Hotel booking: cooling off period?

jeff_porter

Hello all,

This is my first post here, so please me nice ;-)

I booked a hotel on Saturday, then tried to cancel it on Tuesday.
(I've been let down by others that were coming)

I've been told that I will only get 50% of my money back.
The booking is for the 22nd & 23rd of December (12 weeks off).
I was asked to pay all up front, which I did using my egg card.
I booked over the phone, not web.

The T&C's, that I've now read on the website, state that..

Payment and Cancellation Policy
We accept cash, personal cheques with guarantee card, and most major credit cards. Full payment is taken at the time of the reservation. In the event of a cancellation you will receive a 50% refund provided we are notified not less than 48 hours prior to the day of arrival. In the event of a date change the reservation can be moved to another date provided that we are notified not less than 48 hours prior to the day of arrival. If the reservation is cancelled or needs to be moved and the notice is less than 48 hours prior to the day of arrival then the full payment will be kept.


I'm sure they must of mentioned this when I booked, but I don't remember.

So now I face loosing £450 if I cancel.

I've read the Distance Selling Act, and it seems Im screwed.

Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks
Jeff

kitchen_buff

Hotels normally do not actually take the payment until you have stayed. However they do reserve the amount against your credit card. So even though you have given them no money your credit card available balance will be less the amount you would have paid for the rooms. This does not mean to say that they have already taken the money. Ring the hotel and ask to speak to the reservations manager and explain the sitaution. Apologise and tell them that it was other parties that had let you down, you know it is a christmas period (busy) so it would not be difficult for them to re sell the rooms. If this fails cotact your card company ant tell them to refuse the collection from the hotel.

jeff_porter

I've called Egg, and they said there is nothing they can do.

My Egg statement show's that the've taken the money.

My spoken to the hotel twice and they've brushed me off both times.

I could be a pain & just wait till 4 days before then cancel. The fact I'm giving this much notice means I'm sure they will sell the rooms again.

kitchen_buff

You may have to treat someone to an expensive xmas present. Or post an ad on ebay for anybody staying in that hotel for xmas office party. so you might be able to sell them at a small loss. You could ask the hotel if they would consider reselling them.

dmg24

Hi Jeff,

Welcome to MSE - sorry it is not under better circumstances!

You are correct, the DSR does not apply to hotel bookings, and your CC company cannot intervene as you authorised the payment.

I wouldn't blame you if you chose not to cancel until a few days before, but if you do, make sure you don't leave it too late and end up losing the whole amount. Alternatively, is it possible to do a name change on the booking, and sell it on? x

jeff_porter

seems I'm screwed then.

seems strange that DSR doesn't cover this sort of thing.
and I never signed anything.

+ .. 50% seems a little unfair this early.

dmg24

jeff_porter wrote: »

seems I'm screwed then.

seems strange that DSR doesn't cover this sort of thing.
and I never signed anything.

+ .. 50% seems a little unfair this early.

Could be worse, some would charge 100%.

Have you asked your friends to contribute towards your loss? It is their fault!

jeff_porter

dmg24 wrote: »

Could be worse, some would charge 100%.

Have you asked your friends to contribute towards your loss? It is their fault!

The reason they all pulled out, after they said yes, is that they can't afford it.

So sod all chance of getting money from them.

Crabman

That's awful about your friends. If you can call them friends!

It's something I find difficult to comprehend too give the hotel manager a try and explain the situation, make it sincere and 'place him in your shoes' so to speak. 50% is excessive, after all, being Christmas the hotel will not have trouble re-booking the room.

Perhaps try Consumer Direct and see what they advise, mention that it was on a credit card and they may be able to give some guidance.

jeff_porter

I spoke to Consumer Direct yesterday.
and they couldn't help me.

:-(

richardw

jeff_porter wrote: »

In the event of a date change the reservation can be moved to another date provided that we are notified not less than 48 hours prior to the day of arrival.

What about changing the dates.