As I had to be in New York for the World Institute of Pain congress in march I made a booking for a 7 nights stay in the dream hotel NY at Travelnow.com in januari. However one day after the booking I had to make a change in the booking (6 instead of 7 days) due to a cancelled meeting. I e-mailed the service desk of Travelnow.com and they replied that this change would cause a withdrawal of the 15% discount, meaning I would have to pay almost the entire roomrate for one night not spend in the hotel. When I replied that I did not agree with this deal and wished a new offer for the 6 day stay (we're talking 3 months in advance here) or wished to cancel the booking otherwise I got no reply at all on several e-mails. Then I decided to cancel the booking because there was no reply whatsoever.
On januari the 26th I noticed $ 1300. To be debited from my creditcard, several e-mails to the service desk of Travelnow.com were not replied and I only got one reply two weeks later that indeed my booking was cancelled, but nothing about the debited money. I e-mailed again several times about the debited money, again without any reply.in the end I had to refute the money at the VISA card organisation.
Doing some further research on the internet I found some real horror stories on this booking agency from other people losing lots of money and having complete holidays wrecked without any refund. (just google them and you'll find the reports) In the end I have booked another hotel at another agency.
In conclusion:
Due to the very unsatisfactory (not to say fraudulent) services of Travelnow.com, (or as they also call themselves: Newyorktripplanner.com or IAN travelservices as shown on the creditcard receipt):
1. Dream hotel has missed a six day booking
2. I have spent to much of my precious time on sending e-mails and getting my money back.
3. I did not get to stay in the hotel I wanted to be in.
I sincerely hope this report will protect other people from this experience
Anesthesist
Montfort
Netherlands
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