Reservation Counter Linked with Expedia Misrepresents as booking directly with the hotel Once was told Central America, once Guatemala Cty Internet

Went to the web to book directly with the hotel--Hilton Garden Inn. The headline read--"Roomkey...book directly with the brands you trust" and the logos for the following were listed: Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Wyndham. The Hilton Garden Inn logo is found at the left top of the page. "Founded by the hotel brands you trust". More truth in a pile of garbage than in that statement!

So--Roomkey, but the confirmation comes from reservationcounter. Who the heck were they? These were refundable, cancelable reservations until 24 hours prior to check-in. Give your credit card number to hold the reservation. No problem--except that the credit card was charged for the full amount of the stay. Plans changed within a day and so I called to change the dates one day. Told it would take three days for the "sales" group to get back to me with the confirmation.

Wouldn't it be easier to cancel and re-reserve? Oh, sure, I am told but it will take 10 days to get a refund. What?! So, I change the date and tell them that I want an email and a phone call when the change is confirmed. Some one calls me the day before Thankgiving --in the evening, of course, and when I don't answer, leaves a voicemail to call them back to confirm--but it would be an additional $35. I try to call the number and get a recording that it is a non-functional number. 

Decide to call the hotel directly where I find out that the reservation was made by Expedia--what? I didn't call or go through the Expedia web, but that is who reservationcounter is linked to.

Called the hotel--no increase in cost to stay Sunday night rather than Friday and they have space. Cancelled the reservation and told them why. Refund processed within 24 hr, but credit card co might take 7 days to refund. We'll see.

Is there not enough business for expedia without deception? Well, I can tell you that I won't deal with them again.