money taken from card

carlos1975

I booked a table for Valentine's evening on the 6th Feb. The hotel said they would need my debit card number as security for my booking, but No money will be taken. I checked my bank statement today and they have taken£40 out of my account, which is the cost of both meals. I phoned them to cancel my booking as i now have to go to hospital on that day and they refuse to give me a refund on my card, but want to give me one of their hotel vouchers instead, which I refused. I told them I need that money back as I have 2 children to look after and I simply need the money. Am I entitled to demand my money be returned on my card as nothing was stated in their t&C's about bookings?

dzug1

The timing of events is not obvious from your post. How much notice of cancellation did you actually give?


If it wasn't long I'd say the place was entitled to hang on to your money

Hermione_Granger

dzug1 wrote: »

If it wasn't long I'd say the place was entitled to hang on to your money

How can they be entitled to hang on to the money if they had no right to take it in the first place?

carlos1975

I phoned them today 10/2/15. I didn't have to give notice as they told me they wouldn't take the money.

dzug1

So what was the point of them taking card details at all if not to protect themselves against a no show?

daytona0

I'm inclined to believe that the hotel chain has done something fairly legitimate in relation to their T's and C's because it isn't too likely for such a thing to happen.

That being said, if you can link us to the company website (their name) then it may better inform us and help us to come up with accurate information.

Also, an idea of when you booked the table and when you were planning on going there would help.

shaun_from_Africa

dzug1 wrote: »

So what was the point of them taking card details at all if not to protect themselves against a no show?

But they have taken the money before the date of the booking.
I could understand them taking payment if the OP failed to arrive on the night but that isn't what has happened here.

Carlos, what you could do is to phone the hotel next Saturday afternoon and ask them if they have any tables left for the evening and if they say no, then tell them who you are and ask for a refund again as they have filled the table you paid for so in effect they are getting paid twice.

daytona0

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But they have taken the money before the date of the booking.
I could understand them taking payment if the OP failed to arrive on the night but that isn't what has happened here.

Carlos, what you could do is to phone the hotel next Saturday afternoon and ask them if they have any tables left for the evening and if they say no, then tell them who you are and ask for a refund again as they have filled the table you paid for so in effect they are getting paid twice.

better yet simply turn up for the meal! (or give it to a friend/family member). Let things kick off!

shaun_from_Africa

I was thinking that at first but as the OP said that they phoned the hotel to cancel the reservation then the table may well rebooked by another couple.

dzug1

What they've done is take the money as soon as it became apparent that OP was going to be a no show. Sounds at least potentially reasonable to me whether spelt out in the T&C or not

shaun_from_Africa

dzug1 wrote: »

What they've done is take the money as soon as it became apparent that OP was going to be a no show. Sounds at least potentially reasonable to me whether spelt out in the T&C or not

You think it's reasonable for a company to change or add terms to a contract after that contract has been agreed?