Booking.com change the room rate!

mikebaler

Hi.

A big show changed its dates in Germany.

As soon as the changes were announced I went onto Booking.com and got myself 3 rooms at approx £380/room.

That was a few weeks ago.

Now I have had a telephone call from Booking.com saying that the Hotel rates have been revised due to the show being in town.

It has risen from £380/room to £1100/room.

I've been given the choice to take the new rate or cancel.

It was booked with no deposit on Booking.com's free cancellation policy.

Have I any comeback?

Thanks

Ganga

Yes take the new rate or cancel , you could always look for another hotel /rooms.

Westin

I think it more a case that the “Hotel changed the room rate” rather than as your post title suggests.

It is very unfortunate but I don’t see there is anything you can do. 

You clearly were quick off the mark and were able to take advantage of the revised show dates to book before the hotel was able to change and update there rates for these higher demand peak dates. All credit to you and I would have tried the same. Unfortunately the hotel has won out.  It is the hotel changing the rate, not booking.com. They don’t set the rate, the hotel does.

TELLIT01

Poor customer service on the part of the hotel but I doubt they care about that.  Selling the room for 3 times the price will, I'm sure, overcome any feeling of regret on their part.

StuieUK34

just so i understand the above....  (curiosity)
Hotel sells a room for £10 per night
Hotel allows a 3rd party (i like beds .dot com , etc) to sell its rooms, say for £10 per night.
Customer books room via 3rd party, and either 'reserves' , or lets just say customer pre-pays with or without cancellation option.

Your saying that if the hotel decide to boost there rates, on existing bookings as well as new bookings, the customer who has already booked via a 3rd party, will be in a position to accept the new rate, or cancel and get a refund if applicable ?

mikebaler

Thanks for the replies.  Just really sucks!

They say there is no contract as such, but if I was to go past my free cancellation date, all of a sudden a contract allows them to take money from my account!

Took the new rate, but will probably cancel as late as possible.

martindow

I wonder if it would have been different if the OP had booked directly with the hotel.  Presumably then the transaction would be made under German law which may offer more protection than whatever jurisdiction booking.com operates under.

davelewis

Price parity is illegal in Germany too so the Hotel direct may well undercut 'Booking.com'. 

Upsidedownandaround

It’s the hotel that decides the rate on booking.com. 

It is also the hotel that the OP will have entered into a contract with. That’s the way Booking.com works.