Booking.com - no protection

zagfles

HGS wrote: »

Zagfles, I am not going to include the whole story

Why not? You complain that booking.com refused to publish your review and that people are being misled, yet you don't want to publish the review here as Moto suggested in post #2, or even name the hotel!! You say want people to be aware but you refuse to give details to make them aware.

but the contract was for credit card payment and the host demanded cash on arrival. This was extra cost. The apartment advertised as luxury was nothing close, the pictures were selective and misdirecting. I was told off for using the heating. I stated I was not happy with the unreasonable demands and the host became extremely unpleasant. Booking.com refunded me because I contacted them throughout and followed their advice stating they would support my loses etc. Having paid in cash the host continued to be unpleasant and after 3 days I asked to be relocated.
However despite all the proof, I was not allowed to review any of the story and none of the mis advertising has changed. So Booking.com so far are making money from a lie.

That is not morally acceptable as I was fooled into booking and others will continue to be also.

Instead of taking the approach that "I'm all right Jack" I am still pressing Booking.com to protect others and require the host to be honest and less obnoxious. Yes, the host admitted her behaviour was unacceptable and no booking.com have not suggested I acted in any improper manner.

Yet you're not even telling us who the hotel is! Have you even posted a review on Tripadvisor?

And you're still not answering the question I asked - you advise people to "Use them to find a possible booking then look for that persons valid site and book with them". Yet you say booking.com are giving incorrect info and not publishing your review - yet you suggest people use them to find a booking? And then book direct, so they aren't able to get a refund from booking.com as you did? That's the worst of all worlds!

zagfles

Moto2 wrote: »

I'm never with anyone else so don't check for 2
However, the point remains that booking.com doesn't in a lot of cases have the same pricing structure - and from my experience (for 1 guest) is dearer than booking direct in most cases in the UK.

Moral is it's worth checking both! I've noticed with booking.com they're very geared up for 2 adults - they aren't very good for family rooms, apartments etc. I searched for a place I knew did family rooms but booking.com didn't find it (or suggested 2 rooms), when going direct to the hotel family rooms were available.

HGS

I am not posting the name because this is not a vendetta, it Is helpful advice which all seem to be taking at face value except you.

To clarify further, I will no longer book via a booking agent but I will use them as an initial resource for finding what may be available in any given location and then I will chose the most reputable and book direct with a credit card.

Booking agents who take 20% but don't vet or censor abuse are not worthy of my time but anyone who wants to take pot luck is free to do so.

Nothing further to add, moving on, job done.

SW17

HGS wrote: »

I am not posting the name because this is not a vendetta, it Is helpful advice which all seem to be taking at face value except you.

To clarify further, I will no longer book via a booking agent but I will use them as an initial resource for finding what may be available in any given location and then I will chose the most reputable and book direct with a credit card.

Booking agents who take 20% but don't vet or censor abuse are not worthy of my time but anyone who wants to take pot luck is free to do so.

Nothing further to add, moving on, job done.

No doubt your intentions are good, though I would say that zagfles has a point that you are recommending others avoid a booking agent who actually gave you a refund, and book direct, when based on your own report it seems unlikely you would have got a refund had you booked direct with this provider.

I don't really understand why you don't want to name the property concerned, given that your primary complaint here is that booking.com will not let you post a negative review about it on their site, but of course it's your choice. I wouldn't see that as a vendetta, but rather helpful to others, who can make their own decision based on your reported experience and other reviews available.

zagfles

HGS wrote: »

I am not posting the name because this is not a vendetta, it Is helpful advice which all seem to be taking at face value except you.

To clarify further, I will no longer book via a booking agent but I will use them as an initial resource for finding what may be available in any given location and then I will chose the most reputable and book direct with a credit card.

Booking agents who take 20% but don't vet or censor abuse are not worthy of my time but anyone who wants to take pot luck is free to do so.

Nothing further to add, moving on, job done.

What? It's a "vendetta" to post a review on here but not on the booking.com website? Seriously? You wanted to post a negative review on a specific hotel on the www and booking.com won't let you, but you don't want to post that review anywhere else on the www, like here, or Tripadvisor?

And you complain that booking.com are giving misleading info yet you'll use them to find a "reputable" hotel :rotfl:

You make no sense whatsoever. Perhaps that's why booking.com won't publish your review.