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Anybody here have success getting a refund from Hotwire for one of their hot rate hotel rooms? I tried before I checked in because once the hotel name was revealed, i looked at the reviews. They were bad. The customer service agent was unhelpful, reminding me that all hit rates were final and telling me that most reviews were exaggerated.

They weren't.

That was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, and I enjoy stopping in "interesting" mom and pop hotels on road trips. Clear evidence of drug use and sex work. Smell of drugs everywhere. Grounds and balconies hadn't been cleaned in years. Room had missing floor tiles, and reddish brown stains on the walls. The bathroom walls were crumbling at the bottom. Etc. The smell was bad.

This was a name brand chain hotel, too. I will be calling them too. I'm not a complainer typically but I'm about to go all Long Island mom on this place.

If hotwire isn't helpful, you might consider working through your credit card company if you didn't use debit. If debit, your bank might be able to help.

Other than that, I don't have anything for you, hotwire is a bit of a gamble, and I'm always reluctant to get a low-star hotel through them when I can't check reviews first.

I have had good luck with them in the past. I usually do the hot rate, even for business. This is the first time it has backfired so badly.

I've done CC chargebacks on hotels before, after trying the other options (maybe it's my name, or that I look like a sheepish tourist, but hotels like to jack my room rate at checkout/billing, or add bullshit fees). Discover is pretty good about them, and I've heard Amex is similar/better.

Denbrought said:

I've done CC chargebacks on hotels before, after trying the other options (maybe it's my name, or that I look like a sheepish tourist, but hotels like to jack my room rate at checkout/billing, or add bullshit fees). Discover is pretty good about them, and I've heard Amex is similar/better.

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Your rate should be on your registration card when you check in. If there's a rate increase during your stay, it should be in writing right there too. The clerk is supposed to point out the rate and have you initial the page next to it.

If any of you are going to dispute charges after the fact, please do NOT call in the middle of the night. There's nothing we can do for you at 4:30 in the morning.

DarkAudit said:

Your rate should be on your registration card when you check in. If there's a rate increase during your stay, it should be in writing right there too. The clerk is supposed to point out the rate and have you initial the page next to it.

If any of you are going to dispute charges after the fact, please do NOT call in the middle of the night. There's nothing we can do for you at 4:30 in the morning.

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Oh yeah, that's what's gotten my disputes through most of the time--discrepancies between my printed/e-mailed records and what they try to bill without my prior consent.

One hotel in Atlanta quadrupled my room rate for a 2-day stay, and they told me at checkout.

Coincidentally this hotel was in Atlanta.

Hotwire agreed to "investigate issuing a refund". They sent me an update email saying they were unable to reach the hotel so far.