Beena B.

So I started my hotel and flight search on booking.com, found some hotels and entered my information, but not actually booking anything, moments later I receive a phone call from an agent asking me about my possible booking as they retrieved my details from the website, I thought great I can speak with someone about the booking and clarify things like can I cancel and change my accommodation after booking etc. I was told everything I wanted to hear over the phone by this agent 'LUCY' sounded French, but found out she was based in a call centre in madrid. Anyway after reassurances that changes could be made to my accommodation, I ended up booking over the phone for flights and a hotel, which I though was booking.com, but turned out is handled by lastminute.com - once I received the email confirmation, lastminute.com were the providers and not booking, com as originally seen. This was a little strange, but everything seemed ok with the booking. Two weeks later I call to make a change to the hotel as I then decided after collaborating with friends also travelling, that I wanted to stay in another location and hotel for 3 nights, as opposed to staying the full 14 nights in one place. Well as soon as I called 'lastminute.com' I get through to a call centre in India now, all of a sudden I cant make any changes to my accommodation as it was booked with flights and is a 'package' even though contracts are separate and I didn't want to change any dates. They said they couldn't guarantee any changes and it would take 7 days for someone to get back to me by email?! WOT after being misold the holiday and given verbal reassurances of being able to cancel and change, I was hearing something different all of a sudden. They said changes could be made on the my booking part of their website - NO this is a totally useless thing where no changes can be made and no further information is available in regard to cancelling or changing. I rang three times and all three times I was told they will be looking into the original call when I made my booking to ascertain what I had been told - I only want to change 3 nights and this is a simple enough request with any other holiday provider especially as travel is not due until late August?! I paid a deposit and was told if I cancel now I will lose my deposit?! THIS WAS NEVER RELAYED TO ME AT THE POINT OF BOOKING?! Surely something as important as this should be the first thing you tell someone?! The agents are totally useless and are die hard sellers trying to make commission and will tell you what you want to hear to make the booking - nothing has been confirmed with my booking as I've only paid a deposit and they are waiting for full payment?! This to me means I can change hotel accommodation If I want? TO cut a long story short I could have booked the flights and hotels separately (saved money) on the booking. Com website and been able to make changes IF the agent had not called me and convinced me to book both through her - this is misleading and totally scrupulous of lastminute.com not to not advise of all my options and the issues with booking a 'package' even though we can book these things separately and have more flexibility. PLEASE DO USE LAST MINUTE OR BOOKING.COM FOR FLIGHT AND HOTEL PACKAGES THEY WILL SCAM YOU AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK - I am now having to dispute the deposit taken with my credit card company for a refund as I was totally mis-sold - SHOCKING that this company has a huge presence on the internet and are not taking responsibility for the rogue sellers they employ and for misleading people.