I'm going to a high demand property in a few weeks for a convention. I booked a fully-cancellable reservation several months back at a relatively (exorbitantly?) high rate. The reservation email says I can cancel any time up to 24 hours prior to arrival.

In reviewing my credit card charges, I see the property has charged my credit card in advance for the full amount of the room night charges. Further, they've arbitrarily changed my reservation and online it presently says "Special Event, prepay in full, non-refundable if cancelled less than 30 days before arrival, see Rate Rules ". Note that these terms are not the terms in that I booked, nor did I authorize a charge to my credit card. However, I'm highly likely to attend, use the room, and pay the (now already pre-paid) rate. So in the end, it's likely to be wash.

In the meanwhile, I'm not very pleased by the unilateral changing of our agreement nor the charging of my credit card. On the other hand, I don't want end up with my room cancelled at this late date.

If I were to complain, to whom should I complain, and what would I expect (if anything)? I don't really want compensation--I'd rather this kind of approach be stopped.