Our company called us to go to Cedar Rapids, IA to get the power plant up and running after the 2008 flooding. As per policy our forman went down on 6-22 to check out the plants condition and to find available rooms for the crew. He was able to get 4 rooms at the Super 8 with the promise of staying at least two weeks. The Super 8 was informed we would be there long term and needed these rooms. After the forman rented and paid for the rooms, it is up to each person to call the motel and reserve one of those rooms. We called the motel and we were told that all the rooms had been reserved already. I traveled from Wisconsin and after much searching found that I had to take a room on the trip down away from Cedar Rapids since most motels were holding their rooms for local people. I had reservations at the Motel 6 for 4 nights but starting on the 24th. I had to be on the job on the 23rd. After arriving I talked to the forman and was told that he had a room reserved for me at the Super 8 and had no idea why the motel told us they were booked. We had given the motel the name of the forman the rooms were reserved under. So I cancelled my reservations at the Motel 6 even though the price was half but also knew I needed a room for more then 4 days and the promise we would have rooms made me change motels inspite of the price difference.
We were sent home on the 26th but held our rooms since I had paid for a week in advance. The conditions of the plant were so terrible and filled with snakes and water etc that we were unable to start the maintenance process yet. Upon arriving home and checking my receipt, it was apparent that I had been charged for Sunday and Monday nights which I hadn't even stayed there because I was told by the motel the room wasn't available. We called the motel and explained the situation of the bill. The lady was extremely rude and refused to look at the forman bill to see if he had paid for the room etc. She informed us that the forman had to call and straighten it out. This was understandable. The forman had already told me that he had already paid for the two nights we weren't there but yet they were on our bill. He called back and said he spoke to the motel and everything had been taken care of. I again called and was not given any answers as to weather it had been taken care of but would receive a call back from the manager. This never happened. I had also asked if the room was still available for the time needed to repair the power plant. I was told that the room was available and that we would have it. We did request that the room be changed to our own name rather then the formans name, which they should have done when I checked in. We were also all charged a higher price then stated but due to availibilty of rooms in Cedar Rapids, we had no choice but to pay that price. Before returning on Sunday I called and was told the room charge had been taken off for those two days and check out would not be until July 1st. I asked if the room was still reserved for the time needed after July 1st. I was told the room had already been rented out to someone else. Upon returning to the job, I found out all the rooms the forman reserved had also been rented from underneath us.
Upon checking in the first day, I found that the phone did not work. Reporting this did nothing. No one could fix it. So I had to use my cell phone and incurr even more expense. The second night the air conditioner went out and it was hot and sticky. That also was not fixed or repaired.
We came down to Cedar Rapids to help these people but could not believe the rudeness of a lot of motels, not only this one. We were told by most motels that they weren't renting out rooms because even though they had rooms available they were saving them for the flood victoms. This is fine but what about the people that are coming from other states etc to help get your city up and running again. They need rooms as well and will be working 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day and certainly can not be traveling two hours one way for a room. The situation there is terrible but that is no excuse for treating those that are trying to help the way they are being treated and inflated your rates as well. Truthfully, I don't care if your power plant is never running again and I am not so sure some of the business people of Cedar Rapids deserve help from others. It's a sad situation and I feel sorry for you people but you also need to give others a break when we are giving you a helping hand. God bless all of you good people.
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