My Agoda Booking Experience: A Cautionary Tale from Singapore
Hello everyone! My family and I recently embarked on a trip to Singapore from June 27th to July 2nd. During our travels, I utilized the booking services of a gentleman named Vương Nguyễn, who offers cheaper room bookings via the Agoda app. I'm sharing my experience, along with a review of his services, to help others navigate similar situations. Please read this thoroughly!
The Journey and the Challenges Encountered
Here's a breakdown of the issues I faced throughout our trip:
- On April 27th, I contacted Vương to book a room at Hotel 165. He quoted a price of 11,500,000 VND after app discounts. He sent me a booking confirmation and a PDF file on April 28th. I requested he forward the original email from Agoda, but he did not. I also asked him to list my name as the client, but he stated my booking wasn't via voucher and proceeded to use another family member's name.
- On May 19th, during a check, I noticed that the country of residence was listed as Malaysia. When I inquired, he assured me it was not important and that check-in would proceed normally.
- Upon arriving at Changi on June 27th, Vương abruptly informed us that we had to move to a different hotel, Hotel 81 Cosy, and provided a new Agoda booking link. That day, we were also dealing with a lost suitcase and the associated reporting, which was quite stressful. Due to the fatigue and chaos, I didn't question the hotel change and proceeded to check into the new hotel, where check-in was smooth.
- On June 28th, I returned my room key at the hotel for our day's activities. The hotel requested the passport of the person who made the booking. I contacted Vương, and he sent me a seemingly fake passport with a digitally altered name. I immediately recognized it and questioned him. He insisted I use it, and astonishingly, the hotel accepted it. At this point, my suspicions grew, but I felt I had to see it through.
- At 3:19 PM on June 29th, Vương notified me to pay for the room. That night, at 11:34 PM, I transferred the full amount of 11,500,000 VND to him.
- At approximately 6 PM on June 31st, the hotel management called me down to discuss an issue. Agoda had reported that my booking had not been paid due to a card error, and they required immediate payment. The room rate at this time was around 1250 USD, which is approximately 26,250,000 VND. I checked the link Vương had sent on June 27th, only to find the room had been canceled on June 30th. I tried calling Vương but couldn't reach him. I understood that the person who booked the room and the person staying there could be different, and crucially, the booking on Agoda was under Vương's name. Therefore, he was responsible for the payment. Given my background in international law and having family in the legal field, I decided not to pay the hotel directly. Instead, I contacted Agoda and the police to initiate an investigation into the account holder who made the booking and the card used. The Singaporean police arrived promptly within 5 minutes. I explained the situation and provided my passport to assist their investigation. My emotional state was terrible; I was prepared to stay in Singapore to resolve the matter thoroughly.
- Two hours later, at 8:47 PM, Vương messaged me, precisely when I was speaking with the police. After some evasive conversation, he proposed a settlement: "1,250 x 20 = 25,000,000 VND. Original booking was 14,000,000 VND (which he had initially quoted me at 11,500,000 VND). You paid me 11,500,000 VND. I will pay you back 22,500,000 VND. Send me your bank account." He used an exchange rate of 20 VND to USD, despite the rate being closer to 21 VND to USD on June 26th when I exchanged currency. He also insisted I cover the difference between the original price and the discounted price he had quoted (14,000,000 - 11,500,000 = 2,500,000 VND). I disagreed. He then offered to send me 23,000,000 VND (adding 500,000 VND for the exchange rate difference). Eager to resolve the situation quickly with the police present, I agreed. He transferred the money, and I received the full 23,000,000 VND. I requested a transaction slip to verify the source of funds and to have proof within our communication, but he was very slow to provide it. I have yet to verify its authenticity. I will have my family check it and clarify the details later.
My Review of the Service
Although I eventually received the funds from him (though still not the full 1250 USD), my experience working with Vương was exceptionally poor. I've also spoken to a few of his past clients, and their feedback mirrors my own:
- He is consistently slow to respond to messages. I rarely received immediate replies, and on June 31st, it took him two hours to respond.
- He engages in the use of others' information and fake documents for bookings.
- He unilaterally changes hotels without guest consent.
- He cancels bookings without informing the guest.
- His typical modus operandi seems to be: Book a room - attempt payment via card - the card fails - the customer is then asked to pay the hotel directly.
- He claims not to be a scammer, yet his attitude and business practices have negatively impacted me and other involved parties, including the hotel, Agoda, and the Singapore police.
While Vương has many positive reviews on Facebook, my personal experience was starkly different. If he agrees, I am willing to publicly share our entire conversation history. I can confidently state that all information provided here is truthful, and I stand by it with my reputation as a legal professional, accepting full legal responsibility for my statements.
Previously, I always booked my accommodations myself. However, a series of unfortunate events led me to book through an intermediary this time. I'm not generalizing, but it's safest for everyone to book directly to avoid such hassles. Even with a resolution, the trip's joy is significantly diminished. This experience has been a learning curve; it was my first and will be my last time using an intermediary booking service through an app like Agoda.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
P.S. Many others have encountered similar issues. These situations often involve credit card fraud or exploiting policies for new cards or accounts to gain financial advantages. The unfortunate reality is that you could end up facing legal repercussions, so please consider this carefully before using such services.
