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BAD EXPERIENCE AT ECONOLODGE


Dear Editor:

On Thursday, September 5, we checked into the EconoLodge, Rapid City. On Saturday morning our room was not serviced while we were out enjoying the things that children enjoy. We called the front desk to request towels, toilet paper, trash bags and the other amenities that come with our room. After 2 hours my fiancé went to the front desk and retrieved those items himself, emptied the trash himself and we made our own beds.

We finished our stay on Sunday and headed home to Wagner SD. At home, I logged into my bank account and noticed some unexplained charges by the hotel. I asked to speak with the on-site manager and Aaron was pretty friendly until he looked up the charges. He then became short with me and said that our room was completely trashed. I said that all we had left in the room was some McDonald’s breakfast and a small piece of cake in the fridge. He said “No, I walked down to that room and it was completely destroyed, I have pictures. I saw beer bottles; liquor bottles and evidence of drug use and it needed a deep cleaning which was an extra two hours.”

I told him that we are a drug and alcohol-free family and we only had a 14-year old’s birthday party. I told him about our room not being serviced and that we actually were the ones who cleaned the room. He said that he would not be reversing any charges because he witnessed it and had pictures.

Tuesday September 10, his superior contacted me. Mr. Robert Laymon stood firm behind his employee’s decision. I was in tears and felt like my debit card was fully taken advantage of. I asked to see the pictures. He later emailed me and said that there apparently was no “booze” found in the room and that no pictures actually existed. He stated he would refund only $37.28 and I said what about the overdraft and a complete refund. He remained rude and unnegotiable about everything else and said the room was still destroyed. I said if your staff can make up lies then that should show that they are lying about the cleaning, we are very clean people and are always respectful to everyone’s property.

I booked my room on-line through a third party and informed them along with Choice Hotels, Consumer Reports and the BBB. They all have backed my concerns, confirmed that my suspicions are more than likely very accurate and it boils down to the fact that we were mistreated and taken advantage of. Although they all support me, the BBB is the only one that will be making EconoLodge answer for their actions.

I wonder how many innocent people get taken advantage of? People (native and non-native) have told me that they took advantage of my heritage thinking that nobody will support my story. What EconoLodge doesn’t know is that we are many things besides just being native; we are active church members, I’m retired from the Government and have hosted multiple customer service trainings along with Improving Organizational Performance, I’ve worked as Peace Officer for 13 years, I’ve provided a safe place for many children of many races, I’ve been “Mom” to so many and “Aunty” to many others, I’ve spent countless hours doing volunteer work but what I am NOT is someone who will allow a business to take my money and then sit back and do nothing because they rudely say that they refuse to.

Thank you, friends and family, for loving me and always being there.

Jonelle Drapeau
netta_ max@hotmail.com

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