Charged for a Booking.com Reservation at Rotan Hotel Despite Not Staying There

I booked a stay at the Rotan Hotel in Thessaloniki, Greece, through Booking.com for September 2–3, with a total cost of €150. The booking included free cancellation, and payment was to be made upon arrival. I contacted the hotel to confirm if we could check in early at 6:00 AM, as the listed check-in time was 3:00 PM. They assured me they would do their best to accommodate us.

However, when we arrived with a baby, the hotel refused to let us in until 3:00 PM and even denied us access to wait inside the premises. Left stranded outside, I canceled the reservation on the spot and found alternative accommodation.

A few days later, I discovered that Booking.com had charged €150 to my card. When I contacted them, they claimed they had no knowledge of the charge. The hotel refused to refund me, stating it was Booking.com's responsibility. Both parties are avoiding responsibility for this issue.

I am being unfairly charged for a service I did not receive. I demand an immediate refund and accountability from both Booking.com and Rotan Hotel for this frustrating and avoidable situation.