1800hotels.ie - what's happening?

xraylady · 13-07-2010 2:40pm

People with more tales of woe! Bride & Groom called in from Malta. Wedding guests all booked with 1800hotels and now bookings not being honored. Also family stranded in london, same story. No word from 1800. No new info really...

Just spoke to YouTravel (in Athens) they say that 1800 have paid up until end of month, so any bookings would be ok until then. (again, "dont worry!") If any problem they will let us know. Waiting for more info from 1800. Problem is, our booking runs into Aug (2nd) so STILL no wiser really.

24hrhotels · 13-07-2010 2:53pm

1800hotels have most of their hotels with GTA, Youtravel & Travco. You are covered by your credit card. Just ring your credit card company and tell them 1800hotels has taken a payment and there is no hotel reservation. You will get a refund. On your voucher you should be able to distinguish who the Handler or Travel provider is. You can then contact them directly and rebook your Hotel.

Remember when you pay by card you are covered.

JAMM222 · 13-07-2010 2:56pm

24hrhotels wrote: »

1800hotels have most of their hotels with GTA, Youtravel & Travco. You are covered by your credit card. Just ring your credit card company and tell them 1800hotels has taken a payment and there is no hotel reservation. You will get a refund. On your voucher you should be able to distinguish who the Handler or Travel provider is. You can then contact them directly and rebook your Hotel.

Remember when you pay by card you are covered.

what about if you pay with laser card???

Tippex · 13-07-2010 3:02pm

JAMM222 wrote: »

what about if you pay with laser card???

Lasercards generally are not covered under the chargeback scheme.

steve-o · 13-07-2010 3:06pm

Blogschief wrote: »

I always book with travel agent as they are bonded and your money is protected.

Careful now! You are only covered by travel agent bonding if you buy a package. Hotel only or flight only is not covered. Always book by credit card wherever possible.

If confirmed, it's sad to see them go and terrible for anyone with immediate plans or anyone who has lost money.

24hrhotels · 13-07-2010 3:13pm

JAMM222 wrote: »

what about if you pay with laser card???

I'd ring your bank and tell them your transaction has not been honoured and that you want a refund. Give it a shot anyway.

24hrhotels · 13-07-2010 3:16pm

steve-o wrote: »

Careful now! You are only covered by travel agent bonding if you buy a package. Hotel only or flight only is not covered. Always book by credit card wherever possible.

If confirmed, it's sad to see them go and terrible for anyone with immediate plans or anyone who has lost money.

Not all is lost. If you have made bookings with youtravel we are agents for them here in Ireland and may be able to help with rebooking. We only accept Credit Card or Paypal and you are covered by both.

First things first though, ring the credit card company immediately and explain the situation.

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 3:17pm

On LIVELINE today ( 13 July 2010 ) - load of people caught out on holiday having to pay ... again. Apparently 1800 had not paid the hotels. Also a load of people with advance bookings having paid in full.

Maybe some return on credit cards?

PLUS go here - www.1800hotels.ie

GONE ....

Cheers
AIdan

Sofiztikated · 13-07-2010 3:18pm

We've had some people walk into the hotel with confirmation from 1800hotels, and while we've been able to accommodate them, we've had to get them to pay directly to us, as nothing gas come through from the company.

It's been like that for the last month.

Sundew · 13-07-2010 3:24pm

We were going to make a booking last week for a hotel for an elderly family member. Thankfully we were tipped off about what was going on.
Feel for anybody who has holiday plans mucked up over this

Hope yiz all get sorted out!

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 3:32pm

Apparently they based out of Florida USA also at:

http://www.1800hotels.com/

Gone also Im afraid ..

Aidan

Volviclady · 13-07-2010 3:39pm

Just wondering if anybodies booking was payable through Tourico?

I have emailed them as can not get through by phone....just waiting on reply to see if my booking is secure.....but doubt it

godders · 13-07-2010 4:01pm

I've just called You travel and the hotel themselves and they've both told me that my booking was confirmed but i'm still not 100%. I'm due to travel to Portugal next Thurs so wouldn't be surpised if i'm asked to pay again:mad:

katcali · 13-07-2010 4:13pm

We have found out that our hotel booking for Lanzarote was made but they have not recieved payment. We have paid in full using Laser for 6 people for 2 weeks so it is a fair amount we are out. Flights are paid for too. Everyone is just in shock and its upsetting for the whole family. We now dont know what to do. We have spoken to our Travel Insurance company and they have told us once we get a cert from the bank stating that 1800hotels has gone bust we can make a claim through them-hopefully! This could be a long process though and what do we do in the meantime?? The hotel owner is keeping 3 apartments provisionally for us but we need to decide whether we want to pay again for them or take the risk and hope to get something back from the insurance. If we are not successful in the claim it will be a very expensive 2 weeks!

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 4:18pm

1800hotels Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/1800hotels?ref=ts#!/1800hotels?v=wall&ref=ts

Expand the comments under the message at top of wall starting with "Fans, are you planning on getting away this summer ...

Aidan

godders · 13-07-2010 4:19pm

Hi Katcali, on your holiday voucher who was the holiday payable by? Mine was YouTravel which according to another poster have been paid for all bookings until the end of the month but like you im not sure what to do as I don't want to have to pay the full amount again

sp_en_ny · 13-07-2010 4:24pm

Trust me they have gone, if you paid by credit card contact your banks and get your money back asap. If you travel your hotel will most likely have been cancelled and if you travel you will have to pay direct (assuming they have availability) at a higher rate. Call the hotels in advance and see if they will honour the original price you paid 1800 but be warned they dont have to. All staff were sent home yesterday and i gather a rescue package was being worked on but i think this will be very unlikely. All their suppliers are cancelling all of their bookings. This is as much as i can say i am afraid.

sp_en_ny · 13-07-2010 4:33pm

I forgot to say, I know all of this becasue i work in the industry and are one of the suppliers having to cancel bookings. If you are looking to rebook through a reputable company i would recommend www.onhotels.com i think you will find rates just as competitive and reliable.

katcali · 13-07-2010 4:35pm

godders wrote: »

Hi Katcali, on your holiday voucher who was the holiday payable by? Mine was YouTravel which according to another poster have been paid for all bookings until the end of the month but like you im not sure what to do as I don't want to have to pay the full amount again

"Hotelbeds" was the name of the company who our holiday was payable by. I have emailed them and have heard nothing back. The hotel owner doesnt have a clue whats going on. He seems to think it will still be paid but im not too sure.

Noel Gibbs · 13-07-2010 4:36pm

The company has hit the wall owing substantial amounts to various wholesalers. In all likelihood they went bust paying too much on ppc, or buying forward currency badly.
Nearly all forward bookings will be cancelled, so I would suggest strongly that you claim your money back from your credit card and rebook with an alternative supplier.
If you are looking for an Irish owned hotel booker, then please try www.roomex.ie or the british www.onhotels.com has a sturdy financial basis.

sp_en_ny · 13-07-2010 4:41pm

Hi Katcali,

I know hotelbeds and they have offices around the world but their main one is in Spain. Hotelbeds i think were involved in a rescue package that looks as though it wont materialise and if so i am certain they will be cancelling all bookings that have not arrived. Only suppliers where 1800 had to prepay wont or should not be cancelled. However, very much doubt there were many suppliers where prepayment was required.

Stepherunie · 13-07-2010 4:42pm

My CC company isn't charging it back to my cc even though it only went through 11 days ago. Seems I've lost it, booking is for next november so by all accounts, not a hope it's been paid on.

sp_en_ny · 13-07-2010 4:47pm

They must refund you, you bought a service that will now not matarialise. So under these rules your entitled to chargeback because no service has been provided for what you paid for.

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 4:48pm

Hi guys,

Very interesting. I for one cannot get at www.1800hotels.com through normal browsing. BUT if you use a proxy server to browse annonymously - that is to make it look like you are browsing from outside Ireland - IT WORKS. I tried this as a few people in the states have said they can get at the .COM site no problem.

Here is a proxy service:

http://www.zend2.com/

Just pop in www.1800hotels.com into the ENTER URL field further down the page AND GO, wait for 30 seconds or so ... tadaa!

So are they somehow blocking Irish customers and trying to sustain the US business??

Aidan

katcali · 13-07-2010 4:50pm

sp_en_ny wrote: »

Hi Katcali,

I know hotelbeds and they have offices around the world but their main one is in Spain. Hotelbeds i think were involved in a rescue package that looks as though it wont materialise and if so i am certain they will be cancelling all bookings that have not arrived. Only suppliers where 1800 had to prepay wont or should not be cancelled. However, very much doubt there were many suppliers where prepayment was required.

Thanks sp_en_ny. I know your probably right. We will just have to book the hotel again from scratch and try and get the bank to send us a liquidation cert for 1800hotels and claim from our holiday insurance. We will never pay by laser again. We just wanted to get the payment out of the way so we wouldnt have the credit card bill when we got back

.

Ponster · 13-07-2010 4:50pm

aidanodr wrote: »

So are they somehow blocking Irish customers and trying to sustain the US business??

Aidan

I have no problems in getting to the .com site from France

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 4:54pm

Ponster wrote: »

I have no problems in getting to the .com sire from France

Yes - thats what I meant - YOU ARE IN FRANCE, not in Ireland, you are using French ISPS and servers. I said blocking Irish Customers from Ireland .. somehow.

Others HERE in Ireland would need to confirm its not just me. I am with EIRCOM service provider but using OPENDNS as my DNS Servers,

Aidan

Ponster · 13-07-2010 4:55pm

aidanodr wrote: »

Yes - thats what I meant - YOU ARE IN FRANCE, not in Ireland, you are using French ISPS and servers. I said blocking Irish Customers from Ireland .. somehow.

Others HERE in Ireland would need to confirm its not just me. I am with EIRCOM service provider but using OPENDNS as my DNS Servers,

Aidan

Errr, yeah. My post was to confirm what you had posted, not an attack against it

sp_en_ny · 13-07-2010 4:59pm

If you manage to get on any of the sites do not pay for anything, the site will still take your payment but you wont get your reservation.

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 4:59pm

Sorry Ponster

Didnt mean it to sound like that - believe me I had a happy face when typing it

- Just slightly mis interpreted your line, sorry again!

Aidan

wcarey1975 · 13-07-2010 5:00pm

Have rang CC company and they have said until they recieve official confirmation that 1800 have gone into liquidation then theres nothing we can do. Once they get the confirmation then we can send in a letter for a payment refund chargeback. They have been advised to ask all customers to to check with the hotel directly and confirm the reservation is valid. I have rang our hotel which is in Florida and the reservation is still there. I didnt ask them however if the payment has been recieved for the reservation. I hope all is okay but I highly doubt it. Well heres to finding a new hotel.

stakey · 13-07-2010 5:02pm

Booked a hotel in Barecelona with these shyster's two weeks ago, rang the hotel today and no sign of the booking at all. :mad: Payment was meant to go through Travco so no surprises there.

We're going to pursue a chargeback and luckily there's a few hotels in the same price range on lastminute.com and hotels.com. Lucky this hit the internet as we're due to fly tomorrow and we haven't heard anything from this lot.

Additionally, their Facebook page has fallen off the face of the planet. Or else Irish users aren't allowed to see it

aidanodr · 13-07-2010 5:04pm

PPC - PAY PER CLICK maybe - where you advertise on likes of GOOGLE down right hand side of search list, someone clicks through to your site, YOU the advert owner, PAY a fee per click, not the clicker ...

Look up Google Adwords

Aidan

Noel Gibbs · 13-07-2010 5:06pm

yeah tarka you pansy

Newbee09 · 13-07-2010 5:10pm

we have booked a holiday for my mums 60th in august. The voucher says payable through TRANSFAR AGENCIA DE VIAGENS E TURISMO ? Anyone know who these are?

Tradin · 13-07-2010 5:27pm

I paid for 3 bookings through laser, it's been a major lesson! I have emailed Hotelbeds and have heard nothing yet, they have cancelled one of my holidays this morning, so the hotel told me. I am just waiting really on confirmation to say that they have cancelled the others. I was on Joe Duffy this morning, just to get the whole thing out there, I have also contacted some papers, I mean how many people are going to arrive over in their hotels today/tomorrow and not know about this!!!! As bad as some of us are I would hate to find out on arrival. The whole thing is a mess. :mad:

Ponster · 13-07-2010 5:33pm

From Tripadvisor :

These quotes are from the managing director of 1800hotels around 3hrs ago:

‎1800hotels Graham Peakin: “We have an application before US courts to ensure suppliers honour our bookings. We are taking an injunction against our two largest vendors to prevent them cancelling bookings for a 14 period to enable us go back into talks. It is not affecting all of our vendors, just two particularly large ones.”

‎1800hotels Graham Peakin: “The only reason we stopped taking bookings in Ireland is that we didn’t want to continue to take people’s money while this injunction against suppliers cancelling bookings is being sought in USA.”

Edited: today, 17:24

Looks like they are looking to be taken over!

"Discussion on going. Court injunction to decide whether 2 big bed banks can be forced to honour contracts & allow takeover talks to resume".

24hrhotels · 13-07-2010 5:34pm

Newbee09 wrote: »

we have booked a holiday for my mums 60th in august. The voucher says payable through TRANSFAR AGENCIA DE VIAGENS E TURISMO ? Anyone know who these are?

These are generally the local handling agents for Youtravel.

In case you are unaware how the system works. The hotel recieves confirmation of the booking when the reservation has been made. They are generally not paid until after the customer has stayed at the hotel. The travel providers like GTA, Youtravel, Tourico etc will have contracts with the hotels and pay them monthly after the customer has stayed.

My advice would be to contact the agent or handler on your voucher and see if your reservation is valid quoting your reference etc.

www.24hrhotels.com are agents for Youtravel.com here in Ireland and can assist with rebooking accommodation.

jack presley · 13-07-2010 5:39pm

I have a weekend away booked with them for later in the year so I rang the hotel directly and they said it was booked through Gullivers (i.e. GTA) and everything's in order so that's a relief.

hotelconnect · 13-07-2010 5:47pm

1800hotels have, in many cases, bought accommodation from HotelConnect.

If your voucher shows "payable by HotelConnect" (or similar) we would urge you to contact us on +44 20 8731 7000.

Unfortunately it is likely you'll have to pay for your stay again as we probably have not been paid ourselves. We can however secure your booking for you.

You should then speak to your credit card company or travel insurer to see if you are covered for your original payment.

We'll make every effort to make this process as hassle-free for you as possible.

Thanks
HotelConnect

Korky · 13-07-2010 6:02pm

xraylady wrote: »

Is it definite that they've gone bust? I made booking on 6th July using Mastercard. Bummer... Does anyone know process of trying to recover funds? Looking at accom voucher I received, they use a company called "youtravel" to purchase hotel room. I suppose no point in contacting them.. I can't afford to lose this money! -- As an addendum, actually, I've just contacted youtravel and they've mailed back to say that they will make enquiries first thing in am and let me know..

All purchases made using your credit card are covered by insurance. Contact your bank or the CC company for advice on how to recoup the funding. I was caught in a similar situation (for almost a thousand euros) a few years ago when the Airline EU Jet went bust and the recovery process was very simple.

noonespecial · 13-07-2010 6:05pm

qwytre wrote: »

Cheers for the help. Hopefully my booking is still valid, at least I booked by credit card so there is hope of a refund in the worst case scenario.

you will need to request a charge back from your credit card provider

karlkavo · 13-07-2010 6:05pm

Me and the wife went to Cala Bona, Malorca in june and booked with this crowd. When we arrived we were told there was no booking because Sol hotels didn't receive payment so I had to pay with my Laser card. For 5 days we were in touch with the Irish ofice trying to get it sorted. They then sent a payment to the hotel and we got a refund from the hotel. When we got back I sent them an email complaining and they said it was all a misunderstanding and sent us a voucher for $400. Thats not worth a w@nk now.:mad:

noonespecial · 13-07-2010 6:07pm

Blogschief wrote: »

Bad news for the people that work there. I always book with travel agent as they are bonded and your money is protected. Prices are no different and even better sometimes because they are searching several suppliers. Also I suspect that previous bloggers is wrong in saying that insurance covers you, I thinbk not.

i agree to a point, not all travel insurance covers you but some does, its worth checking your policy

iceax · 13-07-2010 6:13pm

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-13071021m45sliveline1800hotels.mp3

Eppie25 · 13-07-2010 6:16pm

I booked two hotels one in Vegas and one in Mammoth Lakes with them for August..rang both hotels today and while reservations are there.. they cannot confirm payments so rang the third party listed...one was hotelbeds the other mark travel international.. Mark travel have no listing for us..:mad:

noonespecial · 13-07-2010 6:17pm

rayobri wrote: »

I rang GTA and left a message.They got back to me and all they could say was my booking was still valid at this time and that they could give me no other information. They told me I needed to contact 1800hotels.ie. I explained that they were not answering and was told that was all they could do. I then said I would ring back every few days and was told it would be preferable to contact 1800hotels!!

The credit card I booked with was a halifax is no longer in use obviously so if booking gets cancelled I could be screwed.

the Dublin office is closed, the Tampa office is closed, and the UK office is closed.

Its more likely that the US office will open first if any do, you can get the number from 1800hotels.com which is still running.

+1 813 384 2040 (USA)

if they ask you to email in your request do so but also keep ringing and note down when you emailed them

jenniferb · 13-07-2010 6:17pm

My brother made a booking through 1800hotels and the confirmation email says that this is payable through hotelbeds. Does anyone have an email address for this crowd. Have looked on their website and cannot seem to find one. He paid by laser so it's looking like he has lost out :mad:

noonespecial · 13-07-2010 6:21pm

macl wrote: »

+1 for bonded travel insurance

very true, i'm always going to make sure any company i use in the future is bonded, i had a booking with them too.

just so you know not even the staff saw this coming.

noonespecial · 13-07-2010 6:23pm

24hrhotels wrote: »

1800hotels have most of their hotels with GTA, Youtravel & Travco. You are covered by your credit card. Just ring your credit card company and tell them 1800hotels has taken a payment and there is no hotel reservation. You will get a refund. On your voucher you should be able to distinguish who the Handler or Travel provider is. You can then contact them directly and rebook your Hotel.

Remember when you pay by card you are covered.

the travel provider is on the vouchers "Payable by [company name]" as seen in my previous posts

1800hotels.ie - what's happening?

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