COMFORT INN

I should have received my $100.00 deposit back from booking a block of rooms with the Comfort Inn for my wedding party, and I haven't received it. On October 14, 2013, I blocked a group of rooms out for my wedding that was to occur May 24, 2014. I wrote a check for the $100.00 deposit they were requesting and mailed it to them, which they cashed a few days later. In return they sent me a contract for the block of rooms that I was blocking off. In the contract it states"Group Block Security Deposit: A deposit of $100.00 is required,any rooms blocked off that are not used 30 days prior to check in will be dropped unless special circumstances communicated by group coordinator. Deposit will be refunded back after checkout of the groups stay is completed (5/25/14)." When I was checking out of the hotel on May 25th after my wedding, I inquired with the front desk as to when my $100.00 deposit would be refunded to me. They told me it would be refunded back on my debit card within a few days. A few days went by and I called back because I had not received the refund. They again "looked into it" and said that it is being processed through their accounting department and I would receive it within a few days back on my card. A few more days went by and I didn't receive any credit. I then called back and asked where my refund was. They said that the refund would be cut in the form of a check which I would receive in the mail. A week went by and I did not receive the check so I called and left a message with the [redacted] "[redacted]." He emailed me back on Thursday June 19, 2014 stating that the check was mailed to my residential address 3 weeks ago. I found that strange considering 3 weeks ago I was being told that the refund would be credited back to my debit card. [redacted] told me in the email that they would put a stop payment on that first check and mail me another check to my PO Box. I have never had issues with the post office and have always received my mail for both my PO box and my residential address. I live in a small town and they know me very well. [redacted] said that the new check he is mailing out to my PO Box will arrive within 1-2 business days. I gave it a full 2 business days and on Tuesday June 24th I called back. The front desk told me [redacted] isn't there all the time and they do not know when he will be in as he comes and goes frequently. I find it odd that they do not know when the [redacted] of the hotel will be available. I left a message for [redacted] to call me back on Tuesday stating that I had not received my check. On Wednesday evening I had not heard anything from him so I again called and left another message on his voicemail. I also took the time to email me and let him know that I didn't receive the check and that I was going to be calling Comfort Inn main headquarters and filing a complaint. The next day I called and attempted to file a complaint with Comfort Inn Choice Hotels directly. I spoke with a woman named [redacted] in their customer relations department and she stated that on June 22nd the Comfort Inn in Pittsfield was no longer franchised through Choice Hotels and that there is nothing they can do to help me receive my $100.00. At this point, I'm beyond angry. I have called Comfort Inn in Pittsfield directly every day to every other day since June 24th leaving messages for [redacted] to call me back. On Saturday June 28th I called in the morning and asked when [redacted] would be available. The girl at the desk stated [redacted] would be in that day at 3:00. I was at a family picnic and called at 3:10. [redacted] answered the phone stating "thank you for calling Comfort Inn in Pittsfield, do you mind holding? I said "yes." The person who returned to the phone wasn't [redacted] it was a guy named [redacted]. I asked to speak with [redacted] and he fumbled his words a bit stating that [redacted] was unavailable. I told [redacted] that he just answered the phone and that he needed to get him. He gave me the run around and finally I told [redacted] to have [redacted] call me. I have not heard anything since. I called again this morning (June 30) and left a message for [redacted] and have not heard back.Desired SettlementI am requesting my $100.00 refund that I am entitled to per the contract INCLUDING the interest that has accrued on my $100.00 from May XX XXXX to the date that they cut me a check. They have held my money for an additional month + from the date on the contract that they say I would receive the funds back (May 25th 2014). I am also requesting three free nights at any Comfort Inn within the United States for the inconvenience this has caused. I am a newlywed and to come home to deal with these antics is beyond ridiculous. I don't believe their customer service is at all great, in fact it's awful. I cannot believe I have not been called back and that they are stringing me along. I don't know what kind of business [redacted] is running at this hotel but he is playing games that are completely inappropriate when running a business. I also would like to add that I tried to get ahold of his [redacted] but since they share the same voicemail I had no luck in reaching him. He is equally never in the office just like [redacted].Final Consumer Response I received my 100.00 check in the mail this weekend (July 5th). I did not however receive anything for the 3 free nights at any Comfort Inn within the US that I also requested due to the huge inconvenience and trouble of having to deal with this. I am happy I received my check but unhappy that they did not follow through with the added request. I put forth too much time and effort into this matter to receive my refund which I was entitled to. I am requesting that I still receive my 3 free nights that can be used at ANY Comfort Inn within the US. I beleive that the hotel needs to act upon this due to their awful handling and discusting customer service. Thank you[redacted]. [redacted]@comcast.net