when I called them to ask why the charge was back, they said, that the hotel said I was a no show. And that I'd have to pay it.

I'm assuming you provided MC with the cancellation number? The burden of proof is upon the vendor (hotel in this case) to prove that you didn't cancel since you got a cancellation number.

[chaoskitty 0]

The problem isnt disputing the charges. Its that hotels have to get a pre-auth and that doesnt exactly work on debit cards. You can do it, but expect them to screw it up.

[CloudOnMyTongue 0]

I did provide them with it, but they said that the hotel said that it wasn't valid.

[WFFC 1]

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I did provide them with it, but they said that the hotel said that it wasn't valid.

Nice...dispute it again and speak to a supervisor this time around. Be nice and appeal to their logic that why would you have a cancellation number if they didn't give it to you? Is the number you have the standard 'length' (say 8 letters/number)? Is there a phone record of your call (e.g. did you call from your cell)? I'd also drop a letter to the BBB and see what they do from that route.

-----
~~~Michael

[WFFC 1]

I guess I'm fortunate that I've not had that problem. Rental car agencies do the same thing albeit for larger amounts and haven't had a problems with 5 rentals so far this year (I'm on #6 now and 2 more scheduled right now).

[Douva 0]

Quote

Okay, So I booked a hotel with Best Western by phone for a trip I was making last Novemeber.
I then decided to change hotels, and dates, so I clld them up and canceled (so I thought) one and booked another.

So then I go on my trip, and I get back and found out that they charged me for both hotels, saying that I no showed on the one I didn't go to.
so I call them, and they say that I didn't cancel it. But I did, I gave them the cancellation # and they said that the number I gave them was not a cancellation # and that I have to pay for it.

How is one suppose to fight something. When they simply just say, that's not a valid cancellation #. How am I suppose to know what a best western cancellation # should be? I just trusted that he gave me the right #.


And I don't want to nor can I afford to (i'm a skydiver see) To pay $200 for something I didn't even use.

>end of rant

Exact same thing happened to me once. I called to inquire about the charge and was told my confirmation number wasn't valid. Now, asside from the name of the person I talked to and the confirmation number, I also write down the time and date I called. If they maintain a call log, that might work in your favor.

I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I just cancelled a hotel reservation for this weekend that I booked online. The terms were the cancellation had to be 24 hrs. before check-in and the web site advertised in large letters "NO SERVICE FEES". I got the confirmation a few minutes later and they are charging a $25.00 "Cancellation Fee".

[chaoskitty 0]

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I guess I'm fortunate that I've not had that problem. Rental car agencies do the same thing albeit for larger amounts and haven't had a problems with 5 rentals so far this year (I'm on #6 now and 2 more scheduled right now).

Thats cool. I travel upwards of 40 weeks out of the year, and have had issues. Hopefully you wont.

[4201 0]

Call judge Joe Brown They like stuff like that. Then we can watch it play out on daytime t.v

[CloudOnMyTongue 0]

That's the thing, they said that the cancellation # that I had wasn't long enough to be one. I didn't know that I was suppose to get the name and social insurance # of the person who I cancelled a reservation with.

I think that I'll have to start taping my conversations or something.