HOTEL reservations website Booking.com is still duping its customers using pressure selling tactics according to Which? Travel.
The consumer champion said that the travel firm is continuing to mislead consumers despite a crackdown by regulators.
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Earlier this year, the government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) took enforcement action against six hotel booking sites over concerns of pressure selling, misleading discount claims, the impact of commissions on search results and hidden charges.
The regulator concluded that practices such as giving a false impression of a room’s popularity or not displaying the full cost upfront could potentially break consumer protection law.
It gave the websites – Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, ebookers and Trivago – until September 1 to comply.
However, Which? found five out of ten claims of “only one room left” on Booking.com failed to give an accurate picture of availability.
In one example, search results for the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge warned that just one “secret deal” room was available – a superior double room with disability access priced at £232.
However, after clicking through to the booking page, Which? found another ten superior doubles with internal view available for a cheaper rate of £226.
In total, 34 empty rooms were still available at the same hotel on the same night.
In another example, The Banjo B&B in Liverpool showed “1 room left” – on a budget double room.
When Which? clicked through, there were four identical “budget double rooms” for the same price of £49.
SLY STAY Hidden charges like resort fees that could double the price of your hotel room
In contrast, the five other sites named by the CMA appeared to be complying with the rules, the consumer group said.
Naomi Leach from Which? Travel said: “We found clear evidence that Booking.com has not yet sufficiently cleaned up its act and is flouting the rules on pressure-selling, which could lead to millions of consumers being rushed into making a booking.
“It must now provide cast-iron guarantees that it won’t continue to mislead holidaymakers with these unscrupulous practices, otherwise the regulator will have to step in with strong action to bring it into line.”
A Booking.com spokeswoman said: “We have worked hard to implement the commitments agreed with the CMA and maintain continuing collaboration and dialogue to inform ongoing enhancement of the consumer experience.”
Earlier this year, several guests reportedly arrived at a Dublin hotel to check in, only to discover it hadn’t opened yet despite already getting positive reviews.
Last year, a tourist was left fuming after she discovered that the hotel “infinity pool” was actually just a hot tub.
There are also numerous other instances of Brits being sold holidays that look nothing like the brochure.
