Unpleasant stay at hostel, what are my rights?

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone!

I've got a question about my rights with regards to a recent stay at a youth hostel in New York - it was infested with bedbugs, and all 3 of us who were staying there got bitten. When we told them about it, they changed our room but the next room was equally infested (managed to catch one and showed it to the staff).

We initially tried to deal with it passively, ie: bought some antihistamines, bed bug spray and insect repellant, but that didnt really help. So we changed hostels out of desparation, even though we had already paid for lodging for the next 3 nights.

When we returned the next day to speak to the manager, he initally shoved a complaints form in front of us and said 'fill this in, we'll get back to you in 30days'. However, we had had enough by then and told him what was wrong. He was sarcastic and rude, for example, when asked for a number we could contact to complain, he dictated a number to us, but when we asked him who we should ask for, he gave us his name. He also stated that he was the 'manager' of the entire hostel chain (which is untrue), and refused to give us his last name 'for security purposes'. He also tried to put the blame on us, saying that we brought the bedbugs with us! This is untrue, because that was the first hostel we lodged at since arriving in the US (and we dont have bedbugs at home!).

I asked him about hygiene certificates and the like but he said that this is checked by his cleaning staff.

I have written a comprehensive complaint. I have also kept receipts and photographs of the 'incident'. I dont think there is much I can do about him being rude to us (it's not really against the law is it...) but if he does not take action and look into the state of bedbugs at the hostel, I think there is something I can do. He was also purposely being obstructive when we asked him who we could complain to, or write to in order to get a refund.

Wondering what you guys think about this.

Thanks!

dmg24

Which hostel is it, and what do the TripAdvisor reviews say about it?

mc33033

Deleted_User wrote: »

I have written a comprehensive complaint. I have also kept receipts and photographs of the 'incident'. I dont think there is much I can do about him being rude to us (it's not really against the law is it...) but if he does not take action and look into the state of bedbugs at the hostel, I think there is something I can do. He was also purposely being obstructive when we asked him who we could complain to, or write to in order to get a refund.

In the states then the Better Business Bureau is where to start with a complaint. How much did you pay for this hostel and how did you pay for it? As dmg24 says which hostel is it?

macman

Report them to the NYC equivalent of Environmental Health?

[Deleted User]

It's Candy Hostel in New York - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d667410-Reviews-Candy_Hostel-New_York_City_New_York.html I see that recent comments are all about bedbugs and rude staff!!

It was pretty cheap - only £14/person/night - booked it with hostelbookers (paid a deposit) then paid the rest by cash.

macman

For £14 per night I'm surprised they don't charge extra for the bedbugs...

pinkshoes

For £14 a night, I would expect bed bugs at that price!!!

I'd put it down to experience, and stay somewhere nicer next time!

Volcano

This is part and parcel of travelling cheaply in the big, wide world. I've been chomped by bed bugs from staying in cheap flea pits all over the world when I was younger and couldn't have cared less. It's never about the accommodation and all about the adventure surely?

I'm staggered that it still bothers you even though you're now back home.........

[Deleted User]

I'd say that it's more to do with the principle of things - businesses shouldnt be run that way. For example, wouldn't you feel bad if you went for a discount holiday package and had to endure rude staff for a week?

People shouldn't be getting away with things like that. You'd expect minimum standards to be met, especially in a country like the US!

Dave101t

i thought a hostel was a place to sleep, nothing else?
what is this terrible endurance you have suffered?
for 14 quid a night id happily listen to the nonsensical ravings of a drunken buffoon singing under the streetlight outside....

dmg24

Deleted_User wrote: »

I'd say that it's more to do with the principle of things - businesses shouldnt be run that way. For example, wouldn't you feel bad if you went for a discount holiday package and had to endure rude staff for a week?

People shouldn't be getting away with things like that. You'd expect minimum standards to be met, especially in a country like the US!

Can you clarify what standards you expect from a £14 hostel? You do understand how expensive accom in NYC is?

I really would just put this down to experience, and proof that you get what you pay for.