Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Canceling a Priceline booking...

I had a 4 night hotel stay booked through Priceline and a week before we were to go my wife broke her foot. So much for the trip and there goes our hotel $$$. I figured I was hosed and without travel insurance, I felt sure there was no chance getting my $$ back.

Not so fast there...

I contacted Priceline via email and explained the situation hoping that maybe they'd give me a partial credit or something.

The next day I received an email saying I needed to call them and they might be able to work something out but they'd have to contact my doctor.

So I called them and explained the situation, they called my DR while I was on the phone with them and in about 5 minutes things were all wrapped up and I had a full refund less a $75 cancellation fee!!!

I'll take it.

I almost didn't bother to contact them thinking there was no way they were going to do any kind of refund or credit.

Take a chance.. What have you got to lose.

Yes, but was this a "name your own price" booking, or just a regular one?

And I am wondering how, since it was your wife who broke her foot, you were able to have a conference call with her doctor and Priceline, as this is clearly in violation of HIPPA, unless you had written permission to do so, or she was on the call with you.

That's why I posted...
It was a name your own price! No sense in posting about getting a refund on a regular reservation.

Well if your're that concerned about Hippa... when we are at the DR we told them about the Priceline thing and that it was OK to talk to Priceline.

Take a chance.. What have you got to lose.exactly !


just for the record, it is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

That's why I posted...
It was a name your own price! No sense in posting about getting a refund on a regular reservation.
People post obvious things on chat boards all the time. I am not a mind reader, thus the question. You were lucky and that's great you got your money back.

Well if your're[sic] that concerned about Hippa...
I deal with this every day and just wondered. IMO, much of HIPPA is kind of a joke in regard to confidentiality.

I deal with this every day and just wondered. IMO, much of HIPPA is kind of a joke in regard to confidentiality.

You got that right. I call them up to try and get some info and they say "we need to talk to your wife so she can give us permission."

Heck, I could get one of my co-workers on the phone to pretend she was my wife.

you are lucky.