>>So while the listing is there you wouldn't be able to book it, is that correct? If so it seems like they are not taking fraudulent bookings, they just haven't fully removed the listing.<<
It's a little more complicated than that. The current listing ad leads with the photos of the 1-bedroom apartment with terrace that no longer exists. It looks like they're using those photos "to make the sale." That is what is wrong. Those photos should have been removed from Booking the minute the 1-bedroom was no longer available for rent, which was 2 months ago. Photos of the other 2-bedroom apartment (in a different building down the block, no terrace, no AC) don't appear in the current ad until you click on "See all photos." And then, it is not easy to realize that you're looking at 2 different apartments, unless you look down and read the captions. In other words, the listing is using fraudulent photos to lure customers into renting a completely different apartment.

IMO, Booking's pages are a confusing nightmare for the eyes. It's so easy to be lured in and make a big mistake, because the information presented is not clear and straightforward. Booking's pages are incredibly cluttered with useless information, and clearly, some listers are taking full advantage of that confusing mess. IMO, this is awful customer service.

Get this, the only reason I'm aware of this, in my search for Paris information, a Booking ad appeared in one of those pop-up ads on my browser. The Booking ad used the lead photo of the 1-bedroom apartment, the one with the L-shaped couch, and the ad said this: "Residence Maillot apartment is available for my dates." So I clicked on the pop-up ad and discovered this fraud. You can imagine my surprise.

>>That is what is wrong. Those photos should have been removed from Booking the minute the 1-bedroom was no longer available for rent, >>

The photos come from PICK A FLAT

>>In other words, the listing is using fraudulent photos to lure customers into renting a completely different apartment.<<

If there is a 'fraud' it is by PICK A FLAT

>>IMO, Booking's pages are a confusing nightmare for the eyes.<<

If you don't like the visuals - don't use the site. But don't blame them for 'fraud'

. . . you do seem a bit like a dog w/ a bone who just can't let go.

@janisj
I'm not a dog with a bone. Personally, I no longer care. My refund is secure.

Regarding blaming Pick A Flat, I'm fully aware of their responsibility. They certainly deserve blame. But I find it very odd that you refuse to see Booking's culpability here when they are fully aware that the 1-bedroom apartment was sold months ago. Feel free to give Booking your love. I don't care about that either. I blame them, too, and nothing you say will change that impression.

Just to be fair, if there had been no dialogue between Booking's customer service and myself (numerous emails and 2 phone calls), jumping through legal hoops to secure my refund, I might give Booking a pass. In my opinion, if they are aware that a property is no longer available, and that a listing forced a customer to receive a refund, Booking should be more pro-active about making sure the listing is removed, especially when the listing is a vacation rental.

Sorry this is a bit long....

First of all, thank you wesley for starting this thread about booking.com. It was good to read about people's experiences especially the not-so-positive ones.

Most of my bookings with this site goes through flawlessly. However, last month the owner of the apartment I booked cancelled my booking because she decided to rent it out annually. Booking emailed me about it and offered an alternative apartment for the same price. I emailed back and said that I will find my own place (alternative apartment was so old-looking while the one I booked was modern). Didn't receive a response but I figured it's all been taken care of. Owner emailed me too about the cancellation and I responded that it was OK.

However, whenever I go to "my bookings", the apartment is still listed there and not in the "cancelled" section. I emailed booking.com back to make sure that that booking has been cancelled on their part. No response.

Because of this thread, I started to feel uncomfortable because the apartment is still in there and booking will charge my credit card for the full amount in 3 weeks. There is no box anymore that says "cancel this booking" for me to click on as in the usual way. So I eventually called and talked to customer service. He said that they didn't cancel the booking because they offered an alternative. But I told him I emailed them back and declined the alternative. He said if you declined their alternatives,, you need to call them and they will manually cancel the booking of your original place. He was very nice and did cancel the booking (which I now saw under the "cancelled" in my bookings as well as having an email about the cancellation).

So I am thankful about this thread as it gave me the push to call and find out instead of just letting them take care of it.

"I have physical limitations, especially in high heat. I would consider cancelling the trip."

"I require elevators that go to every floor."

You said these things, I didn't.
This doesn't sound like someone who should be hauling baggage up and down Metro stairs.

Take a taxi.

@fuzzbucket
You quoted me from the Paris Hotel thread. Why would you do that here or anywhere else? The quote is out of context. The statement on the hotel thread has nothing to do with using the Metro while I'm in Paris. I can deal with stairs as long as I'm not carrying luggage. Why do so many posters assume their own conclusions and then give advice based on those false conclusions?

@fuzzbucket
Furthermore, this thread has nothing to do with using the Metro. Why are you discussing taxis here?

@JoyC
I'm thrilled that this thread motivated you to double-check. Frankly, my impression of Booking and cancellations, they seem hell-bent on keeping your money as long as they can. That doesn't make them thieves, but your money will be in their bank and not yours, until everyone involved decides to issue you the credit you deserve. IMO, bad customer service. I'm so glad you didn't have to deal with issue after the charge had gone through.

"They have a new program where they are offering you $25 for a detailed review. I just got an email from them after I stayed at a hotel saying that if my review was more than a certain length, had a photo and was not anonymous I would qualify as a 'scout' (I think that was the word) and get $25 off my next booking."


As long as that review has to be truthful and not just happy fluff so they can keep a customer, that would be great.

This is going to be my last post in this increasingly absurd and misleading thread, full of wrong information.

I once again looked up that apartment on booking.com. I put in "dates" for January 2018, in search of an apartment for 4 people. Booking.com showed the avaiability of that 1-bedroom apartment.

Anyone interested can do what I did and see for themselves,

As for those happy this thread got started, fine. But I hope no one loses sight of the fact that while any human-system will make mistakes, in this case, booking.com has an extraordinary record of delivering secure bookings in 40 different languages all over the world. It's quite an achievement, and people advising other people to use this service are being helpful and intelligent.

One wonders what wesleymarch will wear during his week in Paris, since he won't have any luggage to carry around.
One also wonders when the original pleas came for hôtels to consider, why it was that wesleymarch did not find the the readily available information contained on Google Maps - complete with prices - and book something.
It's time to stop wasting our time with wesleymarch.

@massimop
I honestly don't know what you are doing wrong, massimop. Once again, as if I have nothing better to do, I just checked every week into January and February of 2018. The only apartment that shows availability is the 2-bedroom, which is what I've been saying all along. The 1-bedroom listing never appears among the choices on the Availability page.

With a better website, you could upload a screenshot of what you're seeing.

This thread is not absurd or misleading, although some people are hell-bent on making it so.

@fuzzbucket
Do you know how to exhibit any more rudeness? Please, don't waste your time addressing me in the future. I really don't want advice from you anymore. Yes, I have triangled your latest post.

I do feel empathy for @massimop. The Booking website is so confusing, such a pain to navigate with ease, it's very difficult to get at the details in this particular situation. All the more reason why I hate Booking.com.

If you search Paris without putting in any dates: "Pick a Flat - Maillot-Etoile area," and scroll down to "Availability," you will see 2 listings. The listing "Duplex Apartment with Terrace" is the listing I rented, the subject of this thread, and is no longer available because the property got sold months ago. Once you put in dates, the link "Duplex Apartment with Terrace" disappears.

The "Duplex Apartment with Terrace" has only 1 bed and 1 bedroom. The 2nd bed is a sofa couch. The other 2-bedroom apartment that users get offered in place is actually 2 bedrooms with 2 beds, no AC and no terrace. I'm repeating myself, once again.

You really have to look at every word on Booking to catch this fraudulent listing. Once you punch in dates on Booking and the page changes, the "Duplex Apartment with Terrace" link actually disappears. It's fair to ask, why does that link for the 1-bedroom continue to exist when Booking knows the apartment no longer exists? Why does that link continue to be in the Booking ad?

>>You really have to look at every word on Booking to catch this fraudulent listing. <<

Enough with the 'fraudulent' already! Booking.com is not defrauding anyone. We know you don't like the site . . . so DON'T USE IT. Problem solved.


( >>Yes, I have triangled your latest post.<< Are you sure? It is my understanding the triangles haven't worked for quite some time and you get an error message when you click them)

>>Enough with the 'fraudulent' already!<<
Just because you're in love with Booking, janisj, doesn't mean you get to redefine fraud.

If a middleman website is offering a link to an apartment that no longer exists, and they do so knowingly, that's fraud.

As I write this post, I'm looking at the pop-up ad from Booking, promoting this apartment that doesn't exist. Enjoy your time with Booking everyone.

https://flic.kr/p/WuNNnZ

Wesleymarch

Are you selling the Priceline stock short by whom they are owned?

The derisiveness and intensity displayed here goes far beyond a traveler scorned. Most people on these boards are experienced travelers and it is impossible not have a bad situation with someone, something, sometime. Yes, they can be annoyed to angry depending on the situation and the money involved, but most people do not make it into an emotional crusade.

No answer required and all previous answers are testimony to your pertinacious holy war.

>> your pertinacious holy war<<
Funny. It only seems that way because I'm trying to address those who responded to this thread I created. In many instances, you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't. C'est la vie.

Doesn't stop me from using Booking for research. Their map feature is really easy for me to read. It's great for finding a hotel in the area where you want to be.

I love using booking.com !!!

"Their map feature is really easy for me to read."

Agreed. Love the maps. The only thing I don't like about Booking.com is that the emails prompting reviews come too quickly for me. I am on vacation wandering around trying to avoid the emails I receive the other 330 days a year. I wish they delayed the emails a couple of weeks till we were back home.

Yes I know - I could just answer the emails when we get home. But I don't as a subtle protest against their premature prompts.