PTS news reports that a resident in Kaohsiung booked a double room at a bed and breakfast in Kenting through an accommodation website.
Upon arrival, they were informed that the room was occupied by other guests and were guided to another location.
However, the new place left the resident dumbfounded as the wiring in the lobby was exposed, giving the impression that the construction was incomplete.
They questioned the accommodation provider for overselling rooms and making them stay in a place without an operating license. As a result, the Pingtung County government imposed fines on the bed and breakfast operator.
The ceiling of the bed and breakfast was full of exposed wires, clearly indicating that it is under construction. The guest took pictures of the room at the time of check-in, but it was not the room they originally booked.
Exposed wires in the ceiling at unfinished B&B
The person said they booked a double room in Kenting through a booking website on the 28th, paying 3200 NTD.
When they arrived at the bed and breakfast, they couldn’t enter and were informed by the operator that other guests had occupied the room. They were then guided to another location, which left them dumbfounded.
Entrance of originally booked B&B
Unlucky customer of rogue B&B
The guest who checked in said, “They only notified us by phone at the moment of check-in and told us that the room had already been taken. As a result, our entire itinerary was delayed for a long time.
It was also too late to book another room, so we had no choice but to stay or sleep on the streets.”
He questioned whether the business operator oversold the rooms and allowed them to stay in a location without a business license.
They shared the experience on social media, emphasizing that they didn’t want to argue or seek compensation but were concerned about the impact on Taiwan’s tourism quality:
The location where they stayed is confirmed to be an illegal homestay. The county government has dispatched personnel to conduct inspections and will impose penalties based on the actual number of rooms.
Deputy Director of the Tourism Department of Ping County Government, Ni Guojun
Pingtung County Government stated that the location where the individual stayed was an illegal homestay and would be fined according to the law.
The questioned business owner did not respond but left a comment in the article explaining that it was a mistake made by the front desk staff, which resulted in a double booking, and they apologized to the individual.
Consumer protection officials also reminded the public that if they are moved to a different room and find a significant difference in the room environment or facilities compared to the initially booked room type, they can request appropriate compensation.
Public apologize of B&B owner
Kaohsiung City Government’s Director of Consumer Protection, Yin Maoqian 殷茂乾, explained, “He can provide evidence by taking photos and then claim afterward. If there is a quantifiable price difference, he can request the business owner to compensate.”
So far this year, there have been 6 cases of disputes related to national tourism consumption in Kaohsiung.
With the recovery of national tourism, popular attractions may frequently face high demand and limited availability during holidays.
Consumer protection officials also remind the public that in such situations, they should take photos as a means of self-protection and then file a complaint through the appropriate channels.