Holiday Inn Express Amarillo TX BEWARE of SCAM: They will NOT credit your account if you cancel - so they get double money on a room AMARILLO, Texas
We were going to travel from Colorado to Texas and stay in Amarillo where we are in the loyalty program and often stay when we travel. I made advanced reservations in June and in July realized we couldn't afford to go so I cancelled online. In July, I noticed my card was charged $144.89 twice since I made 2 reservations, one going and one coming back to CO. I called the hotel and they said, "Sorry, it was the policy not to refund or credit for advanced purchases."
Why would the hotel keep our money and other people stay in that room and pay??? That's double payment for the room. This is a scam to me to keep our money plus other people's money who actually stay there. If a person gives plenty of notice, which we did, then we should be credited. Plus, we are regular customers of this hotel and we feel ripped off because of a policy that is really a scam for the hotel to make money.
I called the hotel, customer service and the hotel stands by it's scamming policy for advanced reservations. Sure, it's legalese writing but it's a scam to people who have to cancel regardless of the reasons. This is a bad policy to have. We will never stay at a Holiday Inn Express if we are not credited on our account.
Unfair tactics this hotel is using to make money.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
80923
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
USA
Date Cancelled
#5Author of original report
Fri, July 29, 2011
The reservation was for July 21 and July 28 and we cancelled July 8 for both. Here's an idea, let us stay there at the hotel the 2 nights we paid for. That would be customer service and you win a customer back.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Clarification
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, July 29, 2011
You talk about advanced purchase, but also say that you made them in June but didn't cancel them until July. If it is an advanced PURCHASE you are charged when you make the reservation. Those are always NON-Refundable because they are giving you a discount for paying for the room in advance. These can be very good rates if you are 100% sure you can go. But if there is any doubt this is what happens. You loose the money you paid.
If it was a regular reservation did you cancel within the period allowed for a refund. If so do you have proof that you cancelled? Depending on the hotel you have to cancel anywhere from the same day to 2+ weeks before to not get charged.
Just out of curiosity, how much notice was "plenty of notice" in this case.
80923
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
USA
Too late
#5Author of original report
Fri, July 29, 2011
The policy is written to get more money out of the consumer. I shouldn't be penalized for canceling when there is plenty of time to allow other patrons to get a room. It is price gouging to the consumer by the hotel. It is not too late to credit my account when it's still July....we will never stay at this hotel again. We cancelled at Courtyard Marriott too and they didn't penalize us. Do you really have that many patrons that you can afford in this economy to stick it to 'em and lose loyal customers?? Customer service is the cornerstone to success and when you begin making policies that financially gouge the consumer, your days are numbered. Karma is like a boomerang, what you throw out there will always come back to you.
Steven
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Too late now but..........
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, July 29, 2011
When you go to the website for the Holiday Inn Express chain it says that each hotel has their own cancellation policies and that you should be aware of them when you are reserving a room.