My Frustration in the hands of booking.com

On the 7th June 2019,I supposed to had check in at Sims Guest House in Greyville -Durban for my Comrades Marathon. Only to find out that the guesthouse had closed. The owner of the then guesthouse ,called booking.com to find out why I was not informed and refunded,as her guesthouse closed in January,she was told that the was miss communication and they apologise.

The way forward from booking.com,was,I had to look another accommodation and they will refund me at the later stage,I tried to explain that I got less than R1000 as I knew that my accommodation and transport is paid up,but they couldn't budge.

If it was not because I already took money for the other room from my friends,I was going to cancel running the Comrades Marathon and go home. I contacted some of my friends,one of the Samaritan friend,came to my rescue by borrowing money to book accommodation for a friends who already paid a deposit for another room and earlier phoned me to send a location of the guesthouse.

How did the double rooms came about,when I was busy applying for accommodation,their system gave me some problem,then I started a new page,when I finish and got to payment,it pickup that cancelled application and it deducted for two rooms,but I thought it's done deliberately as they knew that when you cancel,they charge 70%cancellation fee.so I kept the second room as I know I will find some Comrades Marathon runners who didn't managed to secure accommodation.

Accommodation for a friends was secured at Cape Point next to uShaka Marine at R3800,another Samaritan friend,came to my rescue by allowing me to share with him at the Blue Waters Hotel for the duration of the Comrades Marathon.

As im writing my dilemma and frustration today,I have not refunded my money,I was send and email to contact the owner of the then guesthouse,why?your guess is mine.but on the 7th June,I was told that they will refund me in 7days or so.

At this moment,im ashamed to call my Samaritan friend who borrowed me the money to postpone the goal post.still R5200 has been paid,thanks to booking.com.

My target for my Comrades Marathon was sharted,but I do thanks my God to finish with my second best of my target.

I won't wish anyone to experience what I had experience ,thanks to booking.com