Louis G.

After already getting shafted by a Days Inn in Silverthorne, CO, after I had to cancel my reservations made about two hours earlier due a blown trailer tire (truck driver), I stopped trying to book reservations for a motel until I actually reached the town I'd be staying in. Near midnight on 8/1, I drove into Mitchell, SD, with about 25 minutes left available to drive, pulled onto the shoulder and whipped out my phone to search SPECIFICALLY for a Motel 6 (since Days Inn ensured I'll never book with another Wyndham Chain member--separate story). I searched: "Motel 6 MItchell SD". It turns out I was just one exit away! I clicked the "call" link for the [AD] with Motel 6s registered trademark, and the link that said "motel-6.reservation-desk.com/". The wait was lengthy and I was getting nervous because my 14-hour clock was approaching the 20 minute mark. Then a woman comes on the phone and says something like, "It looks like you've been waiting a while, can I help you?" I explained I was trying to make reservations at the Motel 6. My first warning sign should've been when she asked "Where are you trying to stay?" (paraphrased) That was the first missed sign that I wasn't talking to Motel 6. After I told her "Mitchell, SD", she eventually tells me they have no rooms available and offers to book at another motel in Mitchell. I say, "Sure... that's great." I go on hold again. My call with her is interrupted by a male voice who said almost precisely what she had said, "You look like you've been waiting blah, blah, blah." My time is down to about 15 minutes before I must shutdown, so I accept his offer and never heard from her again as I now had TWO lines open, from the same number. He finds a Quality Inn two exits ahead with rooms available and offers to book. "Certainly". Of course, the whole time I'm thinking this is probably some kind of Motel 6 service, because they had no rooms available. The second warning sign, I missed: I had stayed at numerous motels during this trip, and booked reservations. NONE asked for the security code on the back of my debit card... these people asked for it. THAT WAS ANOTHER MISSED SIGN something wasn't right. I'm quoted a room price of $80ish and with tax the total would be $105ish. Upon checkout, my receipt only showed the $80ish charges. Also, it had a CT address, with my name, and a Master Card was charged... I used my VISA. I have no Master Card. I went back to Quality Inn to ask about the discrepancies. That's when I learned, "Sir, when you book online, you pay them and they pay us. You booked through PRICELINE.COM. The reason the price you were quoted is more than our charges is because of their commission for booking you online." Of course, she seemed lost when I assured her I hadn't booked online, "I called who I thought was Motel 6, they had no rooms, and was booked here." Now that I've gotten online to view the transaction, it turns out it was CHOOSE A ROOM I was speaking with, an obvious affiliate of Priceline. The number in the email is clearly a computer-generated recording about some "foreign transfer" nonsense. I called my bank to cancel my card and have another issued. Of note, I reached Jeff Thomas yesterday. He's at Motel 6 HQ in Carrolton TX and is the Director of E-Commerce. After I explained what I just did above, he explained I was likely dealing with an affiliate of an affiliate (Priceline in this case) and they are not authorized to use Motel 6's registered trademark. He said these people, affiliated with those national brands you always hear advertised, are assuming the authority granted to those chains to book under the chains trademarks, but they are not authorized. They allow the caller to believe they're dealing with the motel, never announce they are an affiliate of online booking agent and not a representative of the motel/hotel, tell you the room rate, tell the rate with tax, but don't tell you that tax is actually a commission paid to them. You'll learn about that when you check out and see a lesser charge, but your bank is charged a greater charge. Of note, and why I hope Mr. Thomas gets very engaged from Motel 6's end, is, according to the REAL Motel 6 in Mitchell SD (I called them the next evening), they had rooms available the night I was told by CHOOSE A ROOM (undeclared) they had no rooms. So, Motel 6 lost a customer to a competitor in the CHOICE chain of the "hospitality" industry. My advice, as gleaned from Mr. Thomas above, when trying to get contact information to book directly with a motel/hotel, make sure you're actually speaking directly to the motel. Further, it's probably wise to not click on google/search links that have the 'AD' words. Further, if you believe you're booking directly with a motel, and they ask for your cards security code, you're likely booking with an online company and will be charged a commission--they'll tell you it's TAX. The practice is fraudulent. The practice is illegal. And, I give Mr. Thomas the benefit of my doubts that Motel 6 isn't complicit with this activity, because his company lost a sale that night. Reminder: I wasn't booking online... I was calling to book. Here are the numbers that are linked to what I believed was Motel 6 in Mitchell SD: *******904, *******498, AND because my time got so low, I had to hang up, I got an immediate call back from these thieves from *******300. I actually spoke with the Mitchell Motel 6 the next evening... none of these numbers come close. I intend to spread this information as widely as I can, and as affiliates of the national companies, they are complicit with this activity, because Mr. Thomas has said they've had to send numerous "cease and desist" orders to those sub-affiliates to keep them from using their trademark. I can spell "class action lawsuit". Know a reputable, honorable attorney willing to slam the door on this practice?