Beware when booking with Travelodge

b_p

Travelodge can deduct charges from you and it is almost impossible to get them back.

It is a requirement when booking rooms with Travelodge to accept their Terms and Conditions. These include the right for Travelodge to charge the payment method (credit/debit card etc) with undisclosed amounts if they say you have been smoking in their premises or have caused damage. You might regard this as reasonable - as I did when I booked a room at Travelodge in March 2010.
However, they subsequently deducted £150 from my bank account and provided no reason for doing so. It was only after I had complained to Travelodge and involved Trading Standards who also complained on my behalf, that they informed me almost two months later that they had charged me because there had been smoking in the room. This I refute but after two months it is impossible to prove and despite numerous phone calls and a letter to their Managing Director, Travelodge refuse to refund this charge. My only recourse would be to issue a small claims summons but this would cost me more money and time, it would be my word against theirs and I would risk losing further, possibly much higher, amounts - which I can't risk.

The outcome is that Travelodge have, unfairly in my view, charged me for something I didn't do and I have no means to rectify this. Hardly what I would call justice.

Sagz_2

I have the 'pleasure' of using Travelodges at least 3 times a month for the past 5 years. I've never had additional moneis taken from my card.

BillTrac

Norbertsmum wrote: »

I have the 'pleasure' of using Travelodges at least 3 times a month for the past 5 years. I've never had additional moneis taken from my card.

And luckily I have managed to stop having the 'pleasure' of using Travelodge.

They are worse than the land locked equivelant of Ryanair

Sounds to me like you have a self-punishment fetish...

b_p

Norbertsmum wrote: »

I have the 'pleasure' of using Travelodges at least 3 times a month for the past 5 years. I've never had additional moneis taken from my card.

I have also used them extensively in the past - but never again after this

Sagz_2

BillTrac wrote: »

And luckily I have managed to stop having the 'pleasure' of using Travelodge.

They are worse than the land locked equivelant of Ryanair

Sounds to me like you have a self-punishment fetish...

LOL

Not a fetish, I just hate paying more than I have to when I only need a shower and a bed for 10 hours or so!

markandkate

The only way to avoid this if it is becoming common place is to insist that your room inspected when you leave and either get the name of the pesron or get them to sign to say that everything is Ok. If enough people do this and cause enoughof an inconveniance then maybe they will stop doing this

toontron

To be honest I have always found them really good, but I think that if they are going to make deductions then they should inspect rooms at the time that guests vacate.

Inner_Zone

toontron wrote: »

but I think that if they are going to make deductions then they should inspect rooms at the time that guests vacate.

But that would mean having staff around, dispute their claim reception is manned twenty four hours you rarely see any staff in the evenings or morning particularity around checkout time. And yes I have used their local pager.

I with 'Norbertsmum' on this one but I do check others in-particular Best Western when I am travelling as quite often I a get a better room with free Internet access and possibly breakfast for about the same cost as a Travelodge or Premier Inn.

trotter09

Inner_Zone wrote: »

I with 'Norbertsmum' on this one but I do check others in-particular Best Western when I am travelling as quite often I a get a better room with free Internet access and possibly breakfast for about the same cost as a Travelodge or Premier Inn.

Me too. Travelodge - never again! Premier Inn is a different chain, and usually better than Travelodges. But as you say, Best Western is always worth checking as they do have really good deals sometimes. For example, in the summer you can get great deals at hotels which have conference facilities: people don't hold conferences in August!