Tesco Credit Card refusing refund

jacqui56

Hi all
My daughter has an upcoming trip to New York next month, booked flight and accommodation separately. room was booked and paid via 'Hotels.com'. While researching local transportation from JFK to the accommodation, we discovered a posting on a travel forum from someone informing another poster that the hotel is actually an illegal lodging and listed as an SRO at NYC Buildings Department. The posting provided a link to the case at the Buildings Department, which my daughter passed on to her CC company.
Tesco credit card has refused to refund the money paid for the accommodation, stating that my daughter had paid for a service and, unless this illegal lodging has been shut down, the service (room) is still available to her and her choice whether she uses it or not.
Tesco called 'Hotels.com' who then called the lodging, both refused to refund my daughter, despite that 'Hotels.com' now have the information that the accommodation is illegal.
What to do now? My daughter values her health and safety and has to book somewhere else now, she thought in view of the circumstances a refund would be given, she certainly cannot afford to lose £500! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Typhoon2000

Maybe the information you found online is out of date? Is Hotels.com still listing the hotel. What's the hotel?

iainscomputer

When I've booked with Hotels.com, I could cancel without charge up to 2 days before check in.

jacqui56

Place is listed on both Hotels.com and Expedia sites and is no longer taking bookings.
Thanks for reply.

jacqui56

Policy on 'hotel' listing states no refunds if less than 90 days till arrival.

SnowTiger

iainscomputer wrote: »

When I've booked with Hotels.com, I could cancel without charge up to 2 days before check in.

I've used similar services. Sometimes it's possible to cancel without penalty, other times not. It depends on the cancellation policy of the hotel.

d123

jacqui56 wrote: »

Place is listed on both Hotels.com and Expedia sites and is still taking bookings, so def. not out of date. It's called Maison d'Art, 259 West 132nd St., NY.
Thanks for reply.

Are you sure the information you had is actually accurate or up to date?

The place is getting plenty of 5 star reviews on trip advisor, last one was only a couple of days ago.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d1600107-Reviews-La_Maison_d_Art-New_York_City_New_York.html

jonesMUFCforever

Call Tesco credit card's bluff.

It will cost them £500 if you go to the ombudsman and they agree to take on the case - so either way they will have to fork this money out.
Don't think you have any chance of getting it resolved soon though.

Strange that all the major hotel booking sites have this place listed but no warnings on any of them.

glentoran99

What bluff are you calling? Tesco have no liability here

selloptape

Has your daughter tried contacting NYC buildings dept?

d123

jacqui56 wrote: »

we discovered a posting on a travel forum from someone informing another poster that the hotel is actually an illegal lodging and listed as an SRO at NYC Buildings Department. The posting provided a link to the case at the Buildings Department

Could you provide a link to the travel forum posts you are referring to?

It seems strange that an illegal hotel appears to be operating and endorsed by all the online travel firms and showing on trip adviser as having guests leaving positive reviews recently.

You would expect the authorities would take action and close it down if it was as you describe.