Credit card fraud rejected under section 75 advice needed

Piglets71

Hi
I am in some desperate need of advice please. I booked a hotel room with a company called Guest Reservations in Turkish lira for around £500. I was nervous so took screen shots of the transaction. When the email came through they had charged me over £5500 in USD dollars, The third party company had made a legitimate booking to the hotel that could not be cancelled and both the hotel and Guest Reservations would not cancel it. I contacted the Halifax within minutes asking them to cancel the payment as it was fraud. I was told not to go to the hotel, I had done everything I could and to raise a dispute when I got home,
This has now gone on for months and Halifax have made a decision to reject the dispute as it is not covered under section 75 as the third party company paid the hotel. I have searched online and this seems to be a sophisticated scam and Guest Reservations are getting around section 75. I have evidence to show the transaction was £500 and I believe that this was theft pure and simple. I have opened up a case with the Financial Ombudsmen and wait to hear but fear again section 75 will not be able to help. Does anyone have any ideas to help me/? This is causing me significant anxiety as you can imagine

DCFC79

Did you try a complaint to Guest Reservations ?


When did it happen as you mention its been going on for months ?

Piglets71

I happened on the 27th July. Guest Reservations is just automated messages and no human

DoaM

These people? https://www.guestreservations.com/about/contact

What happened when you emailed the Media and Legal contact addresses?

Have you tried contacting the Better Business Bureau?

Ectophile

If you haven't already done so, make a formal complaint to Halifax for rejecting your claim. Wait for their response (or 8 weeks, whichever is earlier).


Then go to the financial ombudsman, and lodge a complaint with them.

Mc228

Who charged you 5.5k? Did guest reservations take that money from you after you agreed on £500 with them?

It's crucial to get this straight. If guest reservations told you it would be £500 and then charged you 5.5k and passed that onto the hotel, this would clearly be a breach of contract from Guest Reservations. The fact that the money was intended for the hotel makes no difference.

Your bank is claiming that the debtor creditor supplier chain has been broken because it sounds like they think the hotel breached the contract. The d-c-s link exists at this point between you, the credit card company and guest reservations. If you expected / contracted guest reservations to take £500 and pay the hotel but instead they took £5500 and paid that to the hotel, it is clear to me that guest reservations breached a contract with you and as such, section 75 applies and the credit card company should reimburse you for the breach of contract by guest reservations. Doesnt matter that they passed it on to the hotel- you agreed with them to pay £500 and seemingly have proof.

If the hotel charged you the £5500 directly without you agreeing then that may have other implications.