Why a woman was left with a $1,400 bill after blow-drying her hair at Perth’s Novotel hotel
A woman had to pay $1,400 for a $240-a-night hotel room because her hairdryer set off a fire alarm.
She stayed at the Novotel Perth Langley last Saturday to get ready for the Ministry of Sound concert in Kings Park.
But when she got out of the shower and blew her hair, she noticed firefighters had arrived at her door.
The Ministry of Fire and Emergency Services limited the alarm trigger to her expensive Dyson hairdryer and she was able to continue preparing in peace.
Any concerns the woman had were put to rest the next morning when she checked out of the Novotel without any problems.
However, three days later she discovered that there was a $1,400 Novotel charge on her bank account, causing the balance to become negative.
A woman was charged $1,400 by Novotel after her hairdryer triggered a false fire alarm (photo, woman's bank statement)
The Novotel Perth Langley (pictured above) sent the woman the compensation three days after her stay
She discovered that she had paid a call-out fee for a false fire alarm, despite the department's recommendation that this fee should not be passed on to guests.
“They didn't send an email, I called the hotel (reception) and said it was in their terms and conditions,” the guest said Perth Now.
“So if you're at a buffet and the alarm goes off, are they going to charge you for burning your toast?
“It's disgusting and cowardly.”
The call-out fee charged by DFES is $1,337 after a property reports a false fire alarm for the fourth time in a financial year.
The woman said she spent all of Wednesday trying to get a refund, but the hotel eventually stopped taking her calls.
It is believed the compensation was refunded on Thursday following emails to Novotel from the woman and local media.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Novotel for comment.