Hotel Scam

Zackisback878

Hi all

Looking for some advice

My partner and friends booked a hotel for Cheltenham
Races, a guesthouse they stayed at the year previously

2 days before the hotel got in contact to cancel as the owner was gravely ill, the boys booked elsewhere assured they would be refunded the £980 paid upfront

However it’s been weeks with emails and calls going unanswered, the guest house is no longer taking bookings and looks like may be closing or closed

It was booked on one of the boys debit cards, is there anything they can do? It’s a lot of money to lose!

Thanks in advance

pinkshoes

Debit card chargeback. contact the bank.

waamo

Just a thought but this might not be a scam and describing it as such may be unfair. If the owner was described as "gravely ill" and they have suddenly stopped trading isn't it possible something tragic has happened?

Zackisback878

Hi sorry I should have added that the phone calls have all been with his wife who admitted he has scammed a few people and she doesn’t know what to do about it as I’m guessing she doesn’t have the funds to reimburse

Zackisback878

Also he has since emailed the boy that paid and asked him to confirm his bank details for the refund that didn’t happen

DoaM

When was the payment first made? (I'm not sure if chargeback is based from payment date or date of intended stay, but there's a time limit for chargeback, usually 120 days).

unholyangel

DoaM wrote: »

When was the payment first made? (I'm not sure if chargeback is based from payment date or date of intended stay, but there's a time limit for chargeback, usually 120 days).

iirc its 120 days from when they should have received the goods/service. With an overall time limit of 540 days from the transaction date.

Zackisback878

Thanks will get him to contact the bank tomorrow with regards to the chargeback. Unfortunately it was booked over 120 days ago so hopefully from intended stay date. Thanks again!

SnowTiger

Zackisback878 wrote: »

Thanks will get him to contact the bank tomorrow with regards to the chargeback. Unfortunately it was booked over 120 days ago so hopefully from intended stay date. Thanks again!

I guess you're referring to the Cheltenham Festival that took place from 12th March to 15th March 2019.

And I guess the 'boys' were told they couldn't stay at the hotel sometime around 10th March 2019.

If that's the case, a chargeback should be possible unless the booking was made 540 days or more ago.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/visa-mastercard-chargeback/

Zackisback878

SnowTiger wrote: »

I guess you're referring to the Cheltenham Festival that took place from 12th March to 15th March 2019.

And I guess the 'boys' were told they couldn't stay at the hotel sometime around 10th March 2019.

If that's the case, a chargeback should be possible unless the booking was made 540 days or more ago.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/visa-mastercard-chargeback/

Thanks, he's going to speak to his bank today and hopefully they can get their money back

It was booked shortly after last years festival so not over 540 days which is good news,