Cancelling a non- refundable hotel room

SheenaLouise

I have booked a hotel room that has a no cancellation policy. The problem is that the hotel is not as central as the 'key' map points out, which is showing it to be in central London. It states 0.0miles to central London but I only realised it wasn't after I booked it to check the route from the hotel to Covent Garden. 

I haven't paid yet but have given the hotel my card details. I have emailed them with screenshots showing the above details & requesting a cancellation at no cost to myself, so my question is, what are my rights and do I have any? 

p00hsticks

Did you book it direct with the hotel ?
Is the map on their website ?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/schedule/2/enacted

4 A term which has the object or effect of permitting the trader to retain sums paid by the consumer where the consumer decides not to conclude or perform the contract, without providing for the consumer to receive compensation of an equivalent amount from the trader where the trader is the party cancelling the contract.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/450440/Unfair_Terms_Main_Guidance.pdf

Fairness is more likely to be achieved for such a term by ensuring that it does not go beyond the ordinary legal position. Generally, where the contract comes to an end because of the fault of the consumer, the business is entitled to hold back from any refund of prepayments what is likely to be reasonably needed to cover either its net costs or the net loss of profit resulting directly from the default (see paragraph 5.14.3 below on the need to avoid double counting). There is no entitlement to any sum that could reasonably be saved by, for example, finding another customer

No cancellation doesn't mean anything as they can't stop you cancelling, non-refundable is typically unfair due to the above. Generally speaking if a hotel is able to rebook your room then at best a small fee for admin could be retained. 

Central London is is a pretty big area, the name of the hotel would probably help in opinions on whether the advertising gives reason to seek a remedy, i.e a full price reduction.  

Just to add is it a debit card or credit card and if credit more than £100 per night?

DullGreyGuy

The problem is that "central London" isnt a precisely defined thing. If you ask people what should be included in central London and then map it out it's easily 4+ miles wide. Which hotel is it?

There is no statutory cooling off period for travel/entertainment on a specified date. If you were able to withhold payment then it'd be a matter of breach of contract on your behalf and they would only be able to recover their losses as a consequence... best case scenario the room is resold and you pay a small amount of admin and sales costs, worst case the room isnt resold so you still have to pay the full price of the room plus now the admin/advertising costs involved in the attempted resale.

Sometimes companies do things they dont have to though and if the hotel is incorrectly marking its location they may well let you off the hook as a gesture of goodwill.

mr_stripey

Central London is a fairly broad and not clearly defined area. It could probably be argued that it certainly includes areas like Paddington, Kensington, Chelsea, Southwark, Westminster, Islington, Shoreditch and more as well as The City itself. 

If your hotel is in one of these areas comprising "Central" London then it would be hard to argue for a refund. 

If the hotel is in Wembley or Wimbledon for example then I would agree you may have a case.

FWIW I always google maps the exact location of the hotel as the "distance from" metric on booking sites is fairly arbitrary anyway depending on how well connected the area is.
 

soolin

I agree that the definition of central London depends on who you ask. many people would perhaps consider it Zones 1 and 2 on the tube for instance but others might say zone 1 only. 

I live in London but not central , ie I can vote in the Mayoral elections, but would need to get the tube to get the Charing Cross which is where I understand roads to London are measured from. 

Emmia

Whereabouts is the hotel located? Perhaps there is an easy route to Covent Garden from there?

I believe the "central point" of London is close to Trafalgar Square - that's not very far from Covent Garden, but I agree that "Central London" is a rather vaguer description.

TELLIT01

If you search for a map of Central London, you will see it covers a pretty substantial area.

SheenaLouise

It's The Liquor Hotel- The Cherry & I went through the  Trivago site. 

SheenaLouise

It's The Liquor Hotel- The Cherry at Mile End & I went through the  Trivago site. I paid via debit card but requested cancellation within an hour of booking it. They have been quick enough to issue an invoice but not respond to my request.  I'll wait & see...

soolin

http://thecherry-e3.co.uk/  This one?

as a Londoner I would consider Mile End as East London but still possibly just about Central. It is approx 4.2 miles to Covent Garden and is accessible by tube. 

You  might find some interesting Jack the Ripper walks around there and the East End has a fascinating history.