Complaining about an hotel and email abuse

hilary1

We stayed at the Sandhill Hotel on the Isle of Wight recently and it was awful.

We booked on the understanding that it was 4 diamond rating but we think they may have added 3 of them themselves.

I sent them an email saying that we had been disappointed with our stay and the conditions in the hotel and what did I get back?

Three very abusive emails calling us scum, filth and similar.

I have complained to the IOW Tourist board, since they apparently give them the ratings but although they are sending a complaints form they said that they can do little about it if the standards have dropped since they rated the hotel.

Is there anything to be done in this situation or should we just forget it?

richardw

Take a leaf out of the Americans and sort problems out there and then.

Put a review on https://www.tripadvisor.com

ckerrd

Depends how far you want to go.
You could start a revenge style website of your very own dedicated to that hotel. As long as everything you said was factually correct then you should be okay. Or write them a cheeky letter saying that you think someone is intercepting their email as you are getting replies which could only come from some deranged moron with basic literacy skills and spots. See what kind of reply you get then

budgetflyer

sandhillhotel.info is available for $2.99 €(£1.60) at registerfly. .com and co.uk are also available but more expensive. if you wanted to do a I hate Sandhill hotel type site :-)

djl

hi

i was going to say the same as richardw trip advisor is a very good way to post info about hotel`s. you need to join up first i would as it will make you feel better about their rude comments. best of luck

richardw

Was it this one http://www.sandhill-hotel.com/inside_sandhill.htm ? No pictures of the bedrooms.

There is a review here

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/10572-Sandown-Sandhill_Hotel-Holiday-Review.html

LondonCanuck

Starting a website like that is malicious and could get you into trouble.

I had a look on Sandhill's website to see who offered them the 4 diamond rating. The diamonds awarded will most likely be quite old as the England tourism council have changed to awarding stars in 2006.

Any hotel or B&B that wants to become accredited by the British Tourism council needs to contact The English Tourism's National Quality Assurance Standards (website is http://www.qualityintourism.com) so it might be a good idea to lodge your complaint with the people who awarded them their rating.

You can contact them on 0845 300 6996

or Post them at:

Quality in Tourism
Farncombe House
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7LJ

Think of exactly what you want to communicate. Remember to be courteous and polite as they are an outside body and have nothing to do with the hotel. I would write instead of telephone and I would definately be sure to include copies of the emails you recieved from the hotel calling you scum!!

They should be able to review the hotel and hopefully down grade their status or possibly even refuse to rate them at all. You could also send a copy of your letter to the RAC or AA if they rate the property as well.

If you don't tell someone who matters, no one will ever know and the problem will never get fixed!!

Moaning on Tripadvisor is fine and dandy but at the end of the day, there's nothing that Tripadvisor can do except make other traveller's wary...

Good luck and keep us updated!

HTH :wave:

richardw

I'd send a letter to the Sandown police with a copy of the e mails, they need to know what's happening on their patch.

hilary1

Just been on trip advisor to leave a review. Must send them a link when its online.

revenge is sweet sometimes:D but will take on board writing a complaint as said by Londoncanuck.

Richardw
Yes this is the hotel:

http://www.sandhill-hotel.com/inside_sandhill.htm ? No pictures of the bedrooms

LondonCanuck

Fair enough but you need to complain where it matters. If you/anyone call the tourism council for assistance booking accomodation - they will still recommend this property to other tourists. Real revenge will be the hotel losing income!!

jiblets1

Inform the paper local to them - nothing like a bit of bad publicity to hit them where it hurts!