My husband and I booked a trip to the Harry Packer Mansion for October, 2009. We put $100 down as a deposit, and owed around $600 which would be paid when we checked in.

A few nights before we were scheduled to check in, my sister passed away. This trip was not on my mind. of course, so I did not call them until the morning of our check in to tell them that we could not make it.

That day, my husband looked on his online banking page, and, to our surprise, there is a $615.00 withdrawal from his account.

We immediately called up there, and the owner's wife, a sad, nasty person, told me that we should have called and cancelled...they were not going to give us our money back.

Here's the thing: We had NO problem eating the $100.00 deposit, because thats what we assumed was the non refundable payment for holding the room. My complaint is, that they took our money without our approval. On their website, it simply says, "A $100.00 non refundable deposit is required to make a reservation and we have a 30 day cancellation policy." Now, does that mean they will take ALL of your money, without even telling you, for having to cancel last minute? What's the deposit for then? If I booked a room at the Marriot, and something came up like, I dont know, the death of a sibling, they would take my non refundable deposit, and leave it at that...not take the ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE TRIP!! Not only that, this woman was less than compassionate, and I don't even think I would want to stay there based soley on how mean she is.

We eventually got out money back, less the non refundable deposit of course, from the actual owner, who I assume we should have talked to first.

I am not a complainer. I am a very passive person. But this was so aggregious and disheartening that I found this site and am posting this.

The sad thing is, I have always wanted to go away on a murder mystery weekend. But maybe someday I will find another one. I wouldn't go to this place if THEY paid ME.


If you cancel within 30 days of your reservation the total cost of the room will be non-refundable.