Expedia sends credit card details to all hotels browsed

Incorrect Booking

I was recently passing through Lawrence, Kansas, on a road trip and needed overnight accomodation. After browsing Expedia for two different hotels, The Eldrige Hotel, and The Hallmark Inn, I decided on the Hallmark Inn as it was within budget. I proceeded with the booking only to find out that Expedia had booked all the hotels I had browsed.

Booking Info

Expedia sends me a confirmation of my booking for the Hallmark Inn only.
See a print of my itinerary from the My trips page in Expedia.

The correct booking (Hallmark) was the second entry in "Completed Trips" called Lawrence KS (3) 1149724XXXXX.

The Eldridge Hotel, which is listed twice as Lawrence KS, and Lawrence (KS) 2, probably because I viewed it on two separate occasions; is listed in the section called "Non-active trips: Do not contain reserved or purchased items". I must reiterate here the Eldridge hotel is in the section stated as not containing reserved or purchase items, because I didn't book it only browsed it.

Expedia booked all the hotels and rooms I had browsed

A month later when I am reviewing my credit card bill I see an item for The Eldridge Hotel for $448. How can this be?
I contact the hotel and they tell me that they received two bookings, together with my credit card details. I ask for a refund, and they refuse because as far as they are concerned it was a genuine booking.

Hello Dr. Conroy-Jones,

We did indeed charge your credit card for $448.08 on 8/2/07. There was a reservation made, on 8/1/07, for two rooms on Expedia. com for the night of 8/1/07. Our policy is to charge for all no-show rooms unless we receive at least 48 hours notice of cancellation. Please let me know if you have any further questions about this charge. You may want to contact Expedia if you feel there was an error here.

Thank you,

Michelle Crowell
Finance Director
The Eldridge

So I contact Expedia and their response is:

Dear Ms Conroy-Jones

Thank you for contacting Expedia.co.uk with a copy of your statement.
We have contacted the hotel in regards to your query.
We have requested a refund for the amount deducted on your statement.
We will be in contact with any further information.
We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience in this matter

Thank you for using Expedia.co.uk

Yours sincerely
Alannah

Firsts I am a Mr (Well Dr actually). Secondly as far as Expedia is concerned this is the end of the issue. I have contacted them every 5 days since this last email was receieved over a month ago and have yet to receive a response.

Current Situation

The current situation is that I have a hotel that won't refund the booking because as far as they are concerned it is legitamte, and Expedia who have washed their hands of it because they have asked the hotel to refund the money. This leaves me in the situation where no-one is taking ownership of the erroneous transaction that has illegally removed funds from my bank account.

Be warned, if you are browsing hotels in Expedia there is a chance they will send your credit card details to all the hotels you browsed, not just the ones you booked, and by the way, you don't get an email confirmation from the incorrect bookings, so you will only notice if you audit your bank statements.

All I want is my refund, and a contribution for the hours of investigation I have has to pursue to track and follow up this problem.

Thanks Expedia for this mistake you have admitted to but not rectified.