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Requesting Apartment Compensation

Apartment Dispute—any ideas or suggestions

Have been using booking.com for years, very happily. Had an unpleasant experience in Bratislava at Heart of the Old Town apartment. I entered the prepaid apartment Friday night, 730pm. I found it had not been serviced so dirty towels on bathroom floor, dirty linens on the bed and overflowing trash cans.

I contacted the property owner repeatedly, no response then and throughout my 3 night stay. I contacted booking.com but the property owner did not respond to them either. I cleaned the bathroom so I could use it and I slept on the couch.

I have disputed the charge on my CapitalOne credit card as the property did not look like what the property manager provided to booking.com, a dirty apartment was not what I expected or paid for. And I kept thinking the property owner would send the housekeeper while I was out. 

The property manager told CapitalOne the "goods were as described and received in good condition". I don't consider my having to clean the bathroom and sleep on a sofa when I thought I was getting a clean apartment and able to sleep in a bed and use the sofa to sit on, being in good condition.

Capital One has all my correspondence between me and the property owner and me and booking.com, they have pictures and the contract showing what was posted and expected and have pictures of the apartment as I found it. Their response is I should have contacted the property manager or moved to a hotel but since I stayed in the apartment (I had already paid for), I am not due any type of compensation.

I did write a scathing review of the property on booking.com.  

Anyone have a similar experience and how was it handled? Am I being unreasonable in wanting some compensation for sleeping on a sofa instead of a bed and cleaning the bathroom?

Posted by
9924 posts

What a disappointing experience for you! Where I don't have any advice, I appreciate you sharing that you were told you should have simply refused to stay due to conditions if you wanted to dispute the transaction. That information may help others if they find themselves in something similar.

Posted by
564 posts

Don’t waste more time, just write it off to experience and stay in a hotel next trip.

Posted by
3138 posts

I can’t even begin to count how many horror storiesof booking.com apartments I have read in the past few years

I’m sure they’re fine to book hotels, but stories like this have guaranteed that I will never book an apartment via them

Posted by
1627 posts

Awful situation. However, I think so often the outcome is not based on the "right thing to do" but on some work around so they don't have to compensate you. I think the biggest take home lesson for everyone here is to absolutely not "move in" to unacceptable accommodations, because clearly CapitalOne and booking.com now say you paid for 3 nights and got 3 nights. Booking.com (after receiving proof of condition, ie. photos) should have taken some sort of action for you such as find other accommodations whether or not the property owner responded. Very unfortunate. Don't give up on seeking compensation in some form.

Posted by
4012 posts

I’m sorry, that was awful for you.
I have rented many apartments through booking.com over 20 years, and the worst thing was a blocked shower drain or two.
Don’t give up trying to get compensation .
Let us know how things turn out.

Posted by
892 posts

What an awful experience. To be honest, I'm surprised you stayed in the apartment. I had a similar experience, although not nearly as bad as yours, with an Airbnb apartment, but customer service took care of it for me. I just sent them a picture of the issue and gave them access to my messages with the host. They helped me find a new place, sent me a refund and followed up until I was settled in and satisfied. I've heard using booking.com is risky because they're essentially a third party, but it seems many people use them and don't have a problem. I'll be interested in how/if your credit card helps since I have a Cap One card as well. I'm sorry I have no helpful input, but thank you for sharing your experience.