Expedia Refused refund instead of coupon when hotel cancelled because of closing Bellevue WA

Expedia notified me that hotel had cancelled the booking (closing because of virus) and that I would be receiving a voucher/coupon for the amount paid. I replied I was entitled to a refund since they had cancelled and that I had no use for the coupon since the booking was event-specific.

I first called Expedia to get it resolved. After being on hold for over an hour, and obtaining the agent's ("Smith's) promise that he would call back at the number I gave him if we were disconnnected, he disconnected and did not call back.

I then tried chat, and spent several hours with the virtual agent claiming, "One moment please, let me check on that." It seems they just wait for you to give up and hang up.

I then received an email from Expedia (Ariz) in which he placed the blame on the hotel, claiming Expedia had to honor the hotel's policy of not issuing any refunds. However, upon direct contact with the hotel, I learned that the hotel had issued refunds to all the event participants who had booked with the hotel directly. That provided clear evidence that Expedia was fraudulent in their claim as the basis for refusing a refund to which I was entitled.