Hello All,
I am writing today because I had the worst hotel experience ever and was treated like a liar and a thief, when I neither stole or lied in any way over $129.
Last week I called & made reservations for my first business trip of many to come over the next year in this town. I called the #1800 since I had the choice of 2 Holiday Inn "related" hotels. In this call I was very specific on my intentions to pay cash and asked what those requirements were for these 2 "sister" hotels. I was on speaker phone & have witnesses to the exact conversation. I would gladly give my card and information to hold the room as long as it's not charged. One Holiday Inn (not express), the recommended one for my business, wanted a $500 deposit, which completely exceeded the cost of 3 nights so that was out. Logic made that decision easy. The other Holiday Inn Express apparently did not require a deposit at all. I was a bit baffled and insisted she double check this information. She put me on hold for a few minutes, came back & confirmed this again. I asked her quite possibly 6 times to make sure. Then after her re-assuring me several times they required zero deposit, I made the reservation. Well, my mistake, lesson learned. Do not trust that informaton. It is not correct. It is a lie. This hotel required pre-payment in full, upon arrival, if you want to pay cash. I simply would not have booked the reservation had that been what I was told. So, here I was after driving 100's of miles from home, tired. The girl behind the counter said I could stay & speak to the Manager about the situation in the morning. She actually was kind.
So in the morning I went to speak to him in person & it was horrible. He said that if I could not pre-pay in full that I had to leave. However, before I leave that I must pay in full the $129, for the night I just stayed, which he knew I did not have. Plus some ridiculous story about a shady guy who paid cash and stole 5 TV's, if you saw me you would think he just had zero sense. I have no need for your TV's. If I did not pay before leaving the property, he would be forced to call the police & that I would be defrauding an Innkeeper and I would be arrested. No way to work ANYTHING out with me. Whoa! I am not defrauding anyone here. So I am freaked out.
I finally find someone to help me out on the phone & he would not accept payment over the phone - at that exact moment after almost 2 hours of this tells me that I must have someone fill out a credit card authorization form that he would e-mail them, they must send it back to him completely filled out with copies of the front and back of their drivers license and credit card. Really, now you tell me this?! What is wrong with you? I basically wanted to tell him to take his measly $129 and shove it. I within minutes amazingly find someone else. My first person was literally in the middle of the desert. I tell him "you know I'm never coming back here ever right?" He says, "I know". I leave, knowing my friend is on it. Thinking, what a complete jerk, no where to stay 100's of miles from home. Unkind and unreasonable. I was going to pay upon checkout all along...several others hotels, such as the brand new Courtyard Marriot, up the street, after hearing my story said, "come on in, we will take care of you." Before even seeing my face. They are the hero's among others who offered me their homes, in which I kindly accepted. What a drama.