HISTORY:
On 3/25/2011, I started to search for flights from my area Greensboro, NC to the Tampa, Fl. area. After MANY hours of research (8 or so), I went on Priceline.com and started to present a "Name Your Own Price". After a few hours, I raised my price to $190.00, then haggled as to which airport to fly from/into and it was accepted.
It was around 9:00pm and I was exhausted, so I decided to Call it a Day and wait till the next day to 'Name My Own Price' for a rental car and hotel on the next day.

On 3/26/2011, I went on Priceline.com to book a rental car. Unlike other travel brokers, I was unable to book a 'Package' (hotel/car), so I just started w/a car. I clicked on the rental car link and was redirected to a list of cars. I clicked on the absolute lowest, scrolled down and clicked on "Buy this Car". I did anticipate going to a "Summary Page", like I was the night before w/airline bookings, but instead, was directed to a "Your Offer Was Accepted"?!
There was NO link giving me the option of "Name My Own Price" as advertised?!

My heart sunk...

When I contacted a number on the website, a recording informed me that this "Program had Ended."? I went on my email to inform and to ask them that I wanted to Name my own price and to CANCEL the transaction.
A return email was sent, informing me that this transaction could NOT be changed or canceled.

I don't recall if it was an email or if I googled for Priceline, but I ended up calling. I cannot say that these people were unprofessional, but I received the same "Song & Dance" explanation as depicted in the email...NO REFUNDS OR CANCELLATIONS!
I was STUMPED!

I even contacted Avis and was told that I had to deal directly with Priceline. I was FUMING!

I made EVERY attempt of canceling this reservation within MINUTES of the booking. It was based on HUMAN ERROR that I booked this car, based on previous dealing w/airport bookings that I would have the option to "Name My Own Price".
It wasn't like I waited to the last minute to cancel, inconveniencing businesses and/or others that needed to rent a car. I made EVERY attempt in minutes!!!

I reside in North Carolina and if Memory serves me right, I thought there was a 'Clause' which allowed me 3 days to 'Change my Mind'. It's clear that Pricelines' only concern is to profit, regardless. Priceline uses their terms & conditions verbatim and they follow it to the letter.

However, if there are discrepancies, accidental typing, if mitigating circumstances arise, etc., there is NO 'WIGGLE ROOM' allowed. I can completely understand if Priceline established an 'Inconvenience fee' for modifying an 'agreement', BUT not forcing people to remain, despite the reason(s). This way, they can benefit from changes or modifications and penalize those again, regardless of the reason, but not FORCE the public into a Contract!
However, because of Human error AND even though it was MINUTES after my 'Buying of a Car'--which in itself is a 'Questionable' term as opposed to 'Renting' of such--then I should have been (in the least) refunded for a simple mistake.
Priceline was aware of my dilemma, also requesting a hotel. Priceline could have arranged for a "Package Deal" (as Expedia does) and this wouldn't have been a problem. They even refused to negotiate in a "Package"?!

After going through an angry rampage w/customer service and threat of legal recourse, I placed a "Stop Payment" at my bank by the end of the day.

Today, I received an email from my bank stating that they were unable to comply to my request being that I used my Credit Card and that I was advised to contact a Dispute Charge department.

The Bottom Line...

Priceline Lures customers into their site via Banner ads showing that you can rent a car for $13.95 but doesn't disclose where/when, promises via TV ads to give consumers a "Name Your Own Price" deal. Clearly, this isn't the case here. This is Defrauding the public, with deceptive ads.

Understandably contracts are "Legally Binding", yet the consumer is not advised with a clause double checking and asking via an additional page displaying: "IF I WAS SURE OF MY DECISION?" w/a link giving me the option of YES, NO, CANCEL or even "Name Your Own Price".
Instead, it ONLY flips the unsuspecting consumer into "Your Bid Was Accepted" unlike the bookings under the Airline section that gives you an option to Name Your Own Price. Theoretically, ALL pages should be the same format and anything different is 'Trickory', to say the least.

Theoretically, this is not considered a "Legally Binding" contract by any means. Simply entering initials on a website doesn't warrant a legal contract. Anybody can book and type in initials.
This in itself is a questionable practice when a corporation considers this as a 'Contract' when you don't actually sign on a dotted line! Thus, it is NOT legally binding.

Now, I have a hotel booked with Expedia and if this stands, a car that costs me $425.24 for 8 days. I had a car w/Expedia for $177.00 / 8 days (Package deal w/hotel).
This is a travesty. Many consumers are unaware of the trickery used by companies such as Priceline. Law should be amended to further protect consumers including even family members of YOURS when you decide to take a trip.

I will never book a flight with this company again, I booked roundtrip tickets to london for me and my wife and I just found out I paid for more than the usual airline tickets, i thought it was just because we have hotel accommodations and rental car fees, but when we got to the hotel, it was really onb the seedy part of town and the place was really awful. i called their cust rep for more than 2 hrs and they wouldnt let me change the package that we purchased. We had to pay for a new hotel rental so just I could get my wife out of the cheap hotel room. when we got back to the US, I called them again and demanded a refund but they wouldn't grant me any. So never make anydealings with this company again. you'll just end up as dissatisfied as I am.

Priceline.com purports to have low airline prices. In the past they have produced lower fares when I used them, so this time I went straight to their site before cross-checking with airline companies.

Five minutes after I bought my tickets I discovered that Priceline charged me more than DOUBLE the same-time, same-hour fee Alaska Air offered roundtrip (nonstop at noon at that, versus layover in LA and 6 am departure) from San Francisco to Palm Springs, CA.

Priceline advertises low fares but charges double or more!

I called Priceline on the phone and was told that "they check ALL major airlines before presenting customers an offer."

Not true! Had they checked Alaska Air ($108 RT versus Priceline's $271 RT) it would've come up, right?

I went ahead and bought the Alaska Air tickets and am fighting Priceline now for false advertising.

Do not trust Priceline's prices!

This Days Inn is on Bell Road, Nashville, TN. The motel looked good online, but when we got there everything changed. The rooms were 104 and 108 and they both were in real bad shape and should not have even been rented to anyone.

Room 108 had walls that were caving in, the toilet was broken, the carpet was very bad, borders were falling off the walls, the sink faucets were just sitting on top of the sink cabinet, and the tub and shower faucets were just hanging by the water supply lines with hair all over the tub and toilet seat.

The toilet seat was just hanging on by one bolt, the curtain would not shut. I used my suit case to close the curtains so no one could look in. People were fighting in the parking lot all night with loud yelling going on all night long.

Room 104 was very bad too. It didn't even have a clock in the room, the shower did not work, the door's dead bolt would not lock, but the bad thing was they did not offer to fix anything and did not even offer an "I'm sorry, sir" when I checked out.

This was a very bad stay and I don't feel I got my money's worth at all. I would be ashamed to book anyone in this motel. I will be filing a report with the BBB of TN, and the US, and any one else I think should know.

It was very bad Priceline.com, very bad. I am very unhappy with this stay and I will not use Priceline again and will not tell anyone else to use it. You should feel very bad about this... I know I do. I'm in Lexington, KY.

Priceline.com withholds information that if you knew would prevent you from dealing with the company.

They may give you a good fare but you can likely get it as cheap elsewhere.

I purchased tickets and was given a ticket but at what I feel where the worst possible times and flights.

If you deal with this company there is a high likelihood you will not be satisfied with the service you get.

I had difficulty reaching a real live person to complain. I suspect this is because they are use to getting complaints.