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Thu 1 May, 2008 05:00 pm
So, some people may have heard some of the problems I had with a hotel in the planning of my wedding which happened recently. To make a long story short basically I had to find an alternate location for a reception, had to find a room for 4 people to sleep (which was a fair distance away from where everyone else was staying) and paid approximately $2000.00 more than what I was anticipated because of "adam", the son of the hotel owner. Below are my notes on the situation. (Sorry they are kinda rough)
Does anyone know if I have any recourse (legal or otherwise) I can do that can help me resolve this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I've been screwed over?
02/15 - Grand Suite room reservation made in person at the hotel desk for 04/25 and 04/26. Asked "Adam" if it would be alright for approx 20 people. We were told that would be ?'fine'. ?'It has a full kitchen. "Can have stuff catered in."
02/16 - Confirmed rooms reserved upon check out. Told hotel clerk to take credit card information to hold room
04/10 - Sent e-mail confirming our reservation and what we intended to do in the room. Offered to put down $$ deposit in good faith to be sure everything would be good.
04/13 - Received response from "Adam" stating could not accommodate 30 people in the Grand Suite. Fire code would allow only 10 at one time. (was not told did not have room reserved). We were fine with this, decided to change our reception plans from a dessert reception to a dinner reception (we already had made dinner reservations for everyone. This left a three hour time frame between ceremony and dinner) and knew our family well enough to know they would spend most of the time in their own rooms and visit us for short periods in the Suite.
04/20 - Called to verify room reservation. Found out we had room for Friday (04/25) but not Saturday(04/26) . (was not told by the clerk, needed CC information. Appears to me at this point, I may be wrong, that reservation was deliberately canceled by "adam" to avoid fessing up to his mistake )
04/21 - Spoke with "Adam" and clarified, room was going to be used for 4 to sleep. Alternate reception arrangements have been made so that we will have no problem with ensuring the fire code restriction in the room." Made additional reservations at another B&B to accommodate the 4 people who were intended on sleeping in Grand Suite on Saturday. He stated there was a note for the Grand Suite that I was going to call back with CC info. He stated I never did.) I suggested to the "Adam" to move whoever they booked into the Grand Suite into a different room since I had obviously made reservations long before they did and I was a long time customer of their hotel with no problems previously. He said he would ?'try' to call them and ask them. According to him he was unsuccessful in getting hold of them.
04/23 - Fiance called to find out if there was any luck on getting the Grand Suite reserved for Saturday night. (I was stressed from all the last minute planning needless to say and he was trying to solve the problem for me. ) Fiance was basically told by "Adam" "Friday night room is not held because there is no CC information
.I can cancel all your reservations
I don't have credit card info to the hold the room
.We don't want your kind of people here."
04/23 - Called to confirm all room reservations to be sure they had not been canceled by "adam" and verified proper CC information was listed for the other rooms I had. Had a discussion with "adam" reguarding the number of times we had stayed at the hotel, the number of rooms our guests were occupying in the hotel and what "I" would have done to preserve a long time good customer. The answer seemed fairly simply. Move those who they booked in the room to another room in the hotel. He said nothing and refused to do anything because they did not want us "partying in the Suite." Note that we had a total of 18 people staying in the hotel. That was the entire guest list that showed.
Side note: When I saw the people they put in the Grand Suite on Saturday night they were let's say
.about 15 years younger than me. (I'm late 30's) (Just two of them by the way!) They were wearing rock band grunge attire and left beer bottles and fast food containers all over the room upon check out. Not trying to stereotype anyone but I can tell you we were more their ?'preferred' type of customer than the ones who eventually ended up in the room. I just cannot believe that "Adam" could not see the error in his ways enough to fix it with what I saw as a simple solution.
You've had a beautiful wedding, everything went great.
My advice: Let this go!
Don't stress yourself over it any more.
It will always be your word against his.
I would also suggest letting it go. It will be a good story to tell your kids about. We had a little snafu at our wedding reception many years ago. While at the time we weren't too happy about it, it has become part of the story of our lives.
It's just not worth getting worked up about.
Thanks for your replies. *sigh*
I did have a beautiful wedding. I guess the long time customer service person in me wants him to realize what a problem he caused so that others in the future don't go through the same thing. Alas though your words of wisdom are wise. I wish I could let it go so easily.
Do you have any documentation besides Adam's word against your word? If not, I can't imagine there is anything legally you can do - but I am not a lawyer.
If you really want to be compensation in some way, I would suggest sending a letter to the manager/owner of the hotel detailing the information you collected and if you have any written documents or emails, reservation numbers. I would hope the hotel gave you at least a reservation number. They may compensation you a free night stay - I doubt they will financially reimburse you.
As I wrote previously, we had our wedding reception site close just a couple of months before our wedding date. We did not get compensated other than our returned receipt and we had a written contract. We also had to pay more money at an alternate site (fortunately we were able to get a very nice alternative). I was just thankfully everything went beautifully in the end that the thought never entered my mind to try to get compensated in any way. I am of the mindset of the others, let it go - and it is true, it makes an excellent story years later.
Sounds like Linkat has been there, and done that. Since everyone in a motel is busy defending their position, money is darn hard to pry out of them. Getting a comp in the future is within the realm of possibility.
Now, nearly all motels are franchises, you might contact the franchiser. They have lots of clout, since the motels really need ther nationwide reservation system, not to mention the name on the sign.
I don't recall if you paid a deposit, or used a card for preauthorization. Anyway, if a receipt exists, it might be helpful.
The only written documentation I have is a response e-mail from them saying they could not allow 30 people in the Suite and that the fire code only allows 10. My e-mail to them stated that I understood I had reservations for both Friday and Saturday but they never once addressed it in their response. Heaven knows the horror that could have happened if I had not called to verify the reservation myself on the Sunday before. At least that gave me the opportunity to cancel my deli order and reduce the stuff that I had planned to take for decorations in the Suite for Saturday. All in all I am very glad I reserved the room fiance and I stayed in since it had a private sun porch where we could have people visit with us between the ceremony and reception. That is ultimately were we set up a veggie tray, drinks and the wedding cake which we ate after dinner. It was a bit cramped but everyone was very gracious about it and we made the best of it. Thankfully the weather was nice and we were able to open up the doors on the sun porch so that a nice airy breeze kept everyone cool.
My credit card info was supposed to hold the room but since 'adam' stated they didn't have it, I guess I had no proof of my reservation except the fact that I did have the room on Friday night and there was a 'note' that "adam' states I was supposed to call back with the cc info. *sigh*. I just wish there was more I could do. Honestly I feel insulted that "adam" thought we would potentially trash their Suite. I am a professional, so is my finance and we definately did not have a 'big shindig' planned. We didn't have a garter/ bouquet toss, dancing or any of the other things that happens in most wedding receptions. We are a quiet bunch and simply wanted to spend a nice evening visiting with our guests in a nice comfortable place.
Last ditch effort; the credit card company may have a record of the original authorization (not charge) that they would share with you.
Actually, there is probably some regulation not allowing more than two registered guests per bed. Guests at a reception are just temporary guests and would not be covered by such regulation.
Now, I used to work in a motel. Parties do get out of hand, and collecting for damages is not easy. Still, it was their job to make the decision when you made the reservation.
Oh, just write it off to experience. In the future, document everything, just as you would at work. In other words, names, date and time, and receipts. On a reservation, there will be a confirmation number. Demand it from them, or go somewhere else.
The Suite was set up to sleep 5 people which was my main concern as I had to find reservation for 4 people to sleep since they messed up the reservation. The nature of the suite is different than a normal hotel room however as it is the only one in the hotel with a full kitchen, dining room, living room, tv room, 2 bathrooms and 2 seperate sleeping rooms. The sq foot is over 2000 ft and was furnished like a 2 bedroom apt so honestly it would not have been unreasonable to have my other guests visit for short periods of time. We would not have even considered having the reception there had it not been for "adam" stating that we could use it for that purpose when we booked the room in Feb
MagicBlackCat wrote:The only written documentation I have is a response e-mail from them saying they could not allow 30 people in the Suite and that the fire code only allows 10. My e-mail to them stated that I understood I had reservations for both Friday and Saturday but they never once addressed it in their response. Heaven knows the horror that could have happened if I had not called to verify the reservation myself on the Sunday before. At least that gave me the opportunity to cancel my deli order and reduce the stuff that I had planned to take for decorations in the Suite for Saturday. All in all I am very glad I reserved the room fiance and I stayed in since it had a private sun porch where we could have people visit with us between the ceremony and reception. That is ultimately were we set up a veggie tray, drinks and the wedding cake which we ate after dinner. It was a bit cramped but everyone was very gracious about it and we made the best of it. Thankfully the weather was nice and we were able to open up the doors on the sun porch so that a nice airy breeze kept everyone cool.
My credit card info was supposed to hold the room but since 'adam' stated they didn't have it, I guess I had no proof of my reservation except the fact that I did have the room on Friday night and there was a 'note' that "adam' states I was supposed to call back with the cc info. *sigh*. I just wish there was more I could do. Honestly I feel insulted that "adam" thought we would potentially trash their Suite. I am a professional, so is my finance and we definately did not have a 'big shindig' planned. We didn't have a garter/ bouquet toss, dancing or any of the other things that happens in most wedding receptions. We are a quiet bunch and simply wanted to spend a nice evening visiting with our guests in a nice comfortable place.
I would then write to the manager/owner or franchise company and pretty much state what you have said here. I would include in the end how Adam made you feel. Keep the words professional, but I see nothing wrong with stating the fact you felt insulted when Adam either said or insinuated that you would trash the place - maybe replace trash with damage.
You may not get anything, but at least you can feel you did whatever you could. I see nothing wrong with writing or notify a business when the service is not up to expectations.
You are oh so wise Linkat. thanks so much for the advice!
Thanks - at least some one thinks I'm wise.
Could you rely this to my manager - it is merit time right now?
Surely but do you think it would be awkward trying to explain a magic black cat think's you;re the cat's meow?
MagicBlackCat wrote:Surely but do you think it would be awkward trying to explain a magic black cat think's you;re the cat's meow?
I've had worse references.
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