Mess with me and I'll cancel my booking

@boiboing (13147)
Northampton, England
January 14, 2016 5:28am CST
I'm not an ultra-demanding hotel guest. So long as the place is clean and quiet and the bed is comfy, the rest doesn't matter too much. But what I hate is getting ripped off. This morning at check-out, the young trainee told me how much my bill came to and the alarm bells in my head rang. I mentally knocked off the cost of my dinner and concluded that the room rate must be wrong. I challenged her and then pulled up the confirmation on my phone. She looked embarrassed and headed off into the back room with my phone to speak with a mystery person who didn't have the manners to come out and talk to me. The difference - 18 euros - was my breakfast. I told her that all our corporate hotel rates INCLUDE breakfast. She looked completely disinterested and it was clear that nobody was going to do anything. I then walked half an hour in icy rain to get to the office, fuming all the way. Had she knocked off the breakfast, I might have taken a taxi, but I was in the mood for martyrdom. At the office I confirmed with the secretary that the rate should include breakfast. She rang them to challenge it and was told that the hotel had been 'full' and the rate wasn't available. Yeah - right! I've never seen the place more empty. And so I voted with my feet. I sent them a mail telling them I wasn't impressed and that I'd cancelled my booking for next week. If I'd known that they'd charge for breakfast, I'd have taken the number 3 hotel on our list instead of them and it would have been the same price. I cancelled it and booked the place next door to the office (which hadn't been available when I checked last week). It's two minutes max and even if it rains horizontally I won't get as soaked as I did today. As Arnold Schwarzenegger might have said "I WON'T be back"
16 people like this
15 responses
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
14 Jan 16
Go to the Tripadvisor page and get your revenge. You have the proof you were there and they cheated you, let all the people know.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
Yes, you can be sure that I will.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
14 Jan 16
@boiboing Great, I always do, not only to complain, but also when I am satisfied.
2 people like this
• United States
14 Jan 16
Now with you telling this they will lose other guests and then maybe they will learn not to mess with people! Good for you!
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jan 16
@boiboing Oh well, I would name them for sure.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
I haven't actually named them! Not here anyway.
@celticeagle (189988)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jan 16
I would be upset too. And I would spread the word and put my disgust in no uncertain terms on every travel site available. Once I have been dealt this way I go to the ends of the earth to get my revenge and give them their just deserts.
@celticeagle (189988)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jan 16
@boiboing ...Sure. With usernames and such it is easy to do.
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 16
For 17 euros of the company's money, I'm not about to attempt a major campaign to bring down a company. BUT I can protest in my own quiet way.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
14 Jan 16
That is not a good revenge. I think you can do it better by sending email to the department in charge of corporate travel, and ask them to take the hotel off the corporate list. You can cc the senior management of the hotel too. That will get them to provide better service.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
I have also written to them and told them it wasn't good enough.
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
14 Jan 16
I don't blame you for cancelling your reservation, that is ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
14 Jan 16
@boiboing I agree, but I guess they were too greedy and never in a million years would have thought that you will catch on to their deceit.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
Most hotels would have looked at the record of my previous stays and realised it would be better to knock off the breakfast.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15826)
• Manchester, England
14 Jan 16
'I was in the mood for martyrdom'. Love that turn of phrase. Maybe the hotel was empty because they've been pulling that stunt on a lot of people.
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
I suspect that you know that feeling.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
15 Jan 16
I'd do the same thing.. not just for the money but also the lack of courtesy!
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
14 Jan 16
You are right to speak up there.Many would not do this.Good for you
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Jan 16
well at least you ended up closer?
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
15 Jan 16
I think it's good to vote with your feet..., and Hopefully they will take note.. and improve their customer services....
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
14 Jan 16
I am glad you were able to book elsewhere. You should write an online review such as Tripadvisor. My hubby would have written a nasty letter to the president, unless it was that jerk in the back room. I doubt it.
• United Kingdom
16 Jan 16
Name and shame! Or add a review to TripAdvisor. In any event the hotel should be ashamed.
• United States
15 Jan 16
@boiboing good for you. It sounds like this hotel has poor management and customer service.
@Shiva49 (28397)
• Singapore
14 Jan 16
It matters a lot who we meet even in supposed professional setups. Some behave as if they we are on charity though we pay through our nose! siva
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 16
Too true
1 person likes this
@amnabas (14877)
• Karachi, Pakistan
14 Jan 16
Well I think you did right if that was needed.