The Country Squire Restaurant, Winery & Vintage Inn

I was billed additional $200 for "smoking in non-smoking" hotel room clean up. I never smoked in the room but business is claiming I did.On Feb 13 2016 I rented a hotel room at The Country Squire Vintage Inn located in Warsaw, NC. I stayed one night with my husband. I was billed for the cost of the room the date I picked up the room key, 13 Feb 2016. On 14 Feb 2016, I noticed an additional charge to my [redacted] Debit Card in the amount of $200. I called the manager of the hotel on 16 Feb 2016 and asked why I was billed an additional $200. I was told that it was because my husband and I smoked in the room. My husband nor I smoked in the room. My husband and I left the room on 14 Feb 2016 at 7AM in the morning. The policy of the Vintage Inn is for patrons to place the key in the room. It is posted on the back of the door of the rented room. When I spoke to the manager, she said the maid had checked the room and someone had smoked in it. I explained although that may be true, it was not myself or my husband who smoked in the room. I was aware of the policy on smoking- with the Vintage in policy is that a $250 will be assessed to clean the room, but I was not charged $250. I was charged $200. My issues are 1) the Vintage Inn claims someone smoked in the room although that room was left unsecured, which is their policy to leave it unsecured if the main office is not open which it was not on this day. The second issue is that I was not even billed what they claim their policy for cleanup, $250. I feel that this is a scam run by this hotel.Desired SettlementI want the $200 they took from me.Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted]Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXXContact Email: [redacted]@earthlink.netThis letter serves as response to the case # XXXXXXXX filed by a restaurant and motel guest that stayed on February 13, 2016. This guest admits to seeing the 2 places on our guest register that indicates our non-smoking policy and she was also informed at check in. She also admits that although she does not smoke her husband does smoke. She admits that they checked out at 7 am (check out time is by 11am) and the keys were left on dresser and door pulled closed.We are a very small (12 rooms) motel with only 1 maid. She is a non-smoker and has worked with us for 20 years. She begins her shift at 8 am starting with the rooms that have left early. She checks if vehicles have left then knocks on door before entering. Our maid entered room after she began her shift and smelled a very strong smell of cigarette smoke. She did have another person from the restaurant come over and verify that the room had the smell and that person also confirms the smell of cigarette smoke in the room.We do tell our guests to leave the key on the dresser but leaving the room unlocked is not our policy. You can turn the lock and then pull the door shut. As I have stated before, we are a small motel, located in a rural area, and don't usually have people out walking around looking for a place to smoke.We charged this guest $200 instead of the $250 because we felt that we could get the room cleaned (dry clean bedspreads and washing down walls) for a lesser amount now that our floors are no longer carpeted.We will be returning her $200 as soon as we receive her chargeback/dispute from her bank BUT we strongly feel we were justified in charging her as indicated by our policy. Our Vintage Inn (motel) has been operating since 1973 and under the management of the current owner since 1993. Never in that 26 years have we had a guest claim we were "running a scam". All records may be checked to verify this. You don't stay in business long if you do!Consumer Response As of March 2 2016 I have not received information from my bank that the dispute has been completed. My bank said that the dispute can take up to 90 days to complete. IF the merchant has agreed to refund my money, I consider this complaint resolved. If, however, I do not receive my money back, I remain firm on my stance that we did NOT smoke in the merchant's room and we will continue to be at an impasse.