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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to pay for last night's hotel

114 replies

PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire · 14/10/2021 07:41

I am away on business- an important event today and I need to be thinking straight.
I arrived last night and have spent quite a lot of money on a "boutique" hotel.
The room was dreadful- tiny and not clean but I was willing to let that pass for now (not great in a pandemic though!)
I had to go down to reception at 1am and ask to move rooms as it was noisy as there was some sort of extractor fan from a ?kitchen was running outside the room and even with all the windows shut and a pillow over my head and iPods in I could still hear it!
They moved me to another room (I had to pack up my stuff and get back into bed at 2am). That room had a fire exit light which flashed brightly all night. So still no sleep rant is less there fault but I can't sleep if there is light.
There has been NO apology at any time.
So I'm tired, big day today and I supposed to stay here tonight too.
So do I:

Complain again
Leave and if so should I pay for last night????

OP posts:

notimagain · 14/10/2021 10:05

Expect to pay something for last night.

Complain in person today to manager/duty manager, get a room change to one more satisfactory for tonight- if that is not possible then move hotels if at all possible.

Follow up with e-mails/letter direct to hotel head office if the matter doesn’t get resolved today to your satisfaction.

ButterflyAway · 14/10/2021 10:06

Leaving a premises without paying for the service you received - in this case a room for the night - is theft of service. It is illegal, and you can be prosecuted for it. Same if you leave a hair dressers without paying for your appointment, same if you leave a shop without paying for the goods.

starfishmummy · 14/10/2021 10:16

You lost me at deciding to stay in a room that wasn't clean without saying anything.

Sausagedogsarethebest · 14/10/2021 10:17

A dirty room is not good but when you complained they moved you. The flashing fire exit light may have been irritating but an eye mask would have dealt with that. You can't not pay, though you can speak to the manager about your experience and see whether they'll offer a discount.

If you're thinking of leaving the hotel early before tonight, check the T&Cs of your booking because sometimes you have to pay a penalty if you check out early. It's to protect the hotel in case they can't re-sell the room.

Threebillygoatsgruff · 14/10/2021 11:19

Pay, leave and give a honest review. Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight

Original poster

PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire · 14/10/2021 12:20

I flew in late last night and the room wasn't great (small, stuffy and some hair in the bathroom and in cupboards but wasn't completely filthy). I decided to put up with it and prep my work for today rather than make a fuss and move!
(I love the assumption that travel costs are always picked up by a company by the way- I'm public sector and the flight was paid for but not the hotel, parking, other costs).
The fan outside was noisy- even with the noise cancelling headphones on I could hear it. It wasn't a slight hum.
The second room the light was flashing and was almost light enough for me to read- so not slightly light. I was cross and worked up at this point so admit sleep was even harder.
Breakfast was good though.
Have just given my talk/lecture and chairing the rest of the session today so left my stuff in the room as need to concentrate on this and not get distracted by trying to find another room but I will ask to speak to the manager when I get back.

OP posts:

Gonnagetgoing · 14/10/2021 12:43

@girlmom21 but she did stay in a dirty room so didn’t stick to her usual standards.

OP has now said she flew in late so hardly the right time etc to find another hotel room at short notice.

LittleGwyneth · 14/10/2021 13:05

I would have told them I didn't want to pay full price, which would have been completely reasonable.

ErickBroch · 14/10/2021 13:31

I would try and take money off, I wouldn't pay full.

Polmuggle · 14/10/2021 14:09

(I love the assumption that travel costs are always picked up by a company by the way- I'm public sector and the flight was paid for but not the hotel, parking, other costs).

I'm public sector and would never in a million years be expected to be out of pocket for work. And even I were, wouldn't do it!

HollowTalk · 14/10/2021 14:32

@HollowTalk

Haven't you paid already though? Did they really let you stay in the room without paying?

Not really. Not nowadays - you usually pay when you book, don't you?

HollowTalk · 14/10/2021 14:32

Ha, sorry, quoting myself rather than @NigelSlatersXmasTaters's response which was "Why wouldn't they? It's pretty standard practice"

Rightsaidpleb · 14/10/2021 14:42

I think the assumption that this isn't out of your own pocket is fair OP? My DH and my DF both work in the public sector (one for the council housing dpt and one is a teacher) and they both have never paid for training course costs.

Paid upfront and claimed back

Regarding the dilemma obviously you should complain and expect to have some of the room cost refunded but I wouldn't leave without paying. Lack of apology is awful though.

Original poster

PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire · 14/10/2021 14:56

I'm capped in what I can claim back.
I get £600 PER YEAR and that is that- With that I could claim flight and conference course everything else I pick up personally. To keep up to date I pay approximately another £2k each year out of my own pocket (this is tax deductible)
Not sure why everyone is arguing with me. We pay for our own education in the NHS over and above this amount.

OP posts:

BoredZelda · 14/10/2021 15:13

Why wouldn't they? It's pretty standard practice

Yep, only the cheap hotels, or cheap deals in the more expensive ones make you pay before you go.

Gladioli23 · 14/10/2021 19:59

and admittedly if you're very sensitive to light, you should travel with an eye mask.

How on earth would a flashing fire exit sign be acceptable in a room?! I take a sleep mask but that's because I don't like ambient light from e.g. streetlights round the curtains - I don't expect my room to have lights I can't control in it!

Original poster

PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire · 15/10/2021 09:31

This story has got worse
I decided to stay put last night
I realised this morning that I left a very expensive necklace with huge sentimental value to it on the bedside table of room 1.
I KNOW it was there- I take it off every night and put it there but left it when I moved rooms in the middle of the night.
And guess what- no one has seen it. There is a new occupant in the room and the receptionist again doesn't seem too bothered.
What do I do now?

OP posts:

Gonnagetgoing · 15/10/2021 09:45

@PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire

This story has got worse I decided to stay put last night I realised this morning that I left a very expensive necklace with huge sentimental value to it on the bedside table of room 1. I KNOW it was there- I take it off every night and put it there but left it when I moved rooms in the middle of the night. And guess what- no one has seen it. There is a new occupant in the room and the receptionist again doesn't seem too bothered. What do I do now?

Hmmm - anyone could’ve taken it. Ask to speak to manager and call police to file a stolen item report if that’s what’s happened.

Gonnagetgoing · 15/10/2021 09:46

@PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire

This story has got worse I decided to stay put last night I realised this morning that I left a very expensive necklace with huge sentimental value to it on the bedside table of room 1. I KNOW it was there- I take it off every night and put it there but left it when I moved rooms in the middle of the night. And guess what- no one has seen it. There is a new occupant in the room and the receptionist again doesn't seem too bothered. What do I do now?

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

ClaudiaWankleman · 15/10/2021 09:52

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

Ridiculous. Isn't everyone concerned about their belongings being stolen, in hotels, in public, in their own homes?

Should we just not own anything?

Original poster

PlateSpinnerExtraordinaire · 15/10/2021 10:00

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

It's my kids initials given to me by my husband in solid gold with a diamond on each.
Perhaps I should lock it away and never wear it.
I'm in the UK FFS not in a third world dangerous country.

OP posts:

sunglassesonthetable · 15/10/2021 12:33

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

Fgs. stop wearing any jewellery when you go away OP.

She'd have heard the fan before 1am, but if she'd stuck to her usual standards and refused to stay in a dirty room she wouldn't have stayed the night and therefore wouldn't be accountable for paying for it.

Fgs. Don't be tired or arrive late or expect a clean, quiet room Op.

and admittedly if you're very sensitive to light, you should travel with an eye mask.

Fgs. You're responsible for all light levels OP.

You lost me at deciding to stay in a room that wasn't clean without saying anything.

Fgs Op Take responsibility!

Fancy expecting a clean room that you can a quiet night's sleep in. And yes you paid good money you say?

Leave them a stinker review OP.

Gonnagetgoing · 15/10/2021 12:35

@sunglassesonthetable

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

Fgs. stop wearing any jewellery when you go away OP.

Fgs. Don't be tired or arrive late or expect a clean, quiet room Op.

and admittedly if you're very sensitive to light, you should travel with an eye mask.

Fgs. You're responsible for all light levels OP.

You lost me at deciding to stay in a room that wasn't clean without saying anything.

Fgs Op Take responsibility!

Fancy expecting a clean room that you can a quiet night's sleep in. And yes you paid good money you say?

Leave them a stinker review OP.

Well if you do take it away then keep it in a security deposit box at the hotel, in the room etc. That's what I would do if it was valuable.

Petty thefts have increased generally since the pandemic and people are doing desperate things.

Gonnagetgoing · 15/10/2021 12:38

@sunglassesonthetable

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

Fgs. stop wearing any jewellery when you go away OP.

Fgs. Don't be tired or arrive late or expect a clean, quiet room Op.

and admittedly if you're very sensitive to light, you should travel with an eye mask.

Fgs. You're responsible for all light levels OP.

You lost me at deciding to stay in a room that wasn't clean without saying anything.

Fgs Op Take responsibility!

Fancy expecting a clean room that you can a quiet night's sleep in. And yes you paid good money you say?

Leave them a stinker review OP.

This is very amusing. It does seem as if OP is very sensitive to noise and light levels - I'm similar so I was saying what I'd do - being a seasoned hotel traveller.

I've often been disturbed by hotel air con, fans etc - so to be on the safe side I travel with eye mask, ear plugs to ensure I'm disturbed. Seems as though OP is some special snowflake though as she can hear all sorts through ear defenders even. I give up.

Gonnagetgoing · 15/10/2021 12:40

@ClaudiaWankleman

This isn’t what you want to hear but you really shouldn’t take this kind of item away with you if you’re concerned about it being stolen.

Ridiculous. Isn't everyone concerned about their belongings being stolen, in hotels, in public, in their own homes?

Should we just not own anything?

You take your chances taking something very valuable away and having it stolen in my experience. OP can complain all she likes but if it's gone, it's gone. And yes, that's why security deposit deposit boxes either in the hotel room or at reception are available.

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