SH
Steve Harcourt-Cooke

1 reviews | Active since Apr 2024

25 Apr 2024, 12:33

Fleeced by eavesdropping owner

I have used Booking.com extensively and the accommodation was full on their website for Sunday 7 April 2024. I was planning a flexible stay for a business trip and from the Tuareg website called the owner directly who said she had availability for what was advertised on Booking .com. I booked and paid in advance for a two-night stay and arrived at 7.45pm as planned to check -in. No response from the gate intercom and felt unsafe waiting in the road. Eventually the owner answered her phone and opened the gate. I was then put in the only room on the ground floor, south facing next the front outside entrance car park and dining-room and was immediately disappointed as not what was on Booking.com photographs which were all upstairs, north facing with balconies overlooking the garden. The owner gave me the Wi-Fi password, and I tried to call my wife on WhatsApp video call, but the signal was too weak. I sent a message to the owner which she did not respond to. I was unable to work with no internet signal. The following morning at 7.30am I spoke to the staff who said the owner was asleep, but she may be able to change the room. I left my packed bag at the door. At lunch time I returned and spoke to the owner who was incredibly rude. She verbally attacked me saying she heard every word I said to my wife eves dropping outside the door the previous evening complaining about the room where the bathroom light was in the entrance hall outside the room and the owner said just leave the light on and close the door? I asked to change rooms and she said they were fully booked. I said the Wi-Fi signal was too weak in the room, and she was unapologetic saying I could work from a desk upstairs. I then politely asked for a refund for the second day I had paid for as the Wi-Fi signal was too weak in the room, and she point blank refused and became verbally aggressive. I then wanted to leave and take my bag with to look for possible alternative accommodation and she would not allow me to put my bag in my car saying I would not return the key as other guests had done in the past. I then left my bag at her insistence and returned a few hours later, having found alternative accommodation with no breakfast. I returned the key and left extremely disappointed that I had been fleeced R2 000 for a room for one night. The owner was not honest upfront stating all the upstairs rooms were fully booked and was trying to make a quick buck renting out an inferior room with no privacy.

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