I stopped at a hotel at the start of September - I was at a mates wedding.
I'd booked it over the phone 2 weeks previous (the website said it was full...) and got a quote of £92.50 for both nights.
I got there and they'd spelt my surname wrong, so had no record of my booking....

I sent this email to the hotel chain and the franchise holder:
Quote:
I booked the above hotel over the phone 08/19/08 after being told on the website that the hotel was full. I wanted two nights to attend a family wedding. I was told there had been a block booking cancellation and these rooms had not yet been put on the online booking. I was told it would be at a cost of £92.50. I checked that this amount was for both nights and was informed by the man at the end of the phone that yes it was. I said yes I'd like that and was given a I was given a booking reference - 234459. I put the phone down and was happy. I arrived at the hotel on Friday and they had no idea who I was. I informed them of the booking reference number and the found my booking...name of STANOEY. Never mind, just a typo. The reception staff seemed to have no idea how to take my card authorisation - yet when I questioned it with another member of staff the next day she knew MaestroUK didn't authorise like that. After 10 minutes of 'messing around' I got a key card and went to my room. I went in, and found stains on the carpet, makeup on the wall and a general bad state of repair. I did however have to repair the case stand before I could use it; it was only a screw come out and only took me 5 minutes, but it would have taken a handyman with the proper tools even less - I used my nail file as a screwdriver. However was in a rush - I was expected at a meal - so left. Next morning was woken by the sound of the chambermaids in the corridor. I went for breakfast. I'm a vegetarian and my cooked breakfast consisted of fried egg, grilled tomato, baked beans and mushrooms. I asked for hash browns and was told they'd run out. This was 830 and breakfast ran till 10. Not much luck for those somehow sleeping in. I had toast also and a croissant. And breakfast was costing me how much.....? Never mind, went to the wedding had a good day. Had arranged to meet a family friend who was also stopping at the same hotel at the bar...but wanted to change my shoes. I went to my room and my key card didn't work. Went to reception and she tried to make out it was my fault - I'd put it near something metallic, or something else that could cause it. I said no, it had been in my purse all day, but she re-programmed it and all was fine. Next morning WAS WOKEN UP BY THE CHAMBERMAID coming into my room at 830. I'd put the chain on so she couldn't actually get into my room, but in all the hotels I've ever stopped in Sunday's cleaning has always been done later, so hadn't worried about the 'do not disturb' sign. Breakfast actually had hash browns .... Packed my bags and went to check out. Bill still said STANOEY but they'd changed it to say Miss Stanley somewhere else. I was shocked to see it say £173 on the bill though. If I'd been informed it was going to be this much I'd have looked for accommodation elsewhere. I specifically asked if the £92.50 was for both nights and made a note of this on making the booking. I did question it at the time but I was told that there wasn't even a rate that would have cost £92.50 for the weekend and as I had a car waiting for me, begrudgingly paid up and left.
The room - in my opinion was not worth £86.50 a night. As I have previously stated there was a previous occupants make up on the wall (I cleaned some of it off), the electrical ducting underneath the television was hanging off. There were empty rawlplugs next to the television also - not a nice look. There were marks on the wall that looked like someone had placed a case on the bed and scraped the wall with the plastic feet they have. The toilet seat was stained. There were stains on the carpet. I have stopped in hotels in the Outback of Australia for a third of the price and had better room surroundings than this.
I look forward to hearing what you are going to next.
Yours unhappily
I posted this on the Thursday after, the chain has responded and passed it on to the franchise saying I should hear from them by 10/1/08... I sent it to the franchise at the same time, explaining this was what I'd sent to the chain and was sending it out of courtesy. I sent it again a week later....and still heard nothing.
I'd heard nothing so I called them this morning....well in my world anyway - was about an hour ago, and gave them two hours to investigate and they are going to call me back.
This is a BBBBBBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGG chain of hotels - the reply from the chain came from the US. The franchise is letting the name down
I'm not being stroppy am I?
And no, I'm not saying who the chain is... I can't afford the litigation.