Have I lost £630?
Discussion
OK, any PH lawyers on here?
The story:
My company needed to find accomodation for a new hire till her flat was ready to move into.
A local hotel agreed to do a deal on its room rate, provided we booked in advance and paid in advance for the period
of the stay. This we did last week. (w/c 19th)_
The room was booked for w/c 1st August but earlier this week it became clear that we would not need the room as the flat would be ready in time so we phoned yesterday to cancel the booking. The hotel is refusing to refund the money on the grounds that the rate they had given us was sooooooo good that it was on a non refundable basis.
Close inspection reveals that the booking confirmation the hotel sent us said that the payment was non refundable, although this was not discussed on the phone.
I'm thinking they're taking the piss. The reception people are adamant there will be no refund and the manager is refusing to respond to calls.
Who's in the right?
The story:
My company needed to find accomodation for a new hire till her flat was ready to move into.
A local hotel agreed to do a deal on its room rate, provided we booked in advance and paid in advance for the period
of the stay. This we did last week. (w/c 19th)_
The room was booked for w/c 1st August but earlier this week it became clear that we would not need the room as the flat would be ready in time so we phoned yesterday to cancel the booking. The hotel is refusing to refund the money on the grounds that the rate they had given us was sooooooo good that it was on a non refundable basis.
Close inspection reveals that the booking confirmation the hotel sent us said that the payment was non refundable, although this was not discussed on the phone.
I'm thinking they're taking the piss. The reception people are adamant there will be no refund and the manager is refusing to respond to calls.
Who's in the right?
That's not really taking the piss though.
They gave youan admittedly solid rate and you paid up front for it- they gave you the rate as they could guarantee payment and custom. They wouldn't have given this rate had you not paid up front. You could have taken rack rate and paid at the end of the week or cancelled.
Basically you swapped a great rate for a reduction in your options.
Only thing you could do is ask them to release the room, and refund you if they fill it. You can check if the fillit or not by trying to book into that room during the stay you paid for!
They gave youan admittedly solid rate and you paid up front for it- they gave you the rate as they could guarantee payment and custom. They wouldn't have given this rate had you not paid up front. You could have taken rack rate and paid at the end of the week or cancelled.
Basically you swapped a great rate for a reduction in your options.
Only thing you could do is ask them to release the room, and refund you if they fill it. You can check if the fillit or not by trying to book into that room during the stay you paid for!
PHmember said:
Move in, dismantle the Corby trouser press & use the shower curtain to dress up as a zombie,
Sounds like a plan!Sounds like I'm the loser on this one then. I don't see how the hotel lost out though, they had loads of notice that the room was not required. Out of interest, how can they impose a no refund rule on the paperwork when it was NOT discussed on the phone when the booking was placed? Surely thats not right?
andymadmak said:
How can they impose a no refund rule on the paperwork when it was NOT discussed on the phone when the booking was placed? Surely thats not right?
Unless you want a very long and boring phone call every time you book something vaguely complicated, this is why we have small-print on most contracts.IF you asked "is this refundable?" and they said "yes", then you might have a leg to stand on.
As you didn't, you don't.
walm said:
Unless you want a very long and boring phone call every time you book something vaguely complicated, this is why we have small-print on most contracts.
Be fair, it's only booking a hotel room! If it's complicated in any way it's only for their benefit at someone else's expense.Are they part of a chain you can complain further up to? Otherwise if they're happy to lose the business from your company and take the damage to their reputation, that's probably their choice.
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