The
terrible reviews for Soheil Mehrab-Khani's "hotel" (it's registered
as an accommodation facility) keep rolling in. It's like watching a train
wreck. One woman named Pat was so upset by the experience, she wrote two
reviews on two travel sites!
Just to
refresh, one Soheil Mehrab-Khani, pictured above, owns the Harrington 102 as well
as several other properties, and has been in and out of court on various building
breaches as well as being convicted of a breach of restraint order against
myself and smashing a windscreen of his neighbours car in a public street in a
fit of rage.
The
picture below is one of the court photo's used in evidence where Mehrab-Khani
approached and threatened me and attempted to push his thumb in my eye.
He, along
with his wife Jaklin Rahimi own and manage the Harrington 102. It is inevitable
from my point of view with my previous experience of this man, that his
"hotel" would not be free of controversy given his "bedside
manner."
The
Harrington 102, picture above, has garnered a raft of negative responses. As
mentioned above, traveller Pat was so "incensed" she wrote on two
different travel sites--Trip Advisor and Booking.com.
Here's
what she says:
Pat W
Adelaide, Australia
Reviewer
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
Reviewed 28 November 2012
"I am incensed by the experience I had at this hotel. I booked for
7 days and was asked to pay upfront on arrival. I had booked through
bookings.com.
I approached the woman at the hotel on the day after my arrival
and told her I wished to change my plans and wished to leave on the Saturday (3
days away) The woman said I would have to cancel through booking.com or she
would lose the fee she paid for each night.
I asked about contacting them but was given no help. Although the
hotel has internet its only available in the foyer and with your own laptop. I
tried to find an email address for the booking company but couldn't. I had to
phone them in the UK.
I was at a conference for two days and I had no opportunity to phone
until the Friday night. In the meantime we had agreed that if someone came in for
a room she could let mine and also that she could put it on the internet as
available.
However these regular conversations with the woman indicated she was
more concerned about getting someone else in than how I could resolve the
situation. I was given to understand that if bookings.com agreed I was able to
have my money refunded.
Bookings.com were happy to cancel and refund but needed to check with
the hotel. When they did they were told that the hotel needed 72 hours notice
from bookings.com. This of course meant that I was unable to cancel.
As soon as I tried to have a conversation about this and point out I had
let her know 72 hours before the woman raised her voice and talked over me. She
was also very rude.
I have travelled all over the world and generally I find that hotels
factor in the changing requirements of tourists and I have not had trouble with
changing plans. At this hotel I felt as if I was there for the hotel's benefit
than the other way around.
I was also trapped by the upfront payment which I note on this site is
not an unusual experience for guests at this hotel. There is no attempt at
service - just the basic minimum at the least cost to the owners.I noted that
the rooms were described as small and they were. They were clean and had most
things in them.
The walls are however paper thin and noisy guests can keep you awake as
can showers at all times of the day and night. I would not like to be caught in
a fire there as there was no way out except the stairs - the windows are glass
bricks.
The breakfast is basic to say the least and although the booking form
asked for dietary preferences the hotel does not supply anything other than
breakfast cereal and toast. Apparently even a boiled egg would require a
licence and other food is too perishable!
I would strongly recommend against this hotel"
I would strongly recommend against this hotel"
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The second review:
"I was very upset about this place. I was asked to pay for my stay
on arrival - I did not know this would be required before I stayed. I had a
sudden change of plans because of an opportunity that arose for the last three
days and I raised this with the hotel on the day after I arrived which gave
them three days notice.
They told me I could only make changes through Bookings.com. I could
find no email contact for you and I was at a conference for the rest of the
week. I discussed my desire to change each morning but got different
information each day.
The hotel was concerned about losing the booking fee they paid to you. I
eventually found a phone to phone bookings.com in the UK and was pleased to
find a willingness to accommodate me if the hotel agreed.
The hotel had told me I could make the change if I did it through you.
However the person at the hotel said they required 72 hours notice from
Bookings.com. This was the first I had heard of that and I feel cheated by the
hotel. When I raised the matter with the woman at the hotel she was rude and
aggressive.
They had my money and were not parting with it. I have since found that
I am not the only guest who has been treated like this. The service was
generally poor - breakfast is the most minimal I have ever seen in a hotel -
cereal and milk and toast - no accommodation of dietary variations. Internet is
only available in the immediate vicinity of the front desk - too much trouble
to have it extended to the rooms."
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The review before Pat's has been listed before (above) but I want to
repeat part of it relating to lack windows in case of fire:
" Our biggest concern was that the was only 1 way in and out of the building,
via the stairs, oh yes we had to drag ourselves and luggage up 4 flights of
stairs, NO LIFT. With NO window in the room, and only the stairs, WHAT IF THERE
WAS A FIRE???? How the hell do you get out ??????? IS THAT LEGAL???"
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For this and more, check out Trip Advisor:
Some more reviews from Booking.com:
The above are from Booking.com but the gem to end this all is by a
couple from Hawthorn East. This gets my Review Of The Month Award!!!
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"That was the worst hotel experience in my life. Very disappointed and upset with the 5 days holiday in Hobart.
The hotel owner and staffs are extremely rude to customers. The knocked
at the door and force us to check out early on the last day.
Threatened would call the police and charge us for stealing. We could only use the wifi at the reception area. They switched the wifi off after I used only for half an hour and complaint I had used for too long.
I even saw them refused to help an elderly lady to bring the luggage down stair since they didn't have lift in that hotel.
I strongly suggest Booking.com to remove this hotel on the list. I will never use booking.com for hotel booking again and even tell all my friends not to use this site if such quality hotel still on the list."
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The link from Booking.com is here:
