Hotels.com de*****ing customers by not confirming bookings with guesthouse

I confirmed an accommodation booking on hotels.com on 17 September 2019 which I fully paid for at the time (check in 01 November and check out 03 November). On the same day I received a confirmation email from hotels.com that my payment was received, and my booking is guaranteed. A week ago, I followed up with the guesthouse where I did my booking to confirm dietary requirements only to find out that they have no booking for me. I sent them the confirmation number and the confirmation email from hotels.com but still to no avail. I immediately followed up with hotels.com only to find out that all the communications channels (telephone local and international) that they avail is not operational. On 23 October I received an email from hotels.com indicating that the guesthouse has informed them that they are not able to accept my reservation (keeping in mind that hotels.com guaranteed my booking on 17 September) and hotels.com provided me with alternatives that were up to 55kms away from my original booking. I rep**** immediately that these alternatives were not viable. On Saturday 26 October I received a call from a call centre agent (after multiple emails and failed calls from my side) indicating that they will provide me with more suitable alternatives on the same day. Needless to say, I received nothing from them. Today 28 November I received an email from hotels.com in preparation for me checking in at the guesthouse of my original booking with there being no booking at the guesthouse. I must question the integrity of the hotels.com booking system. They accepted my money on 17 September and did not confirm the booking with the guesthouse I booked at. Today 28 October I have no viable alternative (3 days before I am supposed to check in). I believe they are taking customers money and earning interest on it which is effectively theft. This to me is effectively ***** and I’m sure that done on a wider scale they must be making a fortune *******ly. I await hotels.com feedback with regard to my funds they received on 17 September and the credit card interest (23%) plus the capital amount they should refund me as they have not fulfilled there obligation with regard to my booking.