Priceline
Hotel booking showed no cancel fees but first night kept

United Airlines reservation screen has a link to Priceline, and because it was convenient I booked my hotel room with Sheraton through priceline. The web pages show "NO Priceline Change or Cancel Fees!" on every page. First they claim that the rate shown is "Special Rate" and if you click on it, it explains AGAIN that there are no fees for changes or cancellations. Then later on in the process, at the bottom of the page, in such a way, that if you fail to scroll down, they say there are no fees for cancellation as long as you cancel by - date (3 days before arrival date). Followed by "however, the hotel requires payment for the first night's stay"...

I didn't scroll down and didn't read change in "no cancellation fees" deal nor their fraudulent claim that the hotel requires a one nights fee. That is total lie - Priceline is keeping the money for the first night's stay. Furthermore, the room rate is not special, I can get the same rate through Sheraton without booking fees. And with Sheraton, you can always cancel as long as it is before 6PM on the day of arrival. I checked trying to book a Marriott room through Priceline, and same thing, they claim Marriott requires a one nights room rate for cancellations regardless of when you cancel. Total lie.

What a rip-off company. I will write to United, Sheraton, and Marriott and tell them how their good reputations are getting hurt associating with fraudsters like Priceline.

Company: Priceline
Country: USA
Site: priceline.com

  <     >