How to Dispute a Hotel Charge
Hotel charge disputes usually involve a resort fee you weren't told about, a damage/incidental charge you disagree with, or a no-show charge for a reservation you believe you canceled in time. Here's the right order to handle it in.
Whether you're calling it a refund request, a chargeback, disputing the charge, or just contesting it, the steps below are the same.
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Contact the hotel directly first
Call or email the property (not just the booking site) and ask for an itemized explanation of the charge. Hotels often reverse an incidental or resort-fee charge quickly when asked directly and specifically.
If you booked through a third party (Expedia, Booking.com, etc.), loop them in too
The booking site may need to be part of the resolution, especially for a cancellation dispute — they usually have your cancellation confirmation on file.
Put the specifics in writing
The charge amount, the date, your confirmation number, what you were told at booking versus what you were charged, and the resolution you want.
If the hotel won't budge, dispute it with your card issuer
Bring your confirmation, any cancellation email, and a written account of what happened — hotel billing disputes are common enough that most issuers handle them routinely.
- •Always keep your booking confirmation email — it's the single most useful document in a hotel dispute, especially for a cancellation charge.
- •A resort fee or destination fee not disclosed clearly at booking is a common and often successful dispute — call it out specifically.
- •For a damage/incidental charge, ask the hotel for photos or documentation of the damage — many won't have any, which strengthens your case.
Don't want to write it yourself?
Describe what happened and FixACharge writes the dispute letter, email, and evidence checklist for you.
Write My DisputeA self-help document tool, not a law firm. We can't promise refunds or provide legal advice.