I was booking online for the Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel, when the website messed up and I ended up booking a room for the Dundee Backpackers Hostel. When I called to explain the error, Dundee claimed they had 'no access to the website or my reservation' so they called the Edinburgh location, which then called me back. The girl at the Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel informed me that something had gone wrong because they had no available beds, and that she would cancel my reservation for me. OK. The next night, I get a phone call from a number I don't recognize and in the morning I discover it was the Dundee Backpackers Hostel. Then, I receive an email from the Dundee Backpackers Hostel informing me that I have been charged as a 'no show' for the previous night. I check my bank account and sure enough, they have withdrawn the full amount of the reservation. When I call the Dundee Backpackers Hostel, the employee asks if I am only calling because of the email *saying* I've been charged. When i inform him that my bank account has literally been charged, he seems confused. He then looks up my reservation and says that he will "call accounting" and try to get it all sorted for me. A few hours later, I receive another email from Dundee Backpackers Hostel informing me that since I cancelled within 24 hours of the reservation, and they have a 48 hour policy, I will be charged the full amount. I responded that I cancelled within hours of making the reservation, and regardless of their policy, two of their employees had looked at my reservation and promised me that I would not be charged. Rather than assist a customer with a simple mishap, Dundee Backpackers Hostel has decided to steal my money and cease communication.
WILL NEVER STAY AT ONE OF THESE HOSTELS EVER AGAIN. read more