AfriStay - What a Crap Experience!

J

Jacada

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
594
Reaction score
251
Location
Pta
I started using AfriStay ever since it was featured on MyBB. In January I decided to book our annual holiday through them.

I found a nice place, made the booking, paid the deposit, received my itinerary and everything was fine, well so I thought.

Last week I decide to contact the host to arrange for the final payment. My mails are ignored. Six days after my first mail, AfriStay phones me. They are sorry but there has been a double booking, some kind of computer glitch. It turns out that the first 3 days and the last day of our stay has been booked by someone else. And apparently there were more days that overlapped but that person cancelled their reservation. In my mind that's a quadruple booking, not a double booking but whatever.

I try to contain my anger and frustration as I listen to the lady from AfriStay. I explain that this is unacceptable and that the reservation was made in January already. Yes, she knows, but the other people booked in December already! Really? Are you sure? That sounds like a little white lie to me......

So they want to shove us into another place for the first 3 days, the last day we just have to leave early I guess. I'm not sure what the final arrangements will be because AfriStay has stopped phoning me. Trying to get hold of the lady that phoned me is a hit and miss affair. Apparently in the year 2019 it is not possible for AfriStay to transfer a call.

This is highly unprofessional and unacceptable and I really expected more from them.
 
xrapidx said:
Just ask for a refund and stay somewhere else?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing it's close to travel time. But yeah, I'd cancel the reservation entirely, get a refund and use airbnb or an alternative.

Afristay sound like they are talking kek, they should've picked this up when it was booked. Those excuses are laughable and service terrible for something they screwed up.

/mental note to self, don't use Afristay.
 
xrapidx said:
Just ask for a refund and stay somewhere else?
Click to expand...
If only it was that easy. You book in Jan, for December holiday (as an example) then leave it, now suddenly it's September and you trying to make bookings for accommodation (through no fault of your own) and if you are planning on visiting somewhere that is a busy holiday destination you can either find nothing, or hellish expensive places.
 
According to the T's & C's, if I cancel now I will lose 50% of my deposit. Believe me, cancelling everything has crossed my mind.
 
Jacada said:
According to the T's & C's, if I cancel now I will lose 50% of my deposit. Believe me, cancelling everything has crossed my mind.
Click to expand...
They've broken their terms though? If they don't give you the accommodation then contact the bank and do a charge back. You paid for x days, they're now offering y. Screw that.
 
theratman said:
They've broken their terms though? If they don't give you the accommodation then contact the bank and do a charge back. You paid for x days, they're now offering y. Screw that.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, but do you really think AfriStay will see it that way? The deposit was paid in January, so I doubt the bank can help.

EDIT:
Besides, according to one guy on HelloPeter: "if you get a refund from them you've hit the jackpot!"
So it seems going down the refund route will have it's own can of worms.

There are lots of unhappy customers on HelloPeter, wish I knew this beforehand.
 
Last edited:
Darynv said:
If only it was that easy. You book in Jan, for December holiday (as an example) then leave it, now suddenly it's September and you trying to make bookings for accommodation (through no fault of your own) and if you are planning on visiting somewhere that is a busy holiday destination you can either find nothing, or hellish expensive places.
Click to expand...

Completely agree with you. Trying to find something now will be a pain, that's why I made the booking in January already.
 
eish, typical south african service delivery.

edited to add : can't you bypass the middleman and contact the host directly and find out what is going on, whether there really is a double booking or not?
 
From their own terms :

Once an offer has been accepted by a Guest, a Host will be unable to change the pricing or availability of the Accommodation

Failure to confirm a booking request or a rejection of a booking request by the Host, as contemplated above and notwithstanding any other term in this Agreement to the contrary, will result in any amounts paid to Afristay by the Guest in contemplation of confirmation of the booking being refunded to the Guest.

In the event of a Host cancelling a confirmed booking made on this Website, Afristay will:

make full remittance of such amounts as it may have received from the Guest
 
theratman said:
From their own terms :

Once an offer has been accepted by a Guest, a Host will be unable to change the pricing or availability of the Accommodation

Failure to confirm a booking request or a rejection of a booking request by the Host, as contemplated above and notwithstanding any other term in this Agreement to the contrary, will result in any amounts paid to Afristay by the Guest in contemplation of confirmation of the booking being refunded to the Guest.

In the event of a Host cancelling a confirmed booking made on this Website, Afristay will:

make full remittance of such amounts as it may have received from the Guest
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is good to know.

I will however keep this as a last resort.
 
The_Librarian said:
eish, typical south african service delivery.

edited to add : can't you bypass the middleman and contact the host directly and find out what is going on, whether there really is a double booking or not?
Click to expand...

I got the feeling that the host is part of the problem. She was very quick to contact me when I made the reservation, but now she ignores my messages on AfriStay.
 
Course of action going forward : ask for confirmation that host have x available for y dates.

Once confirmation has been received, book it.

If it happens later that a double booking occur, you can then take them to task for that as you have proof that it was open, but somebody goofed up somewhere (small claims etc).
 
Sinbad said:
Bet the host had it listed on another platform as well and got the double booking that way.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure this is what happened, and the Host didn't keep Afristay in the loop.

Sounds as if the Host may be the guilty party here.
 
Jola said:
Pretty sure this is what happened, and the Host didn't keep Afristay in the loop.

Sounds as if the Host may be the guilty party here.
Click to expand...

I also got that impression and now AfriStay wants to spin me the "computer glitch" story, not knowing that I'm in IT.

Maybe the hosts family from overseas came for a surprise visit? :unsure:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X