Opodo - major problems

[happyholidays!]

Hi I recently booked a trip to New York with OPODO. Having looked at their web site, the price that came up seemed very cheap, so I called them on their premium rate Customer Services number (the only number you can get for them) to check. Their representative had a look and agreed the price seemed remarkable, but asked me to book online and give her the booking number so that she could then see who the supplier was and then contact them to check. She did this, and rang me back to say that the supplier (Hotel.De) had confirmed the price, and that is what we would pay, plus local taxes etc.

However, I decided to contact the hotel direct, and they advised me that the rate I would be paying was 3000 dollars MORE than that quoted and confirmed both on the phone and in email from OPODO. I then went back to OPODO, and despite several months of correspondence the hotel refused to accept the original price quoted so I have had to cancel the booking. This is despite the Customer Service Call Manager at OPODO advising me through their agent that I would pay the rate OPODO quoted me on. OPODO are refusing to take any responsibility - not even an apology!

I would advise anyone when booking to contact the hotel directly, don't see any point in booking through OPODO if they don't guarantee their prices. If I had taken their word, and their confirmation email for it, and not contacted the hotel to check, I would have had a nasty shock at the end of my trip.

If anyone wishes further information, I have the entire email correspondence between myself and OPODO - it makes interesting reading!