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Prepaid but Refundable Rate
I’ve been noticing a trend over the past few months where a rate is advertised as prepaid/non refundable but under the cancellation policy it states that you can cancel x days prior to arrival without any charge.
This reads like an oxymoron to me and I’m not sure if these rates are refundable or not. For example, Sheraton TriBeCa New York, 11-12 January 2020. I’ve seen this for hotels in a number of countries and is very frustrating. I wish the terms would be clear and simple as it seems like the user is trying to be tripped up. Any ideas / experiences? Thanks |
I’ve seen a trend of cancellable/refundable rates that require a partial or full prepayment, especially at resorts.
I’m just not in the mood of advancing $6k or $7k for a reservation months ahead, mostly because I’m pretty sure that in the event I do end up cancelling getting the deposit back would be a major hassle. |
I’ve seen those too but the rate I’m referring to says prepayment/non refundable but then says you can cancel without any charge.
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Originally Posted by MePlatPremier
(Post 31605580)
I’ve seen a trend of cancellable/refundable rates that require a partial or full prepayment, especially at resorts.
I’m just not in the mood of advancing $6k or $7k for a reservation months ahead, mostly because I’m pretty sure that in the event I do end up cancelling getting the deposit back would be a major hassle. |
These rates are becoming more common. My only experiences with them are having BRGs denied because the lowest rate is this kind of prepaid but refundable rate which has no equivalent on OTAs.
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Originally Posted by escapefromphl
(Post 31606023)
I’ve seen some resorts that take a deposit on all paid rates. I assume it’s just to curtail speculative booking.
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Originally Posted by MaxFlyer
(Post 31605641)
the rate I’m referring to says prepayment/non refundable but then says you can cancel without any charge.
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Originally Posted by escapefromphl
(Post 31606023)
I’ve seen some resorts that take a deposit on all paid rates. I assume it’s just to curtail speculative booking.
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
(Post 31607499)
I would run away from any property that can't get its terms straight, but one of the basic tenets of contract law is that any ambiguity resolves in favour of the party that didn't draft the contract. Based on that, it would be refundable.
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I'm with the OP on this - last three bookings have all had exactly the same conflicting terms. I think the reason is that they only have a limited number of "headers" for the rate categories - Standard, Deals & Package and Pre-Pay & Save - and that within that last category are rates that are both refundable and non-refundable depending on the specific property, dates etc. This was the language that seems to be at the heart of the issue from a dummy booking I just did and this seems to be where the confusion is - the first and second bullet points seem to be at odds with each other.
Cancelling Your Reservation
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Originally Posted by thetaxman
(Post 31609087)
I'm with the OP on this - last three bookings have all had exactly the same conflicting terms. I think the reason is that they only have a limited number of "headers" for the rate categories - Standard, Deals & Package and Pre-Pay & Save - and that within that last category are rates that are both refundable and non-refundable depending on the specific property, dates etc. This was the language that seems to be at the heart of the issue from a dummy booking I just did and this seems to be where the confusion is - the first and second bullet points seem to be at odds with each other.
Cancelling Your Reservation
I don't think that these are conflicting terms. I would view these terms as fully non-refundable. |
Here's an interesting variation of the above which I came across last night:
Rate DetailsAAA Advance Purchase Rate, AAA card required required, see Rate detailsHolding Your Reservation
Cancelling Your Reservation
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Originally Posted by KRSW
(Post 31610201)
Here's an interesting variation of the above which I came across last night:
Rate DetailsAAA Advance Purchase Rate, AAA card required required, see Rate detailsHolding Your Reservation
Cancelling Your Reservation
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Originally Posted by JohnneeO
(Post 31609515)
It seems like there are two separate things here. One is cancellation, meaning there is no charge to back out of your reservation. The second is that your prepayment is non-refundable. In other words, you won't be charged any additional fees to back out of your reservation at the time you cancel, but you will forfeit any prepayment.
I don't think that these are conflicting terms. I would view these terms as fully non-refundable. |
Non-refundable AND free cancellation?
Currently looking at some options for a trip in January, and am running across some very strange rates. Here are the terms and conditions for one of them.
On the main page, it says: Member Rate Advance Purchase, prepay in full, non-refundable if cancelled less than 1 day before arrival, no changes, see Rate details Holding Your Reservation We will need a credit card prepayment to reserve your room. To ensure that you receive this special rate, we will charge your credit card a prepayment of 1160.67 USD when you make your reservation. Cancelling Your Reservation Changes to your reservation are not permitted. Please note that you may cancel your reservation for no charge until January 4, 2020. Please note that your prepayment for this special rate is non-refundable. Not clear to me how you can simultaneously "cancel...for no charge" and have the full prepayment be non-refundable? Who writes this stuff? :confused: |
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