April Korpela shows Fox 4 her practically empty apartment. She just moved to Florida from Wisconsin at the end of August.

 

"I sold my washer, dryer, tables, chairs, couches, everything. As you can see I have nothing," said April Korpela.  

 

When she arrived in Fort Myers, she had booked a 10 day stay at a Best Western Airport Inn, but says she got a big surprise after checkout.

 

"I found $322 had been withdrawn. I contacted the hotel. They said it was because I had a pet, pet stains on the floor." 

 

April argues never once did she have a dog in the hotel. 

 

"You never brought a dog into this room?" I asked. 

 

"No, not into the hotel, not into the room. We were focused on moving. We don't have time for a dog in our lives right now." 

 

April says she tried contacting the hotel to dispute the charges. 

 

"Corporate Best Western said they could not do anything for me. I talked to two different front desk staff at Best Western and they could not do anything for me." 

 

So Fox 4 took April's concerns to the hotel. The general manager did not want to comment, but a hotel manager tells me dogs are allowed for an additional fee, but still some guests sneak dogs into rooms all the time. The bottom line- it comes down to your word against housekeeping. In this case, housekeeping told hotel management they found stains and pet hair in April's room. 

 

"Is there anyway you can prove you don't have a dog?" I asked. 

 

"I just moved down here. I can show my apartment is empty, but that's about all I have." 

 

Best Western did not refund April's money. April hopes other hotel guests learn from her experience and maybe take photos incase you have to prove how you left your hotel room.

 

Julie Salomone

Fox 4

jsalomone@fox4now.com