credit card dispute?

[susanscats]

A few months ago we decided to take a quick vacation. We booked a hotel through an internet site. We are in Louisiana, hotel is in Belize, C.A. When we got there we found the hotel which advertised "air conditioned suites" had only one small a/c in a back bedroom which did not cool the other rooms. We asked the manager for a remedy of some kind, a fan or something which he claimed not to have. After two days we advised him we would move out because of this. (our credit card was charged for the week when we made the reservation.) We disputed the charge( for the 5 unused nights), following instructions as to the procedure, etc. The card company at first tried to make it into a cancellation issue, which it is not. We maintain that the website was misleading. The c.c. company's last letter suggested we take this up with the BBB or La. Atty Gen.'s office, which we did. The A.G.'s office sent a letter on our behalf to the hotel which finally did respond to the issue of the air conditioner(claiming it was not a problem) but they do not mention the wording of the website.I think we are at the point of either giving up or getting an attorney; the disputed amount is $477. Before we decide, we would like to hear someone's opinion about this.
Thank you.

 

[loku]

No air conditioning

You are legally entitled to cancel the contract and get your money back because of their misrepresentation—they did not deliver what the promised. If you can prove they did promise air conditioned suits and that they did not give you one, you would win. However, as a practical matter, hiring an attorney in CA, while you live in Louisiana would not be a good idea for a case this small.

 

[susanscats]

Thank you for your thoughts on the matter. I am confused about this:
Since we withheld the payment from tne credit card company, are we fighting them, as well as the hotel? It seem to me the hotel would have to sue me to get the money. Wouldn't the c.c.company have withheld these funds from the hotel until the dispute was settled?
Thanks again.