Problem with hotel booking

dumpy

A wee bit fed up here.

I book online for a hotel, it was on the hotel's website (with a big sign saying book here) but it appears that they use another company to run this online booking service, this wasn't immedately obvious.

I receive confirmation from intermediate booking agent with reference number and am told that the booking will be confirmed by hotel.

No confirmation arrives.

Ring hotel to be told that all rooms are taken and I shouldn't have been able to book. It's not their fault and tough luck.

It's not the end of the world I know but I am mildly fed up and now wondering at what point does a booking become accepted and therefore should be honoured?

Freddie_Snowbits

You can borrow my tent if you want to

Firefox1975

I would say it is honoured when they take your deposit.

Your post didn't say..........when did you pay your deposit exactly?

(I think you can see what i'm getting at here.........)

unfortunately I don't think there is any real protection even when the deposit is paid though. as long as your money is always refunded the hotel could come up with a load of excuses not to honour your booking.

dumpy

Thanks for the offer of a tent

I had to give card details to secure the booking on the site, I've checked and it doesn't look like they have taken anything out.... yet..... but I will keep an eye on this.

Firefox1975

dumpy wrote: »

Thanks for the offer of a tent

I had to give card details to secure the booking on the site, I've checked and it doesn't look like they have taken anything out.... yet..... but I will keep an eye on this.

yeah, it's a shame, they have you but you have nothing on them!

i.e if you don;t turn up you will get charged (their argument being how could they have your details if you never gave them?)

if you do turn up they don;t have to provide the room cos there is no paper trail to say you ever booked in the first place!

in future - book and deal direct with the hotel.

love_my_2_boys

It's really annoying when stuff like this happens, but airlines do it all the time, and they go a step further and take your money even when you may not be guaranteed a seat!!

Mark_Hewitt

It's not like they can supply you with goods, the rooms are full. What do you want them to do? Build an extension?

But, even if you've booked, got it confirmed, even paid in advance, they still don't have to give you a room! The likes of Travelodge do it all the time, overselling their rooms (just like the airlines) expecting not enough people will turn up. Then they bump you to another hotel or refund your money.

Premier Inn do it too but at least they have the courtesy of ringing around on the morning to ask you if you wouldn't mind going elsewhere.

custardy

did you go direct to the hotels website or via google?
often these booking agent sites look like the hotels site but its just an affiliate type site