Agoda Overcharged Me For My Hotel Booking

I recently experienced a nightmare with Agoda.com, where a charge on my credit card resulted in a blocked card during my vacation. We made a hotel reservation, availing a 10% first-user discount. However, at the last payment, we were confronted with a higher price without any explanation. Despite the surprise, it was still cheaper than other options, so we proceeded.

Promised a free cancellation option up to 3 days before check-in, our satisfaction took a hit when they attempted to debit the entire fee 5 days before. The website refused alternative cards or payment methods, threatening to cancel the reservation within 1 day if we didn't pay.

Despite these issues, we managed to confirm the reservation with the hotel smoothly, and our vacation began. Two days later, trying to pay for dinner, I discovered my credit limit was exhausted. Checking with the bank, I found the payment made 5 days earlier appeared as 'Outstanding Authorization,' with the same amount directly debited from the card.

I had no idea how they executed the transaction despite insufficient limits. Stressful conversations with Agoda ensued. With no local phone numbers, resolving the issue took extensive email exchanges. They promised a resolution within 30 business days. As a last resort, we approached the bank and successfully canceled the transaction. The bank revealed this issue was common, often attributed to delayed bookings. Agoda's customer service and systems proved woefully inadequate, causing significant distress during what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation.