If this happened to you what would you do?

[Anordinarymum]

I booked (and received the confirmation email) a double room at the Royal hotel in Scarborough for a two night stay on Friday and Saturday this weekend.

We had been looking forward to this.

On Friday, my partner called me. There was a problem at work and he would be staying there later and we would not be able to make it for the Friday night.

I called the hotel booking line and spoke to someone who said I would be charged for the night, but that he would inform the hotel so they would hold the room for us.
He asked me when we would want to book in on the Saturday morning. I said around 10am. It was half an hour later than that as Saturday was the hottest day of the year and the roads were busy.
We got to the hotel after a two and a half hour journey only to be told the hotel was full.
They had no knowledge of the booking. ( I have the confirmation email and all the details)
Then the receptionist told me I had cancelled.
If I had cancelled, why on earth would we have come all that way ?
We came home. We came home.........

Now they have sent me an email asking did we stay or not?

I have replied asking them not to take any money out of my account for this. I expect they will and wonder what can be done here if anything.
Has anything like this happened to anyone else and if so what did you do/what was the eventual outcome?
Thanks

I think this is a bit like booking a return flight: if you miss the outbound leg you usually get cancelled off the return, even if you end up getting to your destination some other way. Maybe that happened automatically? But obviously if you'd told them that you were coming for night 2, they shouldn't have resold the room.

Quick update.

They have asked me to check that the money has not been removed from my bank account and if it has been they will refund me. They are also very sorry this has happened.

As far as any form of goodwill gesture, I am not hopeful. Their customer services guy who 'phoned me yesterday said he will have to escalate a case and take it to his manager.

That sounds positive! Although it would be nice if they also compensated you for your travel costs

A new development in this ridiculous fiasco. I have received an email from Booking.com today saying they are very sorry to tell me that the hotel will be taking the money for the no-show and they tried but can't do anything about it.

I have emailed back explaining it was not a no show and reminded them that they actually called me and apologised saying no money would be taken.
So it's far from over........