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How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

philip.greenspun.com

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Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#61

Post by wolco »

rosybox wrote: post #20

Just FYI, if you're lying to get out of paying for something, or to get reimbursed on false pretenses that is called fraud and is illegal. It's also wrong to do, it is an action taken in bad faith.

Is wrong to do?

That's a question of morality. Canceling a hotel stay by giving them an acceptable reason doesn't feel wrong to me. They can use that reason to claim government to rebuild money after all of this.

Lying is a legal sense is very different to just lying or not telling the truth. Not sure many judges would side with the hotel. Not sure the hotel could prove bad faith. I'm very sure the cost of a suit would be higher than the cost of the refund.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#62

Post by hrktb »

listenallyall wrote: post #49
lmartel wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nonrefundable rates are not marketed as a bet against global catastrophe. They're a commitment that you won't change your mind. This epidemic is more similar to the hotel burning down. I would expect my money back in that scenario and do whatever I could to retrieve it.

No, they are marketed as "non-refundable." As in, you don't come, you don't get a refund. End of story. With that said, many hotel chains and airlines have suspended their typical non-refundable rules, so a simple phone call would likely suffice.

You had to explain what “non-refundable” should be interpreted as. I think we can agree different people will have different interpretations.

I’d also expect any terms in the actual ToS defining “non-refundble” to get void in front of a judge in this specific cases if this was really pushed that far.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#63

Post by pmiller2 »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #39
LanceH wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it the kind of place if you can't pay for a month they would keep watching your kid? (serious question) If it isn't, then you should cancel the monthly. It's pretty simple.

If you don’t pay, you lose your place in line and there is usually a waiting list (though with the upcoming recession, those might go away). You also don’t endear yourself with the staff if you don’t plan on switching.

It’s a business relationship at the heart of it. If my business associates can’t provide the service I’ve contracted for, that doesn’t endear me to them, either.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#64

Post by jjeaff »

ajxs wrote: post #48

I'd be very surprised if there was one ounce of truth to this. I've worked implementing payment systems for large institutions. It's standard for the existing balance of the transaction to be taken into account when an amendment is made to a purchase that has yet to be settled. Example: You purchase $100 worth of widgets, process the payment then 5 minutes later call up and add another $100 of widgets to your order p…

What does all that have to do with the story?

The hotel supposedly cancelled his 3 day reservation because they don't want him staying there at all if he might have corona virus.

The 10 day extension was just a request to add credence to the story.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#65

Post by pmiller2 »

Ghjklov wrote: post #46
3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly these hotels are probably losing so much money right now that they’d gladly take a covid patient.

There's an idea there, what if we turned empty hotel rooms into covid-19 care facilities? Then you can isolate a good number of infected in one place that you can keep an eye on.

The governors of Washington and (I think) California are literally doing that.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#66

Post by break_the_bank »

Hotels usually have a more flexible cancellation policy than Airbnb.Its way easier to find cancellation up to one day before at hotels than an Airbnb in the same city.

Was supposed to travel to Spain last week. Had a few Airbnbs booked. When the cases started spiking on the 2nd of March it looked like Spain was going to be another Italy. So we cancelled our trip. Got most of our flight tickets & hostel stay money back. Airbnb returned 50%. Spain did become like Italy was on the 2nd of March.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#67

Post by justlexi93 »

Unfortunately, if you chose and booked a non-refundable hotel on any website then "non-refundable" means just that. People often have the choice to booked the cheaper non-refundable deal, or often a slightly higher priced one offering Free Cancellation up until a specific time and date before arrival. Yes, it was obviously a mistake that you didnt see/notice or read the bit about it being non-refundable. Their Terms and Conditions will be very clear about non-refundable and its meaning.

You can cancel it if you wish, but you will not receive a refund. I think its the hotels themselves who set the rules for their hotels deals, either non-refundable or Free Cancellation.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#69

Post by ncallaway »

noncoml wrote: post #54
pmiller2 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody prices in a once in a century, global pandemic when looking for a hotel room: not the customer and not the hotel. If the room was booked more than 3 months ago, the agreement was based on false information and should be able to be renegotiated in light of the current state of the world.

That's not how the adult world works. Sorry.

You say it's not, but it actually is. Many hospitality industries are allowing coronavirus related exceptions to their cancellation and refund policies.

That's right, in this real actual adult world.

Re: How to get your money back on a non-refundable hotel

#70

Post by graylights »

dave5104 wrote: post #18
__s wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just have to play it right. Slip in some details, get curious about what food you can order to your room, etc. You can always decide some detail is a deal breaker & not make the close

Or just be explicit and share. "Hi, I need to extend my stay from 3 nights to 2 weeks. I'm just returning from a high risk area of Italy and need to quarantine myself!"

"and I want to do it somewhere with a gym and pool"
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