Ripped off by Priceline??Need Your Input

[rance222]

Had a 5 night Priceline reservation.After 2 nights had to leave the city due to a family member being admitted into intensive care.

The hotel said they would not charge priceline for the remaining nights as we checked out.
When I called Priceline, they made me get the hospital name, number and Dr and that they would call the hospital to verify my story for a refund.

After a week, still no contact.So I called them and they said sorry no refunds.

I realise Priceline says no refunds, but if the hotel didn't charge them, why are they still billing me and why make me provide all the info. if they were still going to charge me? Not something I wanted to do during a difficult time.

Anyways, was I ripped off $500, or simply buyer beware?

I definately won't use Priceline again as the unexpected can happen.

Thanks for your input.

[RACE20]

I would not expect priceline to refund me. I am not trying to start anything, but I understand if I use priceline and don't stay I'm out of luck under any circumstance. You may be able to work something out with the hotel for a stay at a different date.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Sorry about that... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] And, we agree to their policies when we bid with them.

Hope your family member is ok.

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[hdawson]

A deal is a deal. File a claim with your travel insurance company.

[jwlane]

Priceline prepurchased 5 nites from the hotel at a reduced rate, then sold them to you. You agreed to buy 5 nites at a set price. If they don't refund any money, it would be unreasonable for you to claim you were ripped off---you agreed to it. If they refund any money, you should be very thankful.

[travellady]

For future reference, I know this doesn't help in this case, they now offer travel insurance. I purchased it when I took a trip in Feb as my husband hadn't been feeling well. It was only 5.00 more per night but though I ended up not needing it, I was glad the option was offered.

[rance222]

Thanks for your input.I was asking more of a question regarding feeling ripped off.

I guess I found it odd that they would have me gather all the hospital info.for a refund, if they didn't plan on offering one.

An interesting side note, was that Priceline said the reson they couldn't refund me was because the hotel charged them for the full 5 nights, the hotel said that was untrue...oh well.

Anyways, I'm not complaining, but something to keep in mind as a deal isn't always a deal.

Would my company travel insurance cover something like this??

[lisajoy]

We always book the expedia and when we had to come home for an emergency 2 days early we were not charged for the 2 days. They even sent an email with a coupon attached by the time we got home so we would use them for future stays.

[bld24]

Why don't you try getting some documentation faxed to you from the hotel that they didn't charge the entire 5 nights. Armed with that you should have a much better chance at a refund.

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[Nitra]

Basically back to the old.. you get what you pay for. I have seen Priceline do this to sooo many people. I have seen people that had a family member die and they had to get home fast and came to me crying because they got their ticket thru priceline and the airline and Priceline refused to help them so they ended up paying for a one way ticket home. I refuse to deal with them because I dont agree with the policy.

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[D4]

Priceline states their policy very clearly. Part of the way they give the great prices is to make their reservations nonrefundable.

[TomCat32174]

Here is the lowdown on Priceline. Forst a brief intro as to why I know so much about their policies. I used to be a genral manager at a hotel and I had entered my hotel onto priceline. First off, the hotel HAD to charge priceline for the entire 5 nights because at the time you make and confirm your reservation, priceline forwards it to the hotel and gives the hotel a certain credit card (which belongs to priceline) to pay for the totoal night stay. The card can only be authorized and charge for the full amount of the reservation. So, for the hotel to say that they have only billed priceline for the 2 nights, is a lie. IF, and I mean IF, the hotel wanted to have a refund issed to priceline, it is their responsibility to contact priceline to have them issue the refund to you. The hotel has to confirm with priceline that you had only stayed for the 2 nights and then issue the refund after paperwork between the hotel and priceline is complete.

As a previous poster had mentioned, the hotel should have offered you a return trip voucher for a discounted stay IF they wanted you to be a valued customer, I did.

This is also true for other sites such as hotels.com.

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[altalee]

I have also had a run in with Priceline. For My Grandmas funeral I lined up a motel for my Mother and handicaped brother. Many questions were asked the most important thing was would the room be handicap acsesable they assured us it was, even the bathroom. BULLPUCKY!!!
Mom arived at the hotel to find herself on the third floor with only a service elivator(was told to share with housekeeping) and the wheelchair would not fit through the door. Price line said it met their standards of acessablity so there would be no refund. Needless to say the hotel shuffled and fixed it but NEVER again will I deal with priceline. They are shisters.

Alta & Peter
Legends of the seas 6/27/04

[lmmn]

Priceline states very clearly - non-refundable. When you book with Priceline you take a risk. For many of us booking a 3* one night stay for $35-40...the savings is huge and the risk is small.

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[NYDee]

We have saved so much money booking hotels through Priceline that with the remote possibility that we have to cancel our plans for a trip we will still be dollars ahead.

We don't book airline tickets with Priceline because we find better deals on other websites.

Priceline clearly states the policy and anyone that doesn't want to abide by it should not take the gamble.

[ILov2cruise]

I understand non-refundable, but if the hotel is not billing price line than why should price line bill you. I think you should pay a service charge to price line but not the full amount since they are not paying the hotel.

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[smoothdancer]

I have to agree with all the posters, that Priceline is for some, and not for others.

A few months ago I decided to take the plunge and try Priceline. So I bid and got a downtown suite in FLL at a good price. After further thought, I really wanted beachfront. Ok I knew the risk, and lost.

So I went onto Travelocity and booked the hotel I really wanted. My 2 day reservation with Priceline will go unclaimed. I know I cannot get a refund, as I played by thier rules and lost. So I just dont show up, my credit card gets charged, and I feel that OK...a few dollars lost, but I am all the wiser now....I am not a Priceline type of consumer.

Works for some and not for others....I am one of the others.(now a more educated other)

[DChabira]

It never ceases to amaze me how people want to pay a bargain basement price and than expect 5 Star Customer Service.

I have used “Priceline” hundreds of times for Hotels and Rental Cars and have always received amazing deals. I don’t use them for flights as my schedule usually requires me to pick very specific times, for this luxury I have to pay more.

“Priceline” did not rip you off. You bid on a “take what you get” offer that was non-refundable. End of story.

[ahoughton]

You people have convinced me to never deal with that old bad Priceline. The nerve of any business to stick to the terms of their agreement. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

"Baby lets cruise away from here"

[banderboo]

sorry you got exactly what you paid for a non-refundable, paid-in-full hotel room. Yes unexpected things happen but if you want to be covered for them then you need to purchase a hotel room that allows for changes.

Diane
Explorer of the Sea 12/5/04
Legend of the Sea 9/12/04
Voyager of the Sea 8/24/03
Sovereign of the Sea 07/01

[CSW]

We've done quite well with Priceline and been
aware of the potential for loss, still feel
the money saved overall is worth the risk of
being a no-show. Have had nice rooms in great
locations so far.

Read the fine print on "full pay" hotel cancellation penalities. Can be pricey these
days.

CSW

[Diane&4girls]

I'd booked a 4 night stay for a trip with the kids. My dad's doctor called on the second night and when we went outside to get in the car, it had been stolen!

I never expected a refund from Priceline, but I called anyway and was told, "NO". However, I did have insurance and was able to get my $700 back from the insurance company.

My car was never recovered, but that was insured too. My dad died when we got home... he, an insurance broker for 30 years, was NOT insured.

Diane
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[hdawson]

Oh Diane. That is so sad. Sorry for your losses. Sounds like alot of us. Drs that treat themselves. How frustrating.
In April I was booked to cruise with HAL for the first time and then came down with bronchitus. I mailed my travel insurance claim
on May 25th. CSA called on Jun 2nd to say the claim had been been approved and the check was being mailed that day. That is great customer service. I had purchased their Web Special Policy for a very small premium. I'm impressed.
The loss included a priceline purchased hotel night.

[B]THANK YOU CSA[/B]

[Diane&4girls]

Hdawson,
My policy was through CSA as well. I had a check within 7 days! Awesome!

We (the company) now use Berkeley. I haven't had a client with a claim yet, but I'm sure they offer the same quick service.

Diane
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[hdawson]

Diane. I've always used Travel Guard and for some unknown reason, I bght CSA Web Special policy for this last minute cruise that was cheap by comparison. I will now probably continue using CSA. The premium was only $56 for a 7 day cruise. I was unaware that the cruiseline refunds port charges when a cruise is cancelled. We live and learn.