Royally fucked over by Diamonds Lodge on booking.com and can't contact anyone

[Gingernaut]

I've booked 8 nights in a guest house in York

The pictures were fine and I've had no issues with booking.com before

I've arrived and it's a barely disguised HMO with drunks in the front garden, no reception, no one on site and my room is at the top of the house giving Rising Damp vibes

The hotel website Diamonds Lodge.com redirects to a China tourist page, the email is a Gmail and I can't get hold of anyone.

It is an absolute shit hole and apparently I forfeit the entire fee if I walk.

How do I remedy this

I've tried calling booking.com, but I'm cut off as soon as I speak to someone.

I am so so sorry but I would never book anywhere without looking at tripadvisor first. If you did you would see that this place is the worst ranked guest house in York - 54 out of 54 https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186346-d17803978-Reviews-Diamonds_Lodge-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html I would really kick up a fuss with Booking.com and threaten to go to the papers etc

The reviews from booking.com were OK

Clearly something has changed since the reviews were posted

The reviews on Tripadvisor are almost universally terrible and mention all the issues you’ve encountered. Anyway, glad the Premier Inn had space.

Was it the one near Monkbar? I walk past it every day if it is and would not recommend.

If there is anything I can do to make your time in York better, just let me know. I am happy to offer any advice I can

I am thinking of Diamonds Inn!

Regardless happy to help in any way I can

Maybe fake reviews…

😢😢😢

OK. TripAdvisor from now on.

I'm in York. It's a dive. Glad you are sorted now.

Hilarious that the website claims Wigginton Road has lots of shops, businesses and restaurants. It doesn't. It has a hospital with a costa and a small co-op. Lying toe rags!

Please take photos and leave a thorough review.

I thought that. I guess that is a place holder picture from the website template.

Glad you are somewhere better now, OP.

These are the pictures on booking.com - totally fine for a budget guesthouse

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/crossways-guest-house.en-gb.html?aid=304142&label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaFCIAQKYAQm4AQnIARHYAQHoAQH4AQuIAgGoAgO4ArjWxqcGwAIB0gIkYWZjODM5MzItNGY1Ny00YjQwLWJkYzctZjEwOTgwMjllYjVj2AIG4AIB&sid=a973fc1bf5461e5a3636a8a5425771b9&dist=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;type=total&

This is what their own website turned into

https://www.diamondslodge.com/

And this is what I paid for...

And yes, that four plug extension is run off one plug socket, which is meant to run a TV, fan, fridge AND kettle.

Added bonus was the unswitched 4 way extension, hidden under the bedding for the bedside lamps, run from an unswitched plug socket

I had no idea these existed - but the rule is, as long as the appliance has a switch, a switchless socket can be used

Ring your bank and ask for a visa refund.
i was scammed with airport parking meet and greet who never turned up and as I’d paid through visa debit I could get the money back as it was within 120 days. https://www.visa.co.uk/how-you-pay-matters/chargeback-purchase-disputes.html

ABTA and also your card company to get the money back

They left a hairdryer that was meant to be used off that socket as well.

Basically, they're taking advantage of this.

When it was a B&B, it had a 4⭐️ rating under the old Enjoy England system

That's been superceded by Visit England's assessment ratings.

The building is clearly under new ownership, has been revamped into whatever that dump is and they are still putting 4⭐️ rating down on booking.com

I arrived alone in a village in Crete at 2am and found the apartment I had booked and paid for using lastminute.com was not available nor had they any record of my name or reservation.

The owners were very kind and helped me but had never used lastminute.com to advertise or sell their business.

There was no customer service to help. These companies are so illegitimate.

Keep trying Booking . Com.
We had an issue in Cyprus with our accommodation and they were brilliant and refunded the full cost.
Took me 5 attempts to get through from Cyprus.. (l had to email photos of the place.. )

I always use Tripadvisor for this very reason but having looked at the listing on Booking OP I can see why you thought it was okay. I would be heavily complaining to Booking as that is hugely misrepresented on their website.

Booking.com tried to help last night, but Diamonds Lodge were not picking up the phone

At the bank, waiting for my appointment, looking for the city council buildings now

Those TripAdvisor and Booking reviews are quite the contrast. All the Booking reviews 7+, saying how friendly the staff were, that the rooms were clean and the location was great. All the TripAdvisor reviews are say filthy, and no staff at all. It's like a totally different place!!

Keep on at Booking.com @Gingernaut. Glad you're in somewhere cleaner, I am a massive fan of Premier Inn as you know exactly what you're getting in terms of cleanliness and facilities. York is a lovely city, make the most of it.

Thanks. I'm on the case.

Premier Inn, here in York, has it's own idiosyncrasies- consisting of two different check in points and three accommodation buildings, the free WiFi is lousy, but it's air-conditioned and clean

Currently raining.

That kettle on top of the fridge looks lethal!