Booking.com question

[matt-ITR]

Booked a place in Spain for 3 nights in February via Booking.com.
Free cancelation and no credit card needed to confirm.

Now (same day) I've had an email from what must be the owners asking for a 30% deposit into his bank acc and a bond that is equal to the booking amount.
Never had this before on booking despite using them many, many times.

I guess there is nothing stopping them from cancelling the booking if I refuse to pay before hand?
Any idea what the best way to proceed would be? There are virtually no other options in the area, so if it falls through I might be stuck.

[Stephanie Plum]

New one on me too. I'd be tempted to refer it back to booking.com and ask them if this is std practice. Might be they have no idea the owner is doing this and it may go against their T&Cs.

[matt3001]

A few B&Bs usually take a nights deposit.

If you are getting no incentive for full "pre-payment" i.e a discount. Usually when I stay in the W hotels I use their pre-pay rate as its a fair bit cheaper.

Sounds like you should just find another hotel.