am i in the right?

Question

i recently used a well known travel website to search for a hotel room in my area. i noticed a very expensive 5 star was being advertised at ₤3 per room, so took advanatge of the offer and secured four rooms. i was directed to another website where i booked, and paid for these rooms, printing out a conformation in the process. I have now received a call from the company saying they would check availability and call me back. They called saying the hotel didn't have any rooms, but i had alraedy called the hotel, and they did have 4 rooms after all . After a long talk with them they said at best they would book another hotel, but I would have to pay the difference. Is this company not obliged to let me use the rooms i paid for, and have confirmation of booking and paying for? or at least booking another 5 star for the same price (it would not compare with the hotel i booked as it is the best in the area.) do i really have to suffer for someone else's mistake?

the ₤3 was advertised on BOTH websites.

i do hve proof that there is availability on the niht in question, i got the hotel to email me as i forsaw what they would try to say to get out of honouring the deal.

Answer 1

you aretotally right. unfortunately it sounds like you will have to spend lot of time on thephone arguing in order to get what you want. speaking to higher up after higher up. the real question is- is it worth the hassle to you to get it?

Answer 2

You should carefully read the emails/confirmations you were sent. Most internet hotel companies seem to use a system where they take the "booking" and send you an acknowledgement of what you asked for, but they DON'T send a confirmation right away. They "check availability" and then send the final confirmation and accommodation voucher. If what you were sent is an acknowledgement of your request, rather than a confirmation, then unfortunately you probably have no case against them (assuming that all of this is in their terms and conditions which you accepted when you made the reservation). If this is the case they probably won't actually have taken any money from you - they usually only process the transaction when they send the confirmation.

I found this out twice recently - luckily it was the availability that was the problem rather than the price, and I was able to get what I wanted just by phoning the hotel direct.

Answer 3

I queried a price for something when I was charged more for it than was on the price label. They checked it and discovered it had the wrong label on it and then decided to charge me the lower price as it was their mistake, something to do with Trading Standards.

Tricky this one. It is annoying but I really think you will have to play it by ear. If you did get the room, would they not just treat you as a "trouble maker", a "moaner"? I am not saying you are but I have been labelled as such in the past.

Perhaps you should get in touch with the Local Trading Standards Office, or the office of fair trading and see where that leads

Answer 4

Fair advertising demands that if they advertise at that price, advertise that it are available, they must honor the purchase at that price. Fact that they desire to send you elsewhere at your possible expense of a difference in price, denotes they likely made an error in advertising and would like you to instead absord the loss. If you can get someone to take it seriously, do their job, care about your rights, I would suggest complaining to FTC and report the company as deceptive in your views. That company could be doing this routinely as an unscrupulous practice to coerce customers into greater spending. You might check the site again, see if the same pricing or like pricing listed, regardless report that too.

Good luck though on finding someone who cares about right and wrong. Damn I will be glad when things are normal again.

Answer 5

Traditionally, they are obligated to keep the original agreement with you. However, something about making deals on the internet leads companies to believe that they can bypass laws about false advertising and accountability. While I don't know if you can take legal action on the company, I can advise you to never go through travel companies in the future, but to make deals directly with the much more trustworthy hotels and airlines themselves.

Answer 6

well if you've got time you should try claim it, try and get what you want and make sure that they are aware they've made a mistake otherwise, jus drop it,,,,,cos the hotel is the best in the area doesnt mean u'l enjoy it.... im sure theres loads of other things u could do,,,,,,,

i also get the feeling they were trying to play u a little, 4 fivestar rooms for £3 i think it was all part of the plan, to trap people who have no time to argue with them and will pay the difference to save trouble, dont fall for it,,, (u could take it to small claims court) my mum would,,,, she's extra like that lol

Answer 7

In retail, if a mistake is made on an item, the shop will usually honour it - within reason. However, they are legally able to choose not to sell the item to you. Afterall, they are the shopkeeper and decide what to sell and what not to. I don't really think you have a leg to stand on here. They will just tell you that there was a mistake and the hotel is fully booked.

Answer 8

it depends to be honest sometimes 3rd party websites only have a certain amount of rooms allocated to them, they could just say that was the case

or they could use the whole genuine human error excuse

but yes legally if it was advertised at that price and you have proof you should get the rooms at that price, however like i said if they hit out with either of the above excuses then they are covered

sorry xx

Answer 9

This is a good example of why you have to deal direct instead of going through a chain of unrelated 3rd parties who have no obligation to you or each other.

You no doubt missed the part where you agreed that you wouldn't hold them responsible for circumstances out of their control. Sorry, but you don't have a legal leg to stand on, unless the companies involved are under one umbrella.

Answer 10

well i beleieve they should have given you the rooms at the price advertised. If they made a mistake they should be gracious enough to admit it and let you benefit from it.

OBVIOUSLY they now trying to pull a fast one and say the rooms arent available. If you can PROVE that they have the rooms available, then you might bave a position from which to confront them. Otherwise , i dont see what else you can do.

Answer 11

I would contact the better business bureau. They should either refund your money or offer you rooms at that hotel. That is crazy. I'd call and raise hell.

Unless they have a disclaimer saying that prices and availbility are subject to change without prior notice.