BRADCLIN HOUSE

Good Day I made a booking via booking.com on 14/09/2019, for accommodation in Cape Town at a place called Bradclin House. Accommodation was booked between 28/12/2019 and 09/01/2020. On making the booking there was an option of a "Pay Later" which I clicked on. After making the booking, I checked my account the next day, 15/09/2019, to see that the entire amount was taken off the account, an amount of R17680. In the interim I was advised that I need to make a booking for 6 people as opposed to 4, which I had already made. This was to include my aged parents, my dad being afflicted with severe Parkinsons and as such needs to be with someone to see to them constantly. An email was sent to Bradclin House on 16/09/2019 requesting a 6 sleeper. Response from them was received on 17/09/2019 where a 2 sleeper at a different venue could be given to me. As my parents cannot live away from us, I requested cancellation immediately(17/09/2019) I received an email on 19/09/2019 saying that this was a non-refundable deposit. On contacting the owners, I was informed that they can give me an 80% refund immediately or I can wait until accommodation was re-booked by someone else and would then get the 100% back. I checked on the site for those exact dates and it reflects "SOLD OUT' but the owner was adamant that this is a lie and I can only receive payment after the 9th of January 2020. As this was done with no malice on my side and the owners have suffered no prejudice, I feel that this money needed to be returned immediately. This matter was taken up with the Ombuds but has tobe escalated as the respondent is not responding. To date we have had no refund or response from the respondent. We have sought legal advise and been told that this is ******* as per the NCA and that funds have to be returned.