Hotel booking non refundable

chadjeff

Hello,
I booked a hotel which was non refundable, I realised after a few days that it was the wrong dates, I messaged asking to change the date and they said that I couldn't and I would have to pay the full amount even if I cancel. I have given them a long period of notice that I won't be able to make that reservation. I haven't paid yet so I have frozen my card associated with the transaction. 

What should I do, should I unfreeze my card and let them take the payment? I am happy to pay a fee but I feel that paying the whole amount is wrong.

Ayr_Rage

Unfortunately you are obliged to pay in full for a non refundable booking if you decide to cancel.

What you feel is not relevant.

photome

You booked a non refundable hotel at a cheaper rate than a refundable rate no doubt, but then want a refund when you cancel 🤔.

Was it booked direct or third party

Aylesbury_Duck

Mucking about with cards probably won't help.  I don't think it will be effective and might end up landing you with a charge for a rejected payment, for example.

If you weren't happy with being charged the whole amount if you couldn't take up the booking, why did you accept a non-refundable rate?  I think you're going to have to take this one on the chin.  There are laws about the retailer not being able to profit twice in these situations, but tracking whether they are ultimately able to re-sell that room between now and the booked date, and determining how much they're reasonably allowed to retain to cover administrative costs, is a bit of a faff and may not result in much of a refund even if you could force one.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

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

5.14 and 5.15 OP, they should charge either costs for rebooking or loss of profit rather than the full amount. Non-refundable is likely to be void as unfair.

This assumes hotel is in the UK and terms are governed by the laws of England & Wales. 

Expect a battle as they'll probably hold firm on "non-refundable". 

powerful_Rogue

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

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

5.14 and 5.15 OP, they should charge either costs for rebooking or loss of profit rather than the full amount. Non-refundable is likely to be void as unfair.

This assumes hotel is in the UK and terms are governed by the laws of England & Wales. 

Expect a battle as they'll probably hold firm on "non-refundable". 

That's been said for years on here, yet the pratice still happens.

OP, you took a gamble, this time it didn't pay off. What was the difference in price between the two rates?

Grumpy_chap

The OP may find this recent thread worth a read
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6645720/hotels-com-refund-nightmare#latest

DeathByFluffy

You tried to save money by booking a non-refundable rate (which also seems to be non-amendable), and now want a refund? 
This is probably going to be a relatively expensive lesson - either double-check dates, or pay a bit more for a flexible rate. They don't have to do anything for you. 

CarUK_Guy

This is understandably frustrating, and it’s a situation many people find themselves in. If the booking was clearly marked as non-refundable when you made it, the hotel is technically allowed to charge the full amount, even though the date change was an honest mistake. Freezing your card may give you some breathing space, but it won’t make the issue go away, as they can still try to charge it later or follow up in other ways. It’s worth reaching out to the hotel once more in a friendly, polite way, explaining that you realised the error quickly and gave plenty of notice, and asking if they might help as a goodwill gesture by changing the dates, offering a partial refund, or providing a credit for future use. If you booked through a third-party website, contacting them could also be helpful, as they sometimes step in to negotiate. While it’s completely reasonable to feel that paying a fee would be fairer than paying the full amount, if the terms were clear and they won’t budge, allowing the payment may be the safest and least stressful option in the long run.