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Where do I go now for my hotels.com refund?

7 replies

Globules · 03/06/2026 17:30

All help welcome.

I booked a guest house via hotels.com. looked good online.

Turned out to be a scummy HMO. Broken windows. No curtains. Bare flooring. No staff on site.

No response to the emergency helpline on the booking.

I contacted hotels.com and they suggested I should find another room in the area.

I decided to do this after the gig I was in the area for, as it was starting soon.

Once I got back after the gig at 11.15pm, the keypad entry code didn't let me in the room. So I couldn't get my things. Again, no response from the emergency helpline. I rang an emergency locksmith that didn't turn up after 90mins, so I left and found a very expensive room to sleep in.

Next morning, no response again from the helpline. The locksmith I called turned up after 30mins and got me in the room. I got my belongings and left.

Hotels.com are refusing to refund me the cost of the room and the cost of the locksmith.

To annoy me further, hotels.com have turned my 1 star review to a 2 star review and deleted all my pictures showing how awful the place was.

I'm loathe to claim on my travel insurance, as there's a £100 excess. It's not worth it.

Where do I go now to get my money back? hotels.com have washed their hands of the matter.

OP posts:
TeaPot496 · 03/06/2026 17:41

Your bank?

Globules · 03/06/2026 17:51

2 separate transactions under £100. I'm not sure they would.

OP posts:
DeftGoldHedgehog · 03/06/2026 17:55

Chargeback and report them to trading standards (hotels.com and the hotel).

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Nannydoodles · 03/06/2026 17:59

I presume they assumed if you weren’t going to stay there you wouldn’t have left your luggage so not sure if you’ll get the locksmith money back - did you break the lock?
Room they should refund though.

Globules · 03/06/2026 20:49

DeftGoldHedgehog · 03/06/2026 17:55

Chargeback and report them to trading standards (hotels.com and the hotel).

I can't chargeback the locksmith though, as he was an independent.

OP posts:
Globules · 05/06/2026 20:24

If anyone finds this thread in future, I asked their live chat how to escalate my complaint. I was told I couldn't. I responded that it seemed the small claims court was my only option left. I was suddenly put through to a manager and got the room and locksmith refunded.

OP posts:
PullTheBricksDown · 05/06/2026 20:27

That's good. I would put your review and photos on Google Maps where they can't sensor it.

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