A mortified holidaymaker rocked up at her accommodation only to find the hotel had been closed for two years.
Gutted Patricia Jubb, 56, booked her package holiday with Expedia in May this year. But Birmingham Live reports how things went pear-shaped as soon as she arrived at her digs in Poland.
She told how problems began when she failed to get hold of anyone at Anton Apartments Piekna to let them know of her late arrival in Warsaw. Patricia jetted out to the Polish capital by herself on July 13 before jumping into a taxi to the hotel.
READ MORE - Edinburgh man 'one of only 23 people' diagnosed with incurable leg swelling disease
When she finally arrived a security guard gave her the shock news that the holiday apartments had been closed for two years and the building was now offices. Patricia, from Gloucestershire, said: "Before I left I tried to contact them on Facebook and on their website saying I was going to be late.
"But for the life of me I couldn't get through to anyone and no ones was getting back to me. I didn't hear anything back but decided to go anyway as I thought if there was an issue Expedia would have got in touch. Although when I turned up it became immediately clear that something wasn't right.
"I asked the security guard standing at the entrance of the address I had for the hotel and he said the building was now office space. He told me the hotel had been shut for two years, and I wasn't the first guest who has turned up after it closed its doors. I spoke to reception and they said the best thing I could do was go to the police station and ask them to sort me out some accommodation.
"It suddenly dawned on me I was homeless in Poland and had no idea where I was which was frightening." She was able to find a last-minute place on Booking.com to stay at for the remainder of her holiday.
She paid £401 for four nights, an additional cost which she now claims Expedia is refusing to reimburse. Patricia, who works as a catering assistant, said: "Expedia's attitude towards the situation was that they didn't really care.
"They said it would take them 24 hours to 'confirm my story' and until they could do that I was basically on my own. The fact they were happy to leave a woman on the streets of Warsaw late at night with no where to stay is astonishing. Thankfully I'm a confident traveller and a resourceful person but imagine if it had been a mum with two young children. I stayed four nights in this emergency accommodation which was okay - but since I've got back Expedia are refusing to cover the cost. I want people to be aware that this is the way Expedia feel it's okay to treat their customers."
A spokesperson for Expedia said: "The customer contacted us to inform us about the late check-in, but the agents were not able to contact the property. The traveller booked the new room and sent an email to us with the information that she booked an emergency accommodation for GBP 401.
"Later after the investigation from Expedia, the customer was refunded for the full original booking amount. And was offered 2,500 compensatory points but the customer denied accepting. We will be initiating the refund for the amount difference between the new booking that the traveller made and the original booking of GBP180.80."
READ NEXT:
Scots lawyer John Watt jailed for 10 years over sex abuse against children in the Edinburgh area
Edinburgh primary school has three bikes stolen from shed by thoughtless thieves
Edinburgh local tells of dramatic escape from home after chip shop blaze
Reckless Edinburgh motorbike rider slaloms traffic and pulls stunts on busy road
West Lothian pensioner screams as thief drags her along suburb with car
