Washington State Settles Hotel Booking Fee Dispute for $750,000

The Office of the Attorney General of Washington reached a $750,000 settlement with Lexyl Technologies and Bookonline.com to resolve allegations of deceptive charging practices. The state accused the hotel booking companies of misleading consumers by including an optional refund protection plan that appeared to be a requirement during the booking process.

Nick Brown, the Attorney General of Washington, stated that travelers seeking deals were instead "saddled with extra fees they didn't need." Under the terms of the agreement, more than 12,000 Washington consumers will receive refund checks. The companies must mail these payments to the last known billing addresses on file within 90 days of the settlement filing.

Brown emphasized that the action is part of ongoing consumer protection efforts for Washington families who "deserve honesty in their transactions."