CCI*Hotel Reservations Confusing pop-up telephone number, inflated charges

My wife looked up the telephone of the Hampton Hotel and Suites in Farmington, CT and thought she was on a legitimate website. She dialed the 800 number and the person who picked up the phone said "reservations." My wife asked if she had reached Hampton and was told it was the Hampton Hotel. She booked the reservation and we arrived at the hotel and stayed there for one night. When I asked for the receipt I was told the reservation was prepaid and there was no receipt. I then knew my wife had been scammed.

I asked the desk clerk what the rate was with all discounts and taxes if I had booked directly and he replied $89.14. As soon as I got home I checked my cc statement and saw two charges - one for $125.14 and a service charge of $14.99. I immedidately called my cc company to dispute the charges. I then called CCI* Hotel Reservations several times and got nowhere. It didn't help that a couple of "ripoff" reps didn't speak English as thir first languague. Although my cc company credited the service charge I got stuck with the larger charge.

So when you book a hotel reservation especially on a smart phone, which is what my wife did, please be very careful to look at the URL, verify that the phone mber you are directed to call is actually the hotel and not a third-party tel number; do not immediately book a reservation. Then confirm the rate. Ask for an email confirmation which all reputable hotels/motels and legitimate third-party service providers will  provide online. Even if you book through a known third-party for the best rate you need to verify the URL and/or the phone number.  Good luck!