amanda h.

DON'T BOOK WITH THEM! GETS WAY TOO COMPLICATED AND I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAVE ANY MONEY!

I'm due to stay at the Reservation Hotel Exedra Nice on the 9th
March (something special for myself and my boyfriend for my
Birthday) and am slightly concerned about my booking now for two
Reasons,

1) I booked it through booking.com, now from what I have read about
Them seem slightly shady in the way they earn their
‘no fee' business. This booking I have made if non-refundable, and
If I cancel I loose 167 Euros.

2) I have received the following poorly written bizarre email from the hotel:

Dear Madam / Mister,
We thank you for your new reservation at the Boscolo Hotel Exedra
Nice.
I am send you attached the credit card debit form to complete and
To send us back with the copy of your credit card (both sides) and
Your ID, within 24h, in order to charge the prepayment of your stay.

Without any answer within 24h, your reservation will be
Automatically cancelled.

We remain at your entire disposal for any further information you
May need.

Best regards,
*************
(i'm not going to put the persons name, I think that is abit mean.)

P/O

I had to double check with the hotel as I thought it was a scam
Email from africa, asking for ‘zeee monies', so they are asking to
Send copies of my CC card both sides and ID, only ID I have is a
Passport, essentially I'm assuming to make a NON SECURE
Transaction, or just to perhaps keep some of my most important
Details: my CC and passport details on record?! I'm sorry but who
In their right mind would supply that information NON SECURE,
When we live in a time that fraud/money theft is rife and we have
10 million passwords for everything we use etc also when I have
Been through a SECURE transaction payment process online, using my
Passwords etc. I'm disappointed about this
Already, as I'm not even sure that is legal?

So I have been on the phone to booking.com and to France twice
(from the UK), costly and not how I want to spend a Monday night. Slightly annoyed
At Booking.com because they did the whole, "It's not us it's them"... type
Thing. They did not make any of this clear on their website.

So I have spoken to France, expressed my concern/annoyance etc, and
The poor boy on the phone was very nice and helpful, and said I should
Send and email saying that I'm uncomfortable about sending this
Information, which is fine, I did. Then I speak to Booking.com
(sighhhhh) again then they advise me that I just have to respond with a
Confirmation that I authorise the CC payment, which is what I
Thought I did when I PAID and entered the tiny numbers from my CC
Card online. So this has all been very long and boring and not what
I wanted.

The hotel say:

Dear Madam

Due to several stolen credit card used to make a room reservation on different websites, in order to secure the payment of the non refundable reservation, we need to receive the authorization completed and signed by the credit card holder with the copy of the both sides of the credit card

This process is requested by the different bank company to avoid non valid transactions

We are sorry to add another step in the process of making the reservation and we look forward welcoming you at the Boscolo Exedra during your next stay in Nice.

Which makes no sense. I've never booked a hotel in this way. This was not made clear on Booking.com at all.

I just don't see why it's been made so difficult, all I want to do was pay for the room, SECURE ONLINE
Arrive on the 9th check out. Now there is this 24 cancellation thing of a none
Refundable reservation hanging over me, how convenient, for both the hotel and booking.com.

Now I'm not sure about the hotel, looking at reviews, it doesn't seem to be up to the 5 star
Standard they say it is.

So apparently I still have the booking even though I have not sent them my CC detals, but i'm a little anxious now that there will still be some problems having read other reviews, like ‘sorry you didn't send your CC
Details so we cancelled your booking', or because you have been perceived as being difficult because you won't give them all your most important data "here is your broom cupbard of a room". I have totally lost faith and slightly dreading the 9th, just because I don't know what I'm gonna get and I'm minus 167 Euros!

AND BTW there was also no point in booking with booking.com becuase there was no difference in the room rate, I checked the hotel website. Actually don't book at this hotel, pain in the arse!

If you have any problems booking.com push it onto the hotel, blame policy, which already has your money so they don't care.

Many thanks for you eyes.