Orbitz.com overcharged and price gouged, misrepresent fees Chicago Illinois
On 8/9/09 I went to Orbitz.com to shop for reasonable hotel reservations. Since Orbiz banner ads om many websites state that they have Hotel Price Assurance and lowest price guarantee, I used them for the first time. I found a hotel that was located in the city I was traveling to and found a rate of $114.30 for a Wingate by Wyndham. I booked with my credit card as per the site and printed out my reciept. I stayed at hotel as reserved and in the morning the hotel placed a express check out receipt under my door, showing total room charges to be only $86.48, including all taxes. The room rate was actually only $75.86. This means that anyone lese could have booked this room for $86.48 with taxes but ORBITZ.com charged me $114.30 to my card. Thats a fee of $27.82 to ORBITZ just for using their website. How is this saving anyone money? I contacted ORBITZ and the sales represenative apologized for the high fee and after speaking with a supervisor they only offered to send me a ORBITZ voucher for $27.82 of ORBITZ CREDIT. I feel as though I have been taken advantage of and gouged on fees and left with a silly voucher. I have fled a dispute with my credit card company for the difference. Am I not being reasonable? Was this a justifable charge just for using their site? I looked over all my printed pages and receipts from ORBITZ and there are no disclosure staements that state anything about how much their fee is period , no % or anything in writing. My guess is that millions of consumers are falling into the same preying hads of ORBITZ, only to be taken for a real ride.
Wilcox
Prairieville, Louisiana
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Marty
Nashville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Orbitz Fees
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, November 20, 2009
I had a similar experience to that of the original complainant, although the fee to Orbitz in my case was over $80 for a two-day stay. I suspect I could have booked the room directly for less than $100/night. In hindsight, I should have checked directly with the hotel, but I was making some last minute changes in a trip due to flu and did not make the effort. I protested what I considered to be excessive charges directly with Orbitz, as well as through my credit card, but got no relief. I have therefore chalked it up to experience and will not make the same mistake again. I find Orbitz marketing materials misleading, in that they imply that the consumer saves by using them, which is clearly not the case. I agree with the complainant that there is no disclosure of how fees are established. However, I suspect that there is nothing "illegal" about their practices--maybe unethical, but unfortunately the law probably does not prohibit this type of practice.
Although I doubt I will ever use Orbitz again, if I do, it will be only after confirming that I cannot get a better rate directly with the hotel or through another agency. Based on what I have experienced, I doubt that will be the case.
Custrelsgal
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Hotel Charge
#3
Tue, September 08, 2009
Dear Wilcox:
Im with Orbitz Customer Relations Department and we saw your comment on Ripoff Reports regarding a hotel charge.
I would like to assist if I can.
Please provide your Orbitz record locator and e-mail address so that I can review this matter and reach out to you in this regard.
Regards,
Orbitz Customer Relations