How to cancel a non-refundable booking?
 

Some time ago I booked a non-refundable rate on the Accor site, quoting a virtual CC number in payment.

Accor's systems being what they are, they confirmed the booking without debiting or puting a hold on my card.

A day later I found a much better deal at a different hotel; noticing that my CC was not yet debited, I canceled the virtual CC number.

The reservation however still stands on the Accor site, even though more than a week has passed.

Now I am in a dilemma - should I cancel the booking (and risk waking sleeping dogs) or simply not show up?

What would you recommend? Assuming they cannot charge the card now (I am not sure about this of course), what else can they do to try and recover the cost of the non-refundable room?

If had pre-booked a non-refundable reservation and arrived at the hotel to find no room available, you would be furious at the hotel for not keeping their part of the contract. Why do you think it's ok for you to pull out of the deal? Not very ethical on your part, is it?

Nope, not at all - but I am neither claiming the moral high ground nor did I come here for a lesson in ethics. Extending that logic no one would fly on a mistake fare or attempt to book a hotel on a mistake rate and so on..,

Your request is similar to a business offering a great deal and, after days/weeks/months backpedals on the signed contract; Highly unethical and unprofessional.

This is not an ethics forum; Thus we are surprised with your unethical question.

"If you need to ask, you should know the answer..."

That is as may be - but you clearly need one

If the hotel has 100 future guests booked unrefundable rate, then half of those try to cancel their room with some tricks to avoid payment, I believe the hotel will suffer major loss.

By coming to a public forum you sort of give up the right to dictate the lessons that others try to attempt to impart or the opinions that they will bless you with. All you can really do is sit back and enjoy as your character gets pulled apart.

We obviously don't have access to the agreement between you and the issuer of the virtual credit card number, but my guess is that you are (quite reasonably) on the hook for charges you authorised even if they don't post until later.

I do not understand why someone want to cancel non-refundable booking. If the person made a mistake (book the wrong date), I can understand.

But trying to cancel it because you find better rate??? If you are not so sure about the booking why don't you book on flexi rate?

You booked pre-paid because it is normally much cheaper. For me if it is not significant difference, I will just go with flexi rate, and the price different is my options.

Sell your room on Roomer