Acceptable Refund Period - is there any regulation?

DaddyBayor

Hi guys, I'd like to know if there's any regulation governing the length of time for a refund to be given - in this case for an erroneus initial payment.

Here's the details:
Checked into Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor hotel on 17th June. I had pre-paid for the room but was asked to provide guarantee I could pay for any services used. Since I did not have a credit card on me I was told that I could pay a deposit on my debit card that would be refunded upon check-out. This was £50.

On check-out I was informed that this was an error, and instead a note should've been made that any services ordered were to be paid for as and when. I duly stuck my card in the machine and was informed that a deposit had been given. The next evening, upon phoining my bank I was told that no record of the refund was present.

I called the hotel and they said the accounts department would get back to me "first thing" this morning. Eventually this afternoon I got a voicemail stating that it will take up to 10 days for the refund!

This has absolutely infuriated me, especially considering that, by their own admission, the payment should never have been made. Does anyone know of any rights that I have in this situation??

I know that £50 isn't a huge sum, but it's the principle really. Its fairly obvious that the aggregate effect of this policy is to make money from interest in the interim, and I'm pretty keen not to let them get away with it! :mad:

Any advice etc would be very much appreciated. Oh, and boycott Hilton!

Freddie_Snowbits

Are they going to pay the money back, then you have had no loss. It is just that the Credit Card is more valuable than a debit card in some instances.

If they do not credit the ammount back in 7 days, then take it up.