Priceline Dispute aka. Are we Screwed? - UPDATE!!!!!!!!

[Kate and Pete]

DH and I just booked a hotel for Orlanda through Priceline (name your own price). I asked for a 2.5-3 star. It gave me a 2 star - Fun Spots Hotel in Orlando. I guess I could do a 2 star (even though that's not what I asked for!) EXCEPT that all the reviews are horrifying!!!! Hookers in the lobby, cockroaches in the room, a child who died in the pool!!!!!!!!!!!! Priceline says that I requested a two star (and also a 4 star...hmm...that wasn't even an option!) and that I can't cancel it.

So, what do I do? Has anyone ever successfully canceled or am I stuck with this charge? I WILL NOT be staying there - we immediately booked a hotel near the airport for 45/night at a three star - it's not our ideal location, but it's just DH and me, so no problem.

So, total, for our two hotels, we're paying around $500/week - not bad, but I don't want the other room!!! (Which, to irritate me even more, cost more than the lovely hotel I booked!)

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Sorry that happened but thats why I will never risk using Priceline. SOmetimes you get what you pay for.

 

[Adi12982]

I would call immediately - let them know that THEIR website had a glitch/problem - that you put in 2.5-3.5 star and it gave you a 2 star - NOT what you were actually bidding on. If they won't help ask for a supervisor, don't give up.

 

[Kate and Pete]

I did - and they told me that my contract says I wanted a 2 star - which I did not check!

Is it worth disputing the charge through my CC? I've never done that before, so don't know what's involved...

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You should have received a bidding confirmation email about the time your bid was accepted or rejected. I have not found their system to be glitchy, but I never bid on anything below 4 stars. Their system will automatically seek out accommodations in the quality category you select and UP, not down.

I happen to like Priceline, and my bids have never been off. Visit biddingfortravel.com to get an idea of what's available in each area and quality category. Great bidding hints. If you see even one hotel that's unacceptable to you, go to the next star level.

Again, check your confirmation email. Sounds like you won't be able to get a refund. I have never had to seek a refund, so I can't help there.

Good luck!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

How much did you bid?

I did - and they told me that my contract says I wanted a 2 star - which I did not check!

Is it worth disputing the charge through my CC? I've never done that before, so don't know what's involved...

 

[ZPT1022]

I did - and they told me that my contract says I wanted a 2 star - which I did not check!

Is it worth disputing the charge through my CC? I've never done that before, so don't know what's involved...

I've never disputed anything either but hookers in the lobby? I'd figure out how to fight it, no way would I stay there. Good luck getting it fixed

 

[canwegosoon]

I have not used Priceline...but could you chalk up to lesson learned? Call your CC company and see if there is any thing you can do.

 

[Jenna45]

I did and I lost and I also disputed with Amex and I lost that too, they said since I had intialed the contract page I agreed to the charges, I did not use the room either, they had put us in a Roach Motel in NYC , I lost 220.00 X2 plus taxes and learned my priceline lesson.

 

[Kate and Pete]

Yep, I think that's what we're going to deal with, too. Oh well - lesson learned! Thank goodness for tax refunds (although I'd rather use that $ for other things!!)

 

[2Princes_&_1Princess]

I had very nearly the exact same thing happen. I asked for one thing (and I am 100% sure that I entered it correctly - I had been bidding over a period of weeks with the exact same bid). I did a re-bid, and Priceline MUST have changed something, I initialed the page, as always, without double checking (which is admittedly my fault) and it had somehow added a zone that wasn't OK with us.

I called and fought, and assumed that I was the one who had made the error.

Two weeks later, the EXACT same thing happened to my father. We will both NEVER use Priceline again, as we are 100% that at some point Priceline changed the terms of our bid, and we both carelessly initialed the contract page. Priceline is VERY shady about this.

 

[koziclan]

I would still try to fight it. I just got a refund on a air & hotel package deal. I was very persistant and would not take "no" from anyone. I had to cancel because DH got sick at the airport just before we checked in. I switched our tickets with the airline and left the airport. By time I got home I had a nasty e-mail from Pricline saying that the tickets were none refundable and I shouldn't have gone to the airline. I called the hotel to cancel and they would not take the cancellation. I had to call Priceline to cancel and they refused my refund. I moved my way up the ladder and eventually somebody told me that I should have had a doctor call Priceline before the plane took off if I wanted money back! What doctor is going to call Priceline at 6:30 in the morning? I had a field day with that one! Just be persistant. They'll try to get away with anything they can! I won't deal with them again!

 

[DianeV]

Priceline usually will not budge especially since its their word against yours. I have seen people say a good idea is to capture a screen shot when you bid so that if something like this happens you have that to show them. Otherwise I dont think they will budge.

You could try your credit card and insist it was a glitch in the computer system of Pricelines and see what they say.

 

[problemchild718]

I would fight it too! Both with them and your CC company. Can't hurt to try. Live and learn

 

[DawnM]

I have used priceline for years and only had one issue with one hotel and it ended up being a fiasco, but I did get my $$ back eventually. Later others had issues with that same hotel and did not get reimbursed, so I guess it depends.

I just used priceline a month or so ago and had a great experience again.

Sometimes priceline will change the star rating for a hotel and that stinks. So a previous 2 star will become a 2.5 star and you are the first one to find out.

Have you checked biddingfortravel for their hotel reviews of the place?

That stinks.

Dawn

 

[IDoDis]

I read the reviews on TripAdvisor and all I can say is EWWWWWW! Someone found toenails in ther bed sheets!

You should print out those reviews about the mold, prostitution, dirty beds, drug use, etc.. and send to your cc company with your dispute. Priceline has a quality guarantee. Here's what the website says:

"Just because you're saving a lot of money on your hotel stay doesn't mean you're sacrificing quality. We guarantee that you'll always purchase a quality hotel when you Name Your Own Price®. If the hotel you purchase does not match our promise below, just call us before your check-in date and we'll change or cancel your hotel reservations at no charge.

To make a guarantee claim (within the US and Canada), call us at 1-800-PRICELINE."
State in your dispute that you were not given a "quality" hotel and that priceline refused a refund. Write down the dates and times you called and who you spoke to at priceline (if you have that info).

It's worth a shot. I think anyone at your cc company who reads the reviews from that hotel would take pity on you. Sorry you got such a rotten deal. I've never had a problem with priceline, but I'm careful to bid based on the info from betterbidding.com. Good luck and I hope you get your money back!

 

[mnasf]

DH and I just booked a hotel for Orlanda through Priceline (name your own price). I asked for a 2.5-3 star. It gave me a 2 star - Fun Spots Hotel in Orlando. I guess I could do a 2 star (even though that's not what I asked for!) EXCEPT that all the reviews are horrifying!!!! Hookers in the lobby, cockroaches in the room, a child who died in the pool!!!!!!!!!!!! Priceline says that I requested a two star (and also a 4 star...hmm...that wasn't even an option!) and that I can't cancel it.

So, what do I do? Has anyone ever successfully canceled or am I stuck with this charge? I WILL NOT be staying there - we immediately booked a hotel near the airport for 45/night at a three star - it's not our ideal location, but it's just DH and me, so no problem.

So, total, for our two hotels, we're paying around $500/week - not bad, but I don't want the other room!!! (Which, to irritate me even more, cost more than the lovely hotel I booked!)

We've had really good luck with Priceline and still use it. We once made a mistake on a car where we put the wrong LA airport. They gave us a one time cance. Keep trying.

 

[gardenhoe]

I think I remember lots of horror stories from people who had travel plans or on vacation when 9/11 happened. They couldn't make any changes themselves. Priceline had to do it. Also don't think they received refunds - I could be wrong on that.

However other people who were traveling on reservations they had made themselves were more easily accomodated by airlines & hotels. Many airlines issued refunds with no requests ever having to be made.

Its been for that reason & that reason alone, that I have stopped using any method of reservations being made in a 3rd parties name. I make all reservations myself now.

 

[Kate and Pete]

I'm going to keep trying with Priceline today! Thanks for the info. on the quality guarantee!

 

[DianeV]

Shoot those pictures on Trip Advisor alone should do the trick but we are talking about Priceline who will never admit their quality is not what they say

I see you having to go to your credit card but try Priceline first and tell them what you plan to do if they dont help. It would be worse for them to get another bad mark from the BBB too if you mention that