I would have been treated better at the local jail This was one of those experiences where you look around to see if there are hidden cameras because, really, this has to be some sort of a prank. People in real life don't act this way.
I live in Kansas City, but I had a 50-60 page document that required a lot of research due in less than three weeks so, I decided to take a motel room so I could be alone--just me and my dog--and work undisturbed until I got it done. I took a room next door to Econo Lodge at La Quinta Inn, which was fine.
So one evening, I'm walking my dog and decided to get something to eat at the Denny's there. I struck up a conversation with a woman named Meagan in front of the Denny's. She told me she worked at Econo Lodge and that they took dogs if they were service dogs.
Since their rooms were less expensive, I moved over there the next day. What a mistake. When I checked in I made sure about the dog, and was again told yes, if it is a service dog. I have his papers, but wasn't asked for them. I was put in Room 306, a room half the size of the room at La Quinta, but whatever.
The next day I was in my room, working away, and there was a knock at my door. It was Stephanie, the front desk person. She accused me of trying to sneak my dog in, even though I had just taken him out for a walk earlier and walked right past her through the front lobby. She told me I had to leave. I told her I'd verified the dog was cool when I checked in. She left, but she was nasty about the whole thing.
I stayed there a couple more days always walking in and out through the lobby. My dog always perfectly well-behaved. She always with a really nasty attitude. On about the fourth day I went in the morning about 9:30 a.m. to take another day and she said no. I had to check out because of my dog.
Now, it is possible she thought my dog was another dog in the motel that HAD been sneaked in, apparently, and had pooped on the steps inside the motel, according to Meagan's daughter, Brooklyn, who also worked behind the front desk. But if that was the case, she should have verified. But, even though I tried to determine whether that was the case, she is one of those people who just shakes their head no and isn't even entertaining what you are saying. And so amazingly nasty about it, too.
Meanwhile, I'm like the least problematic guest. There was construction going on every day I was there--I didn't complain. There was a huge pile of dirty laundry piled in front of my room one day. I walked over it--I didn't complain. I clean up after my dog when he does his business. OUTSIDE!
Check out is at eleven, Stephanie said.
The last thing I wanted to do was interrupt where I was in my writing, notes scattered everywhere; 30 windows open to research I needed--and move to another motel. Check out was at eleven,and I still hadn't even showered. So at eleven, I wasn't out of the room, yet, was still packing my things and it was after eleven when I had everything on the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.
When the door opened there were three cops standing there. Are you here for me, I asked, incredulously. Is this the guy? the cop asked Stephanie. Yes, she said. So I was escorted out by the cops, if you can believe it.
Outside, I explained to the cops what the situation was, and it seemed they understood. We can't do anything about customer service, they said. I know, I said. That's a great dog, one of the cops said. You have good taste in dogs, I said.
But with the cops there, I had forgotten to get my deposit back (and Stephanie forgot to remind me). When I thought of it, I called Econo Lodge and got Brooklyn. It's $88.00 in cash, I said. Yes, it's here, said Brooklyn. Can you put it aside for me? Sure, she said.
I finished my document a few days later with an hour and three minutes to spare and returned to Econo Lodge to get my deposit. Stephanie was behind the front desk. I asked for my deposit. She asked for my ID. Entered my info, then told me to wait. She left for about ten minutes. When she returned, she said she was waiting for a call from the manager, Theresa. Another fifteen minutes to twenty minutes went by, then I heard her talking on the phone to someone and she came out and said, because you sneaked your dog in and we had to call the police to make you leave, you aren't getting your deposit back.
Just typing this makes me angry all over again.
Now I have to go to the trouble of filing suit in small claims court for my $88.00.
Really, what an awful experience. I so so regret staying there.