Ritz Hotel could not accomodate us and refuse with our refund

<p>Hello Peter,</p> <p>On the 4/4/2016 I made a deposit of R***XX to account number ********** 884 , which is help by ABSA BANK , branch code 632005 that belongs to The Ritz Hotel using reference number BB ********** 650049 and sent prove of payment to ********** which all email are received by VERONIQUE FORTUIN.</p> <p>Please note: I am not the only one who paid the deposit my friends ( 3 couples ) also paid the same hotel with the same account number for the Hotel to accommodate us from the 30th Dec 2016 until 4th Jan 2017. The problem started when we were about the settle the payment for accommodation, because their policies clearly states that balance must be paid before the guests check in.</p> <p>Last week Fri, 25 Nov 2016 at 6:28 PM I get an e-mail from ********** which belongs to Pieter Van Eck a General Manager (he can be reached on ********** ) and it indicated that “It is with regret that Shimmy Luxury Collection cannot meet the originally booked accommodation that you as a client with The Ritz Hotel Cape Town reserved. </p> <p>After starting a project that was time lined as a simple project, it was found that to no fault of Shimmy Luxury Collection and our own upgrade of Hotel standards, the refurbishment has ground to a halt due to a recent municipal STOP WORKS order and thus the project is in limbo until all city approvals are in place - especially Health and Safety concerns for all guests which is a key ethos to our business.”</p> <p>Fair enough there's nothing we can do about renovations although we are much inconvenienced about the whole thing.</p> <p>During this time it’s too late/ expensive for us to get any accommodation at this point in time. Last week Monday on the 28th November 2016 I spoke to VERONIQUE FORTUIN requesting at least for my refund so that I can move forward and get accommodation. And she promised that money will be paid within 7 working days.</p> <p>Yesterday 6th December 2016 was marking 7 days and I decided to call today 7th December 2016 on their number which ********** 7th Dec 2016 and find out about the delay because we were already late by last week when they told us we can’t be accommodated let alone the money we already spend for flights, tourist attractions places ect in cape town. So today I call VERONIQUE FORTUIN again to check the progress of the refunds and she says there’s nothing she can do on her side she has submitted all the documents for refunds and when I ask to speak to the senior or responsible person no one is available to speak to me it’s either they are in a meeting or not IN. So I would like to know if am going to get my money back or I must just forget about my money and loose everything including the flights money because I can’t go to cape town without accommodation what’s the point.</p> <p>In my 10 years of travelling experience I have never come across such , it’s embarrassing and unprofessional.</p>