Hotel cancellation
Discussion
Hmmm.
Flying to Seattle on Monday at very short notice indeed.
Need to cancel a hotel room here in the UK booked for the 5th (next saturday).
Hotel are saying that they will not refund, and a cancellation will result in them charging me anyway.
Are they allowed to do that? I understand that they can charge for a no-show, but I'm giving them 7 days notice here.
Booked on a credit card. Worth engaging them?
Flying to Seattle on Monday at very short notice indeed.
Need to cancel a hotel room here in the UK booked for the 5th (next saturday).
Hotel are saying that they will not refund, and a cancellation will result in them charging me anyway.
Are they allowed to do that? I understand that they can charge for a no-show, but I'm giving them 7 days notice here.
Booked on a credit card. Worth engaging them?
We operate a 48hour policy on cancellations at my hotel and even then most of the time we would not charge our regular clients. Did the hotel tell you what their policy was before you booked as they should have. Either way, seven days should be plenty of time for them to resell the room.
Mr E said:
Booked online, and don't recall seeing a cancellation policy.
I didn't really look for one though. Stoopid really.
Even if there was one it still seems very harsh to me that the hotel can charge you today for cancellation and then go on to sell the room for next week. Whilst I know first hand how much hotels lose from no shows and late cancellations seven days is extreme. Where a refund is not possible we have sometimes taken the payment and allowed the customer to use the credit towards a room say in the following two months. Could be an option. However if it is a group hotel they are far less flexible than the independant hotelier.
I have found hotels to be very helpful in general but that is for business use. Often by 4pm on day of arrival. Usually in the terms and conditions on the booking confirmation.
I have had some hotels take the micky big time during big sporting events that are very helpful otherwise. Is there a big event on nearby?
I have had some hotels take the micky big time during big sporting events that are very helpful otherwise. Is there a big event on nearby?
Got caught like this when I booked Crown Plaza at the NEC for a concert that was cancelled.
Their policy is cancel after 6pm on the day booked - pay in full. Cancel before 6pm on the day booked - pay in full.
Mine was also online by credit card, £80 down the pan so we decided to go and stay the night anyway!
Their policy is cancel after 6pm on the day booked - pay in full. Cancel before 6pm on the day booked - pay in full.
Mine was also online by credit card, £80 down the pan so we decided to go and stay the night anyway!
Mr E said:
Hotel are saying that they will not refund, and a cancellation will result in them charging me anyway.
Sounds like there is no point in cancelling the room then, you could threaten them that you will go out and find a group of drunk chavsters offering them the chance of a free hotel room for the night.
Or the local "Keith Moon" appreciation society
richardthestag said:
Hotel are saying that they will not refund, and a cancellation will result in them charging me anyway.
Sounds like there is no point in cancelling the room then, you could threaten them that you will go out and find a group of drunk chavsters offering them the chance of a free hotel room for the night.
Or the local "Keith Moon" appreciation society
Good thinking batman.
Generally, the online hotel booking sites will have different rates for the same rooms. The reason for the different rates will be the amount of time you have to cancel and should be mentioned on the website.
The only arguement you can make is if the terms and conditions didn't state the cancellation policy, but that's unlikely if it is a group. They know how to cover their backs.
I think you're stuck, sorry.
The only arguement you can make is if the terms and conditions didn't state the cancellation policy, but that's unlikely if it is a group. They know how to cover their backs.
I think you're stuck, sorry.
I guess it's no different from booking a cheap air fare, rather than a fully flexible fare - if you can't go then you lose the lot.
I book hotels on line quite a lot and there's normally a choice of rates with different cancellation rules. Often it's only a tenner more for flexibility and I usually pay that.
Don't know your circumstances but if the trip to the US is work related maybe you could claim the hotel bill on expenses?
I book hotels on line quite a lot and there's normally a choice of rates with different cancellation rules. Often it's only a tenner more for flexibility and I usually pay that.
Don't know your circumstances but if the trip to the US is work related maybe you could claim the hotel bill on expenses?
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