Hotel prices

[Lindy66]

Recently stayed at a hotel here in UK, booked through their website but upon arriving at the hotel and filing in a card with my personal data on noticed on the card that the rate was GBP 40 less than what I payed at their website, did question this with reception and they were unable to explain why and suggested I contacted their head office upon my departure which I did am currently waiting for a reply. I need to know if this is illegal advertising 2 different prices for the exactly the same thing.
Is there a hotel ombudsman or can ABTA be involved.
Thanks

[Buenchico]

It's perfectly legal. As long as a trader avoids things like racial discrimination, he's entitled to charge what he likes, when he likes, how he likes and to whom he likes for his goods and services.

For example, a shopkeeper could charge one customer �1 for a loaf of bread. He can then charge the next customer �1000. He can then refuse to serve the next customer. When you walk in, he can offer to sell you a loaf for �1, but only on condition that you stand on your head, stark naked, while singing the Lithuanian national anthem backwards.

Exactly the same applies to hotel rooms. Some hotels might choose to charge far more on their websites, others might charge less. It's all perfectly legal, and long may it remain so.

Chris

[dzug]

I need to know if this is illegal advertising 2 different prices for the exactly the same thing.

And it's not 'exactly the same thing' anyway.

Having said that it's unusual for walk in prices to be lower than web prices - but as Chris says, not illegal.

[KARL]

In Britain it is perfectly legal for a seller of goods or services to charge any price he chooses and vary this from person to person back and forth simultaneously. In particular there is no maximum price he can demand and it is part of the culture to see the seller as being clever if he can persuade someone to pay far more than anyone else might think is decent. Decency and fairness is not a part of the system, courts included (the law alone rules and the law is sacrosanct through time rather like a fanatical religious doctrine - woe betide anyone who suggests it should be changed, and fast). Chris' example regarding the loaf of bread demonstrates the position exactly and this is partly why Britain is described abroad as the retailer's paradise. In other countries they outlaw rip-offs, but not here and I do not share Chris' enthusiasm for this state of affairs because I find it too far toward one end of the scale (right out at the end, more or less). In fact, I understand your sense of being taken for a ride - to avoid this in each and every situation we need not to trust in anyone showing what is widely described as honesty (not conducive to a happy society). That said, those who do not to the same extent dislike the totally free market will point out that there is no minimum price for anything and anyone can reduce his price at a stroke. That is true and it is the active ingredient in what is so much trumpeted as competition. If you bought when the price was high, then you cannot complain if the price later drops (even before you receive the goods or services). I feel this is a useful feature of the market and I do not accept that it is inseparable from the rip-off license.

[redcrx]

"on condition that you stand on your head, stark naked, while singing the Lithuanian national anthem backwards"

i think they only do that in suffolk Chris :)

Lindy, they can charge whatever they like, always best to shop around, call the hotels direct and see what they are offering. Dont always think that online prices are the lowest

[Lil O'lady]

It's a case of 'caveat emptor' - 'buyer beware'. You been had, so tell the world which hotel did it by slagging them off big time on tripadvisor and the rest.

[Lindy66]

Thank you all for your replies
But did see on the news last week that a pub Madonna and Mr Madonna had bought in London is being investigated by trades act as they are charging people different prices for the beer, especially if you are a tourist or not a regular - so maybe there is something "illegal" that you cant charge 2 different prices for same thing... Anyway Im not from Suffolk so unable to sing the Lithuanian national anthem - but willing to try and learn it ;-)

[Zax47]

Booze is a special case!! Under the licensing laws you are obliged to display a tariff list showing the price of drinks and the respective measure size. You can charge what the hell you like, but you must show the price and charge consistently - that's why they are under investigation, not the price itself.

Other than that, everything else people have said here applies.