Priceline Reviews

I've written to Priceline for consideration of the circumstances (unless I make the meeting, there is no point in taking the trip). I would appreciate any advice or information you might have come across on similar problems. Bottom line is that consumers should be aware when using Priceline, that all deals are final, and you may not be happy with what you get, even at a good price.

If you wait at least 2.2 hours on music hold and try for a month or so like I did, I got someone to help me. They said I had to pay $100.00 to cancel my tickets when I told them they had the wrong days. They seemed shocked. So I accepted the $100.00 charge to have them remove $300.00 of worthless tickets. That was usury, but what was I to do? Keep AMEX waiting for payment while we got to court? If I use my credit card, why I am penalized to cancel an order when the company made the mistake? I know what days I wanted to travel, and they changed them to sell a ticket. Smooth!

The details: In looking for a good price on a motel, I put my search information in on the Priceline.com's web page. I immediately realized my error when after submitting the information, they told me that I would be informed as to where I would be staying in a certain amount of time. I immediately called the customer service number and they told me in no uncertain terms that there would be no cancellations and no refunds and that it states this on their web page. Again, I had seen that statement but I believed that was their policy only after I had a chance to look over the information. I realize I must be very naive because I have this false impression that I, as the consumer, would have some say into what I was spending my money on.

Additionally, I thought that if something was not satisfactory, that I would have some recourse in getting my money back as I do with almost all other business I deal with. However, as I now know, that is not the case. In talking with the customer service representative, they finally admitted that I could cancel my reservations for $25.00, but when she transferred me to the person who was to help me, I was mysteriously cut off. When I called back, I had to explain the whole situation a second time and was again told that there was absolutely no cancellations or refunds. When I told him that the previous representative had told me about the $25.00, he was OK but that it was $25.00 a night to cancel.

I was livid at the outrageous practices of the company and the cost to reconcile this matter. I realized that I made the mistake of trusting this company and was willing to pay a cancellation fees. However, I find this amount to be extremely excessive. It will cost me $175.00 to get nothing.

Priceline intentionally made their web page unclear so unsuspecting people would be sucked into buying something when they thought they were just inquiring about the price and availability. I have been in contact with my credit card company and have made them aware that I did not authorize the charge and I have no intention of paying for their tickets. I do not have them and I do not want them. I am submitting this complaint in the hopes that they are prevented from engaging in such deceitful business practices in the future.