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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Think This Is A Rip Off?

26 replies

JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 20:20

'Virgin Experience Days'
Anyone used these?
I purchased one online as I had a discount code, (paid £150 instead of £170)
It was for a night and breakfast in a 4* hotel about an hour from where we live.
I plan to use it as a treat for hardworking DH birthday,
Phoned the hotel, asked if said date was available, they said yes and reeled off what rooms were available,
I then said I had a virgin voucher and they said I could only have a standard room. I said ok and booked up.

When I later checked on the hotel website, the standard room is worth £112 whereas the deluxe room is £134 (which has a sea view and balcony)

So I emailed the hotel and said could I have deluxe room as my voucher more than covers the value of this room. I was told, no, the virgin vouchers are only for use in a standard room (with a view of the carpark) Hmm

Am I being conned or shall I just settle for a standard room and shut up?!

The hotels last reply said if I wanted a deluxe room I could pay for it and use the voucher at a later date. Iv not replied yet but want to tell them to piss off, but then I will be totally out of pocket

OP posts:
Alwaysbeenwrong · 25/02/2015 20:23

What a con. You paid £150 and they don't even have rooms that cost that much Confused

justabigdisco · 25/02/2015 20:25

Yeah it's shit, but I don't understand why you would book an 'experience day' which is just a night in a hotel - you could've checked the rates first. Do the quoted rates include breakfast?

Can't you cancel the voucher and just pay for the night in the hotel?

NoArmaniNoPunani · 25/02/2015 20:26

Can you get a refund from Virgin then book with the hotel directly?

mommy2ash · 25/02/2015 20:26

do you get anything else with your voucher or just the nights stay at that rate? if that is the case i wouldn't be mad at the hotel but with the company you bought the voucher from and try get a refund from them

londonrach · 25/02/2015 20:29

Id get refund fron Virgin and book direct if you can...although tbh if hotel treats me like that being im a virgin experience customer id question how good the hotel was. Ave you looked at reviews.

Original poster
JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 20:34

To answer some questions, the hotel has really good reviews, that's why i chose it. Almost all the trip advisor reviews say it's brilliant.
The voucher came under the heading 'experience days' there were hotels, theatre trips etc to choose from,
The voucher includes a night at the hotel, and full English breakfast the next morning.

OP posts:
SweetValentine · 25/02/2015 20:49

The hotel is probably getting far less than £100 from Virgin. I understand why you're annoyed but why should they lose out any more because you chose a gift indirectly. You've effectively paid Virgin a high amount for their selections / customer care/ advertising /sales team bonuses andso on. The hotel wont be making any profit really.

But, if you're out of season try to force a bit of good will out of the hotel or offer to pay additional £20 for a room upgrade?

DoJo · 25/02/2015 21:33

If there is a choice of things then some will be slightly more expensive than others, plus Virgin have a margin in there too. I can see that it feels like a rip off, but I think it's just the way these things work - you pay for the choice and the whole 'gift' aspect of it.

AmateurSeamstress · 25/02/2015 21:38

We have found this every time DH has tried to spend his Virgin vouchers.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 25/02/2015 21:38

Get a friend to ring back on your behalf and try again?

fredfredgeorgejnr · 25/02/2015 21:40

Yes it's a rip off - get a refund on the voucher and deal direct... and you can probably get a discount on the more expensive room anyway...

And next time, research a bit more before you part with the cash!

MrsTawdry · 25/02/2015 21:43

If you have trouble with the refund get on their social media....FB and Twitter and shout about this. It's absolutely disgusting. All companies hate being shamed on social media.

Original poster
JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 21:45

Yea I get that dojo and valentine and I understand what you are saying.
I have e mailed a reply to the hotel saying I misunderstood that I would only get a standard room etc etc even though the write up for the hotel on the virgin site says 'spectacular views from your hotel room' even though that's for the deluxe room.
I shall suck it up, not tell DH the price as it's his birthday treat, and enjoy the trip!
Think I shall e mail the virgin people too

OP posts:
PurpleSwift · 25/02/2015 21:48

Yes it's a rip off but it's Virgin doing the ripping off. Return the voucher and deal direct with the hotel.

Original poster
JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 21:50

Just read the last replies, I don't have Facebook or twitter Hmm
I just stupidly presumed that as the voucher was for that hotel only, then the amount of voucher would equal amount of the room,
Lesson learnt eh? Thank goodness I didn't pay full voucher price of £170 Shock

OP posts:
PtolemysNeedle · 25/02/2015 21:50

You are better off complaining to Virgin, your purchase was through them. Experience gifts never seem to be good value when they aren't booked direct from what I can tell.

Original poster
JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 21:54

Yes I will e mail Virgin, I see now that they are the guilty party.
I will see what the hotel say, they may upgrade me pigs might fly if they value their customers

OP posts:
fredfredgeorgejnr · 25/02/2015 22:27

Virgin say they'll refund, just do the refund, forget the rest of it...

TheOddity · 25/02/2015 22:40

Get a refund on the grounds they promised stunning views which aren't covered by your voucher. Misleading advertising.

countessmarkyabitch · 25/02/2015 22:43

It's not necessarily a rip off. I don't see anywhere in your OP to say that Virgin advertised this as being a discount or better rate than was available from the hotel? Looking at the Virgin site I can't see any promised rate reduction.
For example Groupon etc offer deals, they say this hotel deal is worth 200 pounds, we are selling the voucher for 100 pounds, you get 50% off. If the hotel stay wasn't worth 200 pounds but less that would be a rip off and you would have cause for full refund.
However these Virgin Days seem to be nothing of the sort, and don't seem to have promised you any discount of any kind. They have not failed to provide you with anything they should have. Simply costing more than a price you can get elsewhere, even direct from the hotel, is not a rip off. They offered you something for a price, you paid it and got what you were offered. Not being happy with the price you paid does not make it a rip off.

If this is the case (it may not be, I've never used them), it is not a rip off, not disgusting, and you have no cause to try and shame them on social media. You could try asking nicely for a refund, that would be a better idea.

payuktaxrichardbranson · 25/02/2015 22:43

Poor Richard Branson. He's got to fund his private island, tax haven and vanity projects some how

countessmarkyabitch · 25/02/2015 22:45

If the voucher specifically promises a view, you have cause to get an upgrade to facilitate that. You may find that the small print says if applicable/available though.

NeedABumChange · 25/02/2015 23:03

I don't understand why you didn't look up the hotel before buying the voucher Confused

Also if you are complaining it should be to virgin, the hotel has done nothing wrong. Virgin have done the mark up.

Original poster
JollyFrog · 25/02/2015 23:16

Yes the voucher offers a room with harbour view which im not getting.(there is one available as they said I could pay extra for it)
I did view the hotel website and reviews beforehand but assumed I would get the deluxe room as thats the one with the view

OP posts:
dustarr73 · 25/02/2015 23:27

Thats very dear and im in ireland.I paid €100 for 2 nights b and b including 2 dinners for a 4* hotel.

I would ring back and get a price and then mention the voucher.

But your contract s to Virgin go to thtem first and see what they say.

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