Travelodge room booked...payment issue!

magictom123

Can someone help me here please.


I have never booked with travelodge before and assumed that they are a reputable company since they have their 'lodges all over the country. I booked a room this morning for a family stay (4 nights) and the reverse has happened to all the people earlier in this thread - travelodge have not taken any money. Everything went through as I wouldve expected (right through to redirecting to the verified by visa page during booking), I have received a booking and invoice number but when I checked the bank no money has come out.

After discovering and reading through this thread, I am reluctant to call them inc ase they say they will do the payment again and then in a few days duplicate payents come out.

Is it normal for them not to take the money for a booking immediately. Their t and c's state that a contract is binding once a booking number has been issued, but again it seems odd that they have not taken a payment.

Normally, I would wait a day or two but this will be our accommodation for a family holiday in a couple of weeks time and don't want to be messed around and maybe ending up chasing money or scrambling last minute for other accommodation.

I hope someone can help or advise please.

Thanks.

(p.s. I wrote this at the end of another travelodge thread that doesnt seem to have been active for over a week or so, hence me starting this new one here)

PlutoinCapricorn

How did you pay - debit or credit card? I pay with a debit card, and sometimes it takes a while for the transaction to show on my bank statement. Perhaps they wait until they have a batch of payments of a certain size to put through - maybe this gets them a discount with their bank. I would give it a few days more at least.

magictom123

Thanks for the quick response.

I did pay with a debit card. When making purchases online elsewhere, I have always found that the money comes out straight away even if it takes a few days to reflect this on my online statement. Like I said above, normally I would be a bit more relaxed about this the but after reading earlier today about travelodges' double charging fiasco I am feeling a little nervous.

I went via quidco, and when I went to check on the booking the travelodge website it says I have used their old (but apparently very much still active) website. I could log in and see the booking, and as I wrote above, I have received an invoice number and a booking number. It just seems strange they wouldnt take the cash straight away. Their T&C's say a contract is binding when the booking reference is issued. I am not going to but I wonder how someone would get on who got onto their bank quickly and cancelled any payment but had a reference number.

I am slightly relieved to see that you have had a slight delay in things appearing on your statement, only if to know this may not be an isolated problem and instead a slightly bizarre way to perform business.

I will give it another day or so and then afterwards I suppose I will have to contact travelodge and my bank, unless anyone advises otherwise.

Thanks again for the response.

moonrakerz

I haven't used Travelodge for some time - but did you book a fully flexible room ? In that case you wouldn't actually pay for it until you checked in (or didn't, if you see what I mean !) Your card would just guarantee the room for you, and payment for them if you didn't turn up.

magictom123

I should have added that I booked a saver room. The ones that are in orange as you look through the calender view. It was a family room at £35 a night. These types of rooms are apparently non refundable and indeed on the confirmation email it says that the booking can be modified or cancelled but no refund would be given. It does all seem odd as I say.

Quentin

It's not too odd.

Payments never come out immediately. You have the paperwork confirming your booking, so try not to worry.

One thing about TL - they are reliable about getting their money as we found out recently when many got two lots taken (in error!)

magictom123

Thanks again for the quick responses and for putting my mind relatively at ease. It is the horror stories of what has happened to other people more than them being a bit slow to take payment that has worried me. This will form part of our annual holiday so it is obviously very important to us to know where we stand. In my experience, every purchase or payment made online has been taken immediately from my bank balance (but sometimes has taken a few days to show on a statement). I found a complaints site earlier today and read of people travelling hundreds of miles with confirmation in hand only to find the hotel had shut down for refurbishment 2 days earlier and no noticed given to the person. I am not expecting that exactly but all these things added together has not lead to an easy and enjoyable consumer experience (so far).

Quentin

When you arrive, save yourself a journey later and ask the reception for 2 more towels per room!

magictom123

Hello again,

I thought I would come back to report that early this morning, the money has indeed come out of my bank account and my statement shows travelodge on it.
I am relieved to say the least, although I am hoping I don't get a repeat performance on the payment front in the next few days as happened a little while back with many users of this forum.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice above.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I've used TL many times, and never had a problem, chill, and enjoy your break.

susieb

Quentin wrote: »

When you arrive, save yourself a journey later and ask the reception for 2 more towels per room!

And 2 more pillows, they always seem to forget the kids need them