TSP ean Travel US a/k/a Hotel Planner I was scammed! Internet

 On July 27, 2013, I looked up the phone # for Holiday Inn Express, Orange, TX, and, when I dialed the number, I thought I was talking to their desk reservations clerk.  I told her all I wanted was the room rate for the weekend of Aug. 9th and she immediately replied that I had a serious problem as there were only two rooms available for that night, a King and a Double-Queen.  I told her I had to first discuss this with my traveling companion and she said that by the time I called back the rooms might be gone so I should immediately reserve them.  I inquired about the cancellation policy and she said as long as I cancelled by Aug. 7th, 48 hrs. prior, there would be no problem.  I then gave her my credit card info and was shocked a few min. later when I received an e-mail whereby a company named Hotel Planner had charged my American Exp. $224.80 as all along I thought I was dealing directly with the hotel desk clerk.

Two days later I contacted the hotel directly and learned that there had never been a shortage of rooms and then I knew i was dupped so I tried to cancel the reservations through Hotel Planner only to be told that they could not be cancelled without penalty.  I asked to talk to a supervisor, a very rude man, who informed me that I should read their fine print and, at this point, I decided to just keep this reservation rather than be charged. 

Fast forward to Aug. 9th, at 4:50 p.m., when I arrived at the hotel with 20 min. to dress for a dinner party and to find I had no reservation.  The very nice desk clerk reviewed the copy of my confirmation and advised that the number Hotel Planner had listed on the confirmation wasn't even their number which was verified by Mr Jack Patel, Mgr.  The following day, after again talking to the desk clerk, I called AMEX and filed a dispute.  They advised me that it was not necessary for me to contact Hotel Planner as they would take care of all of the investigation.  Imagine my shock when, nearly 60 days later, I was advised by AMEX that my dispute was denied because Hotel Planner stated I was a "No-Show" at the hotel.

After contacting Mr. Patel, he assigned his Reservations Consierge who went beyond the call of duty to research the situation and she even contacted several area hotels to be certain the reservation was not inadvertently sent to another hotel. She then contacted AMEX & advised them that I was, in fact, a guest at the hotel and sent copies of even my signature on the Reservation Form and other pertinent information.  Nearly 60 days later, after numerous correspondence and phone calls, I was again advised that my dispute was denied as Hotel Planner now claimed that I was in violation of the hotel's cancellation policy because cancelled but I did not cancel within the 48 hrs. prior to my visit.   

In early Dec., I filed Dispute #3, this time with AMEX Fraud Dept. and in a 5 page letter setting out everything that had occurred, I requested they check Ripoff Reports to observe how many others had had very similar experiences and also set out that Holiday Inn Express had a cancellation policy whereby the guest had to register by 6 p.m. but that, knowing that planes were late, etc., they never charged anyone if they arrived prior to 11:00 pm.  Again, after numerous phone calls, I was advised on Feb. 6, 2014, that this time I had won they dispute and my account had been credited. 

I cannot believe that it would take 6 months and all of the stress involved to get back the money that was rightfully mine.  Do not do business with this company as they will scam you, then fight for money that is in no way due them with lies and more lies.  i have seen many complaints where the victims never receive the money that is due them from Hotel Planner, one reported aprox. $2,000.  Is there no Federal Agency that will protect U. S. citizens from this scam?