Charged for hotel room for someone else!

Viberduo

I went to a hotel and liked it and asked at reception about a 2nd night and was told it would be same rate but had to confirm with owner.

Next morning I also asked owner about a room for a friend and was told each room would be charged at the full rate not the online discount rate so I declined and my friend was still wanting to stay so went to book online at the cheaper rate and it declined his card and said his booking was not confirmed and hotel could give it to someone else until he contacted them to pay.

He phoned to say that was his only card and was told they had not booked him in as per the terms.

However today found out not only have they charged but MY card as they decided as I was the friend I had to pay even though it may have been someone different

How can they legally charge me for someone elses booking(which was not confirmed as well)

Caz3121

did the friend stay or is the booking in the future?

Viberduo

Caz3121 wrote: »

did the friend stay or is the booking in the future?

It was a booking for the same day which has passed and he did not stay. The hotel claims he booked therefore he pays despite the terms saying its not confirmed till sucessful payment is taken from card and his card was declined so they took payment from my card(with different name and address!)

ValHaller

Chargeback through your card provider. Not your problem.

terra_ferma

How did they link your card to your friend's booking. Is there something you forgot to mention? otherwise it reads like they randomly charged your card when someone else's booking wasn't paid for, and it just happened to be your friend.
Normally they would charge you if you had actually booked a room for your friend and he didn't turn up.

MamaMoo_2

Viberduo wrote: »

It was a booking for the same day which has passed and he did not stay. The hotel claims he booked therefore he pays despite the terms saying its not confirmed till sucessful payment is taken from card and his card was declined so they took payment from my card(with different name and address!)

Have you contacted them and asked why they have charged you for a room you have not ordered nor used?

Viberduo

terra_ferma wrote: »

How did they link your card to your friend's booking. Is there something you forgot to mention? otherwise it reads like they randomly charged your card when someone else's booking wasn't paid for, and it just happened to be your friend.
Normally they would charge you if you had actually booked a room for your friend and he didn't turn up.

Likely linked by the fact I told them my friend had noticed they had a cheap room online and was thinking of booking it, thats about it,

Either way the terms say a booking is only confirmed and made when sucessful payment is made as they charge the card upon booking and if its declined the room is left open for others.

terra_ferma

Viberduo wrote: »

Likely linked by the fact I told them my friend had noticed they had a cheap room online and was thinking of booking it, thats about it,

Either way the terms say a booking is only confirmed and made when sucessful payment is made as they charge the card upon booking and if its declined the room is left open for others.

Did you give them the name of your friend?
It's just seems really odd that they would debit a random card on the odd chance it might be the right person. Any chance it could be a genuine mistake otherwise?
Could someone else have told them, maybe your friend told them to charge you and doesn't want to admit it? Or someone who was staying with you said that?
What did the hotel say when you challenged them? Did they just say 'we just helped ourselves to your money because we thought they may be a connection'.
Or maybe you booked and now are trying to find a way out of it?

DCFC79

Viberduo wrote: »

Likely linked by the fact I told them my friend had noticed they had a cheap room online and was thinking of booking it, thats about it,

They cant just do it on that basis.

Definitely contact your bank about a chargeback.

Viberduo

Did not give friends name but my friend found it on one of those online places where only 1 cheap room was available so its impossible to get him mixed up with anyone else, that would be how they linked us most likely as I mentioned my friend saw it cheap online as I handed in keys.

I booked a night elsewhere for myself (at same price as this hotel which I liked actually and would of preferred to stay there so its not a booking I did then cancelled!) then when my friends card was declined he told the hotel he told them that was his only card and they said that meant he could not book! I was sitting with him when he got the call then when he said it was declined he stayed with me in the new hotel.

I assume it was the case they could of thought they were doing us a favour by charging my card when my friends was declined but I never gave permission for this and when I said I was unhappy they got stroppy.

terra_ferma

Has it's been advised your bank should be able to do a chargeback, they can't just take your money to pay for someone else's room.