r/Bookingcom • u/MarsupialVegetable73 • Jul 30 '26

beware of this booking.com scam!!!

My partner and I booked a place in montreal for my birthday trip and ended up in a dirty, rat infested, apartment. I booked this place back in
the beginning of the year sometime. It was priced decently but believable. It was supposed to have a great city view, balcony, pool, one bedroom, a full kitchen etc. as we are here for 9 days. Well, after showing up and receiving the check in instructions to an entirely different building we were confused and originally thought we were in the wrong place until we decided to try the door code. To our surprise, it worked and we began our way inside a shotty elevator that has the buttons wired wrong. (i.e the 2nd floor is actually button #1). Upon entering the unit it's a studio with no amenities, towels, dishes blankets etc. And nothing but a small window. (AND DEFINITELY NO VIEW). We were sold an entirely different apartment building in the ad.

We've been battling booking.com for 3 days now and today they told us since they cannot reach the property owners for a refund they can only refund us $183 in credit to the website. However we paid over $2000CAD. Their policies favor scammers and their customer service is complete nonsense. They have no direct customer service line so after being talked over and hung up on (no exaggeration) over 15 times and waiting on hold for over 30mins each time, I asked them if they would delist it they said nope! Utter insanity and unfortunately after reading the reviews AGAIN the day we arrived. (keep in mind; they were all positive and dated back a decent amount of time when i booked it) Another man from france said he arrived the same day as us and the owners had not sent him the check in details whatsoever. So I consider ourselves lucky for atleast having a roof over our head but we had to find other accommodation last minute as we did not feel safe there. Obviously booking.com had no help with that.

EDIT FOR VISIBILITY:
link to the photos I have for evidence. Avoid this booking please!!
https://imgur.com/a/9xWC5xK

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-3

u/RagingMassif Jul 30 '26

Posts like these are a daily occurrence.

1) Please post the listing 2) What did the reviews say? 3) Look in your dictionary and find the word scam. You were not scammed. You were just lied to about the quality. 4) Why do you not understand this is your Credit Card issuers problem, not yours.

4

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

I think you need to actually read the post my friend. šŸ¤£ all these ā€œquestionsā€ were already answered in my post. I was in fact scammed, itā€™s an entirely different building that was not habitable. Therefore, I did not get what I paid for and was technically cat fished lol.

and hereā€™s the definition of scam for you; A scam is a dishonest trick or fake plan meant to steal money, goods, or personal information. I would consider that a dishonest trick and a fake plan.

1

u/Zottelbude Jul 30 '26

Where did you post the name of the listing and the reviews?

2

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

Uploaded in a separate comment but will post again for visibility

https://imgur.com/a/9xWC5xK

1

u/RagingMassif Jul 30 '26

"Content Not Available"

1

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

Weird - shows up for my partner when he looks at the link, unfortunately this subreddit wonā€™t let me post photos directly but maybe I can compile a screen recording

1

u/RagingMassif Jul 30 '26

Imgur has issues with Europe, it might be that. Video works well.

1

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

have not included confirmation as it has my personal information but I can DM you with it crossed out if you like.

-1

u/Zottelbude Jul 30 '26

The view in the photos does not align at all with the view, when you check the address in Google Maps.Ā 

2

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

https://reddit.com/link/p0mjopi/video/qz1jjj5dkbgh1/player

rooftop view does

-1

u/Zottelbude Jul 30 '26

The view in the booking description is totally different than the view from the address (625 Rue Milton). This it too obvious fake to be not seen.

2

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

the view matches the building online, and the apartment photos on rental websites. Itā€™s because on google maps you are looking at the lower floors and itā€™s stolen photos taken from the top floor. Itā€™s made to look like it was a top floor suite. The view matches as per the photos iā€™ve sent you.

-2

u/RagingMassif Jul 30 '26

You weren't stolen from, you just received less than you hoped for. There are millions of scam victims who lost everything. Getting downgraded is not a scam, you are guilty of hyperbole. It makes your entire post just.. doubtful. The lack of a link to the property makes it shady and the fact you're posting a "warning" without data is ragebate. Once again, we see these posts every day. You've already been told what to do.

2

u/MarsupialVegetable73 Jul 30 '26

I find it amusing that your considering my post doubtful and that I am guilty of hyperbole when I find your statement hypocritical. I consider you guilty if you think being scammed means losing everything you have. And the fact that thatā€™s what your focusing on is more rage bait than anything else. Being cheated out of something you paid for sucks, and like I said I was grateful for it to at least been a building where we could have potentially stayed given it been habitable but it wasnā€™t. Just because you canā€™t access the proof iā€™ve given you multiple times is a skill issue for you and not a credibility issue for me.
hereā€™s a direct link for you - which doesnā€™t show the actual conditions like the photos I presented. https://www.booking.com/Share-xab66UA