Ala. Motel Settles Complaint: Denies Fleecing Guests

A budget motel owner in Crestview, Ala. has agreed to pay $10,000, plus restitution, to settle a complaint filed by Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, claiming that it doubled its rates for victims fleeing Hurricane Frances.

Crist filed a complaint against Budget Inns of Crestview, a Days Inn operator.

Don Anchors, the lawyer representing Budget Inns insisted that the higher rates charged by the hotel, were unrelated to the evacuation. He said the rates were increased, as usual, for the Labor Day weekend which happened to coincide with the evacuation.

Anchors said his client settled because it would not be “cost effective” to fight a lawsuit filed by the Florida Attorney General’s Office.