How to cancel an advanced purchase for Comfort Inn

[fac]

Hi,

I made a reservation for Comfort Inn, I thought I was making a AAA reservation, but I must have played around the reservation tabs and made the reservation under "advanced purchase", I didn't realize until I hit the submit button and the words showed up. I immediately called the hotel and the 1-800 number and neither was willing to cancel for me. Is there anyway I can cancel the reservation?

thanks

 

[heartsy77]

I had this issue after my DD's club volleyball changed venus. I called and applied charges and booked a future reservation. I waited 1 day and called and cancelled the reservation and got all my $$$ back.

 

[Tiger926]

Not sure about the above example by heartsy77, but advance purchase is non-refundable as it's the cheapest rate available for that reason.

All hotel websites are pretty good about the terms right there on the screen. I just went on Comfort Inn website and you have to click separate tab which clearly states that it's advance purchase, and then when you click that, it tells you in big red letters (before you actually book), that it's a non-refundable, advance purchase rate. They have it spelled out pretty clearly, so it's non-refundable in that respect.

I really don't think there is anything you can do, as it's clearly spelled out on their website in multiple places before you actually complete the booking.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[jackie101]

We have had a similar problem in the past and the hotel would not refund it. We did threaten to dispute it with out cc company and then they let us cancel. Good luck

 

[Tiger926]

We have had a similar problem in the past and the hotel would not refund it. We did threaten to dispute it with out cc company and then they let us cancel. Good luck

I guess I'm confused...why would you dispute it with credit card company when the booking restrictions are clearly laid out in multiple locations on the booking page before you submit payment?

I can understand if the website tried to hide the non-refundable booking restriction, but it's clearly laid out on pretty much every hotel website. You get a cheaper rate with the stipulation that it's non-refundable, so that's not the credit card company's problem that you aren't able to now make that reservation.

We've lost money in the past too due to travel emergencies, and we would never think to get credit card company involved, as we knew the booking restrictions when we booked our rate.

The OP has already been told by hotel that the amount is not refundable, Tiger

 

[brymolmom]

I'm with pp...If you accepted all terms and they were clearly stated when you purchased, Then IMO you can call and nicely explain the mix-up and ask to speak to a manager as far up as you're able, but if they ever DO refund it - then they are just being very kind.

They are not obligated to do so and honestly I would never do more than that in my attempt to fix my own mistake. I wouldn't threaten them or anything.

Why not just keep the reservation?

 

[Lewisc]

Not everyone is as perfect as some of the PP. People make mistakes. Sometimes a website will populate one or more fields. An increasing number of people are using tablets and phones for the internet but aren't willing to put their fingers in a pencil sharpener so they can type effectively. It doesn't take much to hit the wrong button. Business don't want us making reservations via the toll free number.

I'd expect any, customer oriented, company to assist a customer in correcting a mistake, as long as the mistake was promptly brought to the attention of the company.

I'm not talking about changing it because your plans change. I'm talking about an immediate request to correct an error.

I would escalate my request to a supervisor and would let them know a credit card charge back request would be forthcoming. Did the customer make a mistake, was the website confusing or did the nature of the connection cause issues.

Even before the rule requiring such action most airlines would let a customer cancel or change a non-refundable ticket with 24 hours.

A couple of posters on FT said they would call the actual hotel and make a reservation only if the hotel agreed to give them the non-refundable rate for a "regular" reservation. Hotels frequently have special rates which you only get from the hotel itself.

 

[csharpwv]

Accidents happen, but I have to say - when you play with fire you are going to get burned.

I don't even mess with advance purchase reservations unless it is for something that cannot be changed, and come #$// or high water I have to attend, I won't even consider a pre-paid rate 99.999% of the time - I won't even check to see how much the advanced purchase rate is during my stay.

The most you should expect them to do is apply your funds to a future stay - and that's if they are feeling exceptionally generous.

Advance purchase rates aren't for most people. If I had $100 for every hotel reservation I've ever cancelled, altered, or changed I could retire!

I travel a lot for work and my plans can change at the drop of a hat.

Do yourself a favor, and never consider advanced purchase rates in the future!

 

[HM]

If I'm remembering this correctly, Comfort Inn hotels are franchises. We had trouble getting refunded on a reservation we couldn't keep once and it wasn't even a non-refundable one. The hotel manager/owner was not helpful at all and we ended up sending a letter to the corporate offices. Eventually we did get our money back.

So, OP, you might want to try again at the hotel itself and if you don't get any help, try the corporate offices. If you called right away after you made your reservation, they should have been more helpful about it, especially if you were just going to turn it into another reservation at the same place at a AAA rate.