Starwood Preferred Guest - Am I Alone? Overcharged Points!

Recently, I booked via telephone a 12 night reservation (1O starpoint nights plus 2 nights free) at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. The agent charged me 16,000 points for each night or a total of 160,000 points. I was told that "Category 5" was a 12,000 (low season) and 16,000 points (high season). My stay is from Oct 24-Nov 5, 2008 so I am at the hotel this very moment. As a plat, I checked in and started chatting with other members in the Executive Lounge and learned that they were paying 12,000 points per night. I called Starwood and learned that the initial agent made a mistake. The charge for the time period of Oct 24-Nov 5, 2008 is 120,000 points. Next year, in 2009, that same time period will be considered high season and the charge will be 160,000 points.

Apologies were given and 40,000 points was returned to my account. 40,000 points to me is roughly equal to one thousand dollars cash and that causes me to take note. So I ask....

Am I Alone? Or have others been overcharged when using the reservation telephone for platinum members?

I stayed there last week. They hotel was also downgraded to a 3-star property, and, it's a franchise if that helps. Yet, it was boosted to the category 5 only because of the location, not on quality or services which are greatly lacking.

Since the CR is closed Fri (post breakfast) until Sun eve, consider the Westin. They keep their CR open all week and have a better health club.