Expert: Owen Ahearn - 6/22/2009

Question
I stayed at The Flamingo Inn in Daytona and felt that I was very mistreated by the property manager. First, there are several safety code violations (which I want to report but am not sure how to go about doing so). One of the rails was missing on the 3rd floor balcony & the tiles in the pool were coming apart and were very jagged on the edges. It would be so easy to get cut on these.

The main problem is that the property manager felt I had an extra person stay at the unit (which I did not). My sister stopped by until 11:30 pm and then stopped by the next day as well.  The property manage had such an attitude with me in front of another guest - accusing me of "sneaking " another person in the room and charged me additional monies. She told me I should say thankyou for all she has done by letting me have my boyfriend park his car at the location as well. Mind you, when I arrived she never explained the "rules" of the condotel. She never said there was visiting hours nor that they typically charged for additional parking when they are not even at full capacity. She rude and arrogant and I need some advice as to how I can report her.  Can you please assist me?

Thank you so much,

Lilly

Answer
Lilly-

Thank you for writing to AllExperts for an answer to your problem at the Flamingo Inn in Daytona.  I have never been to a hotel or establishment where you are under the watchful eye of hotel management.  

Generally when you reserve a room you are asked for the number of adults and children in your party.  That is how they would establish a room rate for your stay.  If more people show up, they would expect more money, as you have increased the amount of work - beds to be made, linens, and laundry.

Without knowing the policies of hotel, you generally can have guests.  They often post their rules in the hotel lobby, near pools, near parking lot entrances, and provide their guests with a copy.

For health and safety reporting, I would recommend that you either contact the communities Board of Health or Building Department.

If you are looking for ways to report her, there are a few.  One is to file a complaint with the hotel.  A second would be with the better business bureau.  A third would be with the hotel and convention council for your state.  

If you were charged additional monies - you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charge.  Some allow you to dispute and withhold payment for up to sixty days after the event.

One final way is small claims court.  If you contact your local court, they can inform you of the costs and the format to file to recover your money.

One non-financial method of getting some resolution is to post your issues on a blog or a travel post to report your troubled stay.

Best of luck to you.  If I can be of additional assistance, please contact me again.

Sincerely,

Owen Ahearn
Ahearn Realty Management, Inc.
www.ahearnrealty.com