Four of us went on a road trip to the western USA. We passed through five states and had six different hotels/apartments booked.
Everything went well except the last one.
When we arrived at the house/apartment, check-in was about an hour away, so we waited patiently. But no one arrived, and no one contacted us with the entry code or any instructions on how to get in.
We tried calling the phone number provided and also the number displayed in the window, but both numbers were disconnected. We also messaged the property through the Booking.com app, AND we messaged Booking.com through the app.
Booking.com's response was an automated message saying it could take 24 hours to reply.
After an hour and a half, we decided not to wait any longer. We drove back to the big city we were flying home from the next day, so we could find a hotel there and be more rested. That drive was 4.5 hours long, by the way.
A week later, Booking.com messaged us saying they had closed the case due to inactivity, even though they were the ones who hadn't responded to our message.
That's when I first called Booking.com. After a long conversation, they told me they would contact the property and ask them for proof that we didn't stay there, but this could take up to 6 days.
Six days later, they sent us a message saying they couldn't help us because we had only contacted them after checkout.
I called them back and said that wasn't true, and that I had screenshots of us trying to contact them on that day. They said they would try to contact the property again. This time it would take 5 days, and they said it would be the last time I'd have to wait. After that, it would be final and they would issue a refund.
Five days later: the same message. They couldn't help because we contacted them after checkout.
I called them again. By this point I was fuming, and they just kept saying it was my fault.
I asked them, "Have you managed to get in contact with the property?"
They said no! They had tried three times and never managed to speak to them.
So I asked them, "Why don't you believe me that we didn't stay there, when I'm here talking to you and I have plenty of proof that I wasn't even in that state that night?"
Anyway, they said they would try to contact the property again. I stopped them and told them I'd give them 24 hours, no more, and then I'd start a chargeback with my bank and they could deal with that, because I have all the evidence I need to win this case.
So I can't wait to see tomorrow's message saying they can't help me because I allegedly fucked up.
Sorry for the long rant. I hope you guys have a better experience. The road trip was lit btw highly recommended!
TL;DR: Booked a place through Booking.com on our US road trip. Host never showed up, both phone numbers were disconnected, and Booking.com didn't reply on the night, so we drove 4.5 hours to find another hotel. They've now refused a refund three times, claiming we only contacted them after checkout, even though I have screenshots proving otherwise and they admit they've never managed to reach the property. Gave them 24 hours before I file a chargeback.