Bad Hotel Experience in La Rochelle; France

The hotel is one of the most economic in the area. At the reception they give you an access code for the door, but not forget it, you may pass the night outside. The guy at the desk could look at you and shake his head with the expression in his face saying:"I told you, don't forget the code" And all he has to do is push a button. That's what happened to me in March 2008 !

As I was staying at another hotel at the same area and I needed to stay one more night in Paris, I walked at the desk of the hotel called “my hotel in France” (the longest English name of every hotel around) and asked (in English) the receptionist for a single night explaining that I had already another hotel but the last day (which was after two days) they could not give me a room because they were full and I had no reservation. He says OK, I pay cash instantly he takes my credit card number, my passport, my ID card and gives me a magnetic card to have it for opening the door. After two days I go there and they say I had no reservation and I had already stayed a night there. After 30 minutes of discussion the manager goes to check “the computer” and results that my magnetic key (which never left my wallet till that moment) opened the door at 11.15. I tried to explain that that night I slept in another hotel; they call the other hotel and get confirmation but still insist. I ask him to check the security camera recordings but he refuses saying me the computer never tells lies. All I had to do was walk away and get around the neighborhood with my wife and four bags for another hotel. I think this is pure fraud. My only explanation is the receptionist of a hotel called for the irony of fate “my hotel in France” doesn’t understand English in the best case scenario; in the worst he probably sold my room twice. I absolutely do not recommend this hotel and I am concerned because they have my credit card number.