I Won the Credit Card Battle

When Ed and I went to CT over Labor Day weekend, I called the Sleep Inn hotel in Niantic, CT to make a reservation. The Indian/Pakistani/Arab gentleman took down all my credit card information and said they had space available for the evening. He asked me if I would like to cancel the reservation during our conversation. We had called several other hotels that night and they were all booked, so I told the man that I would not be cancelling. If they had a place, why would I cancel on the same call when I'm making a reservation. That seemed odd to me, but whatever.

Ed and I arrived 1/2 hour later, and discovered that the Motel 6 was cheaper and was right across the street. I called the Sleep Inn and told a woman that I would be cancelling my reservation and wouldn't be staying there. I lied and said something about going a different direction. Ed put the hotel on his card this time. The lady on the phone told me that as soon as I hung up, my credit card was charged. I told her that I didn't understand the man, and I don't recall hearing him tell me that. She said I had to call the man in the morning. I called, and of course, he wasn't in. I then called my credit card company. The lady told me to fax a letter of explanation and they would get back to me.

Well, I checked my bank account today, and my account has been adjusted. Yippee skippee!! I have battled a hotel one other time and lost, so I'm happy it worked out this time. The lady at the Motel 6 said tons of people show up at the Sleep Inn, see that the Motel 6 is cheaper and try to get out of paying the Sleep Inn. If the Sleep Inn manager would tell people that they are being charged, then he can legally charge people, I guess. The way he does business now is so shady. I hope he loses his business license.

I think I'm lucky I have that fancy concierge-platinum card. It has come through for me.