booking.com

dirty_magic

You're not booking it on their site though. They just pass all the info on to the hotel. They don't put the info on their site so how do they clarify something they have nothing to do with? They don't have anything to do with payments either so what do they take responsibility for?

Often in the policies of the hotel which are listed on every property it will say "The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorise credit cards prior to arrival."

Of course they have a responsibility to quote the correct prices. Otherwise they could just put any amount and the hotel could take whatever figure they like! I don't know what you mean by they don't put the info on their site. You book it through them and they quote the price and the cancellation policy on their website before you book. At no point does it divert you to the hotel's website. If it diverted you to the hotel's website to book I could understand, but it doesn't. The first I heard from the actual hotel was the confirmation email, after I'd paid and after it said on booking.com that they wouldn't take any payment.

I don't care whether what they've done is technically legal, but I do think it's not transparent enough and I won't be using them again. The fact that they put the price in big print and the taxes in tiny print at the side in the first place is enough to make me think they're trying to attract customers with low prices that aren't the actual price you pay.

kammx4

Were with you on the booking.com thing. We had the same problem and its sneaky to put the final price on after you have committed.

gimme-gimme

Hi
I'm very cautious with money and They got me too with the Non-Sterling Transaction Fee and all because I didn't understand what it meant when they said you will be charged in euro's, I naively thought it was to do with conversion rates and like everyone else i didn't fully appreciate the implications, fortunately it's only £12 for me. as for the taxes it said all included apart from some local ones upon arrival and that's fine but at no point did it make it obvious that because I wasn't paying in Sterling that my Card company would apply additional charges. talk about learning curves.
My conclusion is same as some others and they are hiding behind Jargon and small print as in this technological age if I make one error with my card details it knows and tells me to re input as payment can't be taken so how difficult can it be to advise that you could be levied additional charges from your card company before the final confirmation.
I thought it was law that any additional or commission charges had to be clear at the point of booking?

PS I was even logged into my UK Booking.com account to make the booking which again I naively thought would flag up I was based in UK

eDicky

gimme-gimme wrote: »

They got me too with the Non-Sterling Transaction Fee and all because I didn't understand what it meant when they said you will be charged in euro's,

It was your card issuer who charged the non-Sterling fee, not Booking.com, who pointed out that you would be paying euros and can hardly be held responsible for those unaware of what fees their card charges. Certain cards charge no such fees and if you are going overseas you should have one anyway, all the info is on MSE.

dirty_magic

eDicky wrote: »

It was your card issuer who charged the non-Sterling fee, not Booking.com, who pointed out that you would be paying euros and can hardly be held responsible for those unaware of what fees their card charges. Certain cards charge no such fees and if you are going overseas you should have one anyway, all the info is on MSE.

I have a fee free card that I would have used had I known they were taking the payment in local currency.

The confirmation email says 'You have now confirmed and guaranteed your reservation by credit card. All payments are to be made at the property during your stay, unless otherwise stated in the hotel policies or in the room conditions.' This email was received after I had paid. Booking.com said pay on arrival, and I did not see anything in the T&Cs to say they were taking payment. Usually when you book a hotel and pay on arrival you're able to use a different card to pay.

I've booked lots of hotels and I've never had this problem before. Their T&Cs need to be clearer. They should either have to categorically state whether or not your card will be charged, or divert you to the hotel website to book directly with them.

EconomicsGirl

Never had problems with booking.com but their message for Hotel Rigopiano is insensitive, it just says sorry this hotel isn't taking bookings right now but don't worry we've got plenty of other local hotels available here.

leylandsunaddict

dirty_magic wrote: »

Of course they have a responsibility to quote the correct prices. Otherwise they could just put any amount and the hotel could take whatever figure they like! I don't know what you mean by they don't put the info on their site. You book it through them and they quote the price and the cancellation policy on their website before you book. At no point does it divert you to the hotel's website. If it diverted you to the hotel's website to book I could understand, but it doesn't. The first I heard from the actual hotel was the confirmation email, after I'd paid and after it said on booking.com that they wouldn't take any payment.

I don't care whether what they've done is technically legal, but I do think it's not transparent enough and I won't be using them again. The fact that they put the price in big print and the taxes in tiny print at the side in the first place is enough to make me think they're trying to attract customers with low prices that aren't the actual price you pay.

Booking.com don't quote prices. The hotel or whoever advertising uploads all the information, including the prices. Booking.com have nothing to do with it the information that goes on there. Whoever is advertising has sole responsibility.

IAmWales

Please stop spamming the forum nadynn.