Naomi's Inn B&B

This is a case of "bait and switch" or advertising fraud.I used the Naomi's Inn website to book a room for two nights, beginning May 24, 2014. On the website it has a price range of $XXX-XXX listed for the room I chose. I completed the reservation form and received a total invoice of [redacted] plus tax for the two nights. I provided a credit card online and booked the room. The following day I received an email from [redacted] (the owner's daughter) stating that they had "made a mistake" and that the actual price of the room was [redacted] per night, not [redacted] They offered to give me a discount for my troubles. I wrote back saying I wanted a substantial discount, not 10 or 20%, since they were charging me DOUBLE the stated and booked cost of the room. They said "good luck" and that they wouldn't be providing me a room. After I said I would file a complaint with Revdex.com and post my review of the experience on Yelp, [redacted] sent another email calling me hateful and basically blaming me for having a problem with their mistake. She refuses to take responsibility for her error. As of tonight, their website STILL lists the room in question as available for $XXX-XXX per night, although if you try to book the room, it now shows the room total as [redacted] for two nights, not including tax. They somehow managed to change the per night charge to [redacted] (up from [redacted] but this still isn't the same charge that she quoted me [redacted] per night).Something very fishy is going on here...and it looks like a case of "bait and switch" advertising.Desired SettlementI would like a written apology, a refund of any amount charged to my credit card, and the destruction of any credit card information they have for me on file.Business' Initial Response As we tried to explain in our initial email to him, this was our error made while switching to a new reservation system and we are working with our software provider to recitfy the problem. His reservation was during a peak season and we cannot offer him a room at that rate due to budget constraints. We did offer him the exact same room with 20% discount off the correct rate to apologize for the inconvenience. Mr. [redacted] replied by requesting a larger discount and stating that we were required by law to honor our advertizied rates or it would be a "criminal matter". As the Bed and Breakfast is also a family home his statements made us uncomfortable and we chose to exercise our right to refuse service. Copies of original correspondence and a statement from our booking software account representative are available upon request. This customer's credit card was never charged and he has been removed from our booking system.Consumer's Final Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)From the [redacted] of [redacted]" "Bait and switch" is a term used to describe an instance when the retailer advertises a desirable or in-demand item to get shoppers into the store, and then tries to substitute (switch) another, less desirable item. The hope is that once shoppers respond to the advertising and go to the store, they will buy a similar item if the advertised item isn't available. Bait and switch is illegal. You may file a complaint with the [redacted] of [redacted]As the business states, they were advertising a lower rate during peak season ("advertising a desirable or in-reman item to get shoppers into the store..."); they responded by attempting to substitute another, less desirable (they said the actual cost of the room was DOUBLE the advertised price, and then offered a mere 20% off the doubled rate for my inconvenience; I said I wanted at least 30% off and they said absolutely not); finally, they had ample opportunity to fix the problem, but did not. 1. They could have posted a notice online stating that their booking system was not working and to please call for reservations.2. They could have posted a notice online AFTER the problem I had with them; instead they did nothing and kept the same advertised prices, further evidence that their fraud was intentional. 3. This was not a "software problem," but required a very simple fix of changing the wording on their website or posting a notice saying there was a problem with the reservation system. Instead, they did nothing. This indicates that they knowingly have lower advertised prices than they are willing to advertised the rooms at and intend to continue not notifying customers, instead, telling them that the advertised prices are wrong, and offering a room at a different (higher) price. This is the legal definition of bait and switch. Whether or not they intend this and excuse their behavior by saying it is a "software problem" is not material. This is de facto bait and switch. They have yet to apologize. The business states they "cannot offer him a room at that rate due to budget constraints." So, which is it--a "software problem" or a refusal to offer the room at the advertised price because they can't afford it? The business' response does not make sense, on its face. Bait and switch is, in fact, illegal and that is why I informed them that they were potentially engaged in a "criminal matter." In addition, businesses are, in fact, required by law to honor their advertised rates, with few exceptions. Otherwise businesses are subject to investigation and legal action under various consumer protection laws. There is nothing unusual about my response.

This is a case of "bait and switch" or advertising fraud.I used the Naomi's Inn website to book a room for two nights, beginning May 24, 2014. On the website it has a price range of $XXX-XXX listed for the room I chose. I completed the reservation form and received a total invoice of [redacted] plus tax for the two nights. I provided a credit card online and booked the room. The following day I received an email from [redacted] (the owner's daughter) stating that they had "made a mistake" and that the actual price of the room was [redacted] per night, not [redacted] They offered to give me a discount for my troubles. I wrote back saying I wanted a substantial discount, not 10 or 20%, since they were charging me DOUBLE the stated and booked cost of the room. They said "good luck" and that they wouldn't be providing me a room. After I said I would file a complaint with Revdex.com and post my review of the experience on Yelp, [redacted] sent another email calling me hateful and basically blaming me for having a problem with their mistake. She refuses to take responsibility for her error. As of tonight, their website STILL lists the room in question as available for $XXX-XXX per night, although if you try to book the room, it now shows the room total as [redacted] for two nights, not including tax. They somehow managed to change the per night charge to [redacted] (up from [redacted] but this still isn't the same charge that she quoted me [redacted] per night).Something very fishy is going on here...and it looks like a case of "bait and switch" advertising.Desired SettlementI would like a written apology, a refund of any amount charged to my credit card, and the destruction of any credit card information they have for me on file.Business' Initial Response As we tried to explain in our initial email to him, this was our error made while switching to a new reservation system and we are working with our software provider to recitfy the problem. His reservation was during a peak season and we cannot offer him a room at that rate due to budget constraints. We did offer him the exact same room with 20% discount off the correct rate to apologize for the inconvenience. Mr. [redacted] replied by requesting a larger discount and stating that we were required by law to honor our advertizied rates or it would be a "criminal matter". As the Bed and Breakfast is also a family home his statements made us uncomfortable and we chose to exercise our right to refuse service. Copies of original correspondence and a statement from our booking software account representative are available upon request. This customer's credit card was never charged and he has been removed from our booking system.Consumer's Final Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)From the [redacted] of [redacted]" "Bait and switch" is a term used to describe an instance when the retailer advertises a desirable or in-demand item to get shoppers into the store, and then tries to substitute (switch) another, less desirable item. The hope is that once shoppers respond to the advertising and go to the store, they will buy a similar item if the advertised item isn't available. Bait and switch is illegal. You may file a complaint with the [redacted] of [redacted]As the business states, they were advertising a lower rate during peak season ("advertising a desirable or in-reman item to get shoppers into the store..."); they responded by attempting to substitute another, less desirable (they said the actual cost of the room was DOUBLE the advertised price, and then offered a mere 20% off the doubled rate for my inconvenience; I said I wanted at least 30% off and they said absolutely not); finally, they had ample opportunity to fix the problem, but did not. 1. They could have posted a notice online stating that their booking system was not working and to please call for reservations.2. They could have posted a notice online AFTER the problem I had with them; instead they did nothing and kept the same advertised prices, further evidence that their fraud was intentional. 3. This was not a "software problem," but required a very simple fix of changing the wording on their website or posting a notice saying there was a problem with the reservation system. Instead, they did nothing. This indicates that they knowingly have lower advertised prices than they are willing to advertised the rooms at and intend to continue not notifying customers, instead, telling them that the advertised prices are wrong, and offering a room at a different (higher) price. This is the legal definition of bait and switch. Whether or not they intend this and excuse their behavior by saying it is a "software problem" is not material. This is de facto bait and switch. They have yet to apologize. The business states they "cannot offer him a room at that rate due to budget constraints." So, which is it--a "software problem" or a refusal to offer the room at the advertised price because they can't afford it? The business' response does not make sense, on its face. Bait and switch is, in fact, illegal and that is why I informed them that they were potentially engaged in a "criminal matter." In addition, businesses are, in fact, required by law to honor their advertised rates, with few exceptions. Otherwise businesses are subject to investigation and legal action under various consumer protection laws. There is nothing unusual about my response.