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Booking.com - owner insists I use an external link to pay
I made a reservation for an apartment (in France, if that's relevant) through Booking.com, and despite having valid card details to take payment through Booking.com, they are insisting I pay through a link which they have sent me in the in-app messaging service.
I made several other bookings which had no issues taking payment with my card through Booking.com, so I know that isn't the issue. I tried using a different card after they marked the first as 'invalid,' but they have marked this one invalid, too.
I'm not willing to pay through the link they keep sending me, but the booking is non-refundable and I'm concerned that I'll end up with no hotel and still liable to pay. Booking.com's customer service team said that if the hotel refuses to cancel the booking, they will help me write a fee waiver so I can cancel it myself without having to pay - is this my best option? Is this something the hotel would have to agree to as well?
Thanks in advance!
I suggest that you try to telephone Booking: this is clearly an attempt at fraud, and they are not taking it seriously.
