A tourist was left with a “bad taste in his mouth” when his plans to celebrate Guid Nychburris were hit with hotel troubles.
Marc Sieben was due to book in to the town’s Queensberry Hotel last Thursday for a four-day stay.
But a hold-up at the crossing in Calais meant he was going to be a day late checking in.
Mr Sieben, a pipe major with the Castle Pipers from Kreis Heinsberg in Germany, told the Standard he phoned the hotel to explain the situation and insists he was told it “wasn’t a problem”.
But when he did finally arrive on Friday, he found the hotel doors closed and was subsequently told on the phone his booking had been cancelled, leaving him and two friends with nowhere to stay.
Mr Sieben, 56, said: “On Thursday I was coming through the Eurotunnel but we had a delay so didn’t get over the border. I phoned the hotel and said I would be coming tomorrow and they said that wasn’t a problem.
“I phoned on Friday morning and said I was expecting to get in at 1pm. Again they said okay. But when I got there and phoned the number he said he cancelled the booking. I travelled 1,000km and had driven for 12
hours. It’s shocking. I’m quite annoyed. You’re hoping to have a very good weekend with friends for Guid Nychburris and have a good time. We did eventually, but this has left a very bad taste in the mouth.”
However, hotelier Daniel Berhane insists he told Mr Sieben on Thursday that if he didn’t arrive that day, he was within his rights to cancel the booking.
Mr Berhane said: “It says in black and white in the conditions on Booking.com website that I was within my rights to cancel and there would be no refund.
“I was there waiting for them to arrive on Thursday when I received a call to say something happened. I said if he didn’t check in that day, his booking would be marked as a no show. When he arrived I tried to explain the terms and conditions.
“I was told they would put it on Facebook and there’s now a lot of people calling me names. This has been a nightmare.”
Mr Sieben’s stay was saved after he contacted friend Alan McGowan from Dumfries Pipe Band for help.
Alternative accommodation was found for Mr Sieben and the two other band members of the Castle Pipers.
Dumfries Pipe Band posted details of the row on its Facebook page “to share Marc’s experience with our followers and fellow Doonhamers”.
A spokesperson from Booking.com said: “We are looking into the issues raised and are currently in touch with the customer and property owner.”
