Leaving your humble abode and enjoying a hotel can be an adventure that is fun and memorable. But, if something goes awry during your stay, it can be aggravating. Each month, hotel guests across the United States experience challenges and problems at hotels, whether that be bed bugs, personal injury, property theft, or negligence.
If this sounds like an experience you had at Hilton Hotels, then you should know you have options for payback. This guide will explain how to sue Hilton Hotels to get paid for whatever you are owed.
Also, check out our guide on the worst hotel chains in America to try and avoid this from happening in the future.
What to Know About Suing Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels can be sued for $5,000 in their home state of Virginia in small claims court. In another state, it can be as much as $20,000.
People often reach out to us and ask about suing the company for:
- Failure to Refund
- Unexpected / Unaccounted Charges
- Failed to Honor a Reservation
Going through one of these experiences can be jarring and aggravating. And while you can contact customer service, there are also other ways to recover what you are owed.
You may want to consider filing a small claim case and you can do so with Dispute. Our platform empowers you to send a demand letter from your phone or computer. And if that doesn't work, we can help even more. You can show them how serious you are by filing a small claims case. In most cases, you won’t need a lawyer for small claims either, so don't worry about any high cost.
Is a Lawyer Required in Small Claims Court?
Not usually.
One of the simpler things about small claims court is that lawyers often aren’t required. This can make the small claims process less difficult and more affordable. But, nonetheless, this process can get complicated. You may want to file through Dispute, as we simplify the small process with our platform.
That said, it can be a good idea to get legal advice from a lawyer. A lawyer may be able to offer you insight when it comes to filing
You can speak with a lawyer and ask for help with your small claims. You can also check your local small claims laws before you bring your case to court. That will help you understand if a lawyer can join you during the trial.
What to Do Before Suing Hilton Hotels in Small Claims Court
Contact Hilton Hotels Customer Service
You can reach out to their customer service team and ask them to solve your problem.
Their number is: 1 (800) 535-4028
Contact Hilton Hotels on Twitter
Hilton Hotels often responds to customer complaints on Twitter within the same day. You can reach them here:
Try a Demand Letter
A demand letter is a letter asking for payment. A well-written, strongly worded demand letter on professional letterhead has a better chance of reaching a settlement out of court than a regular letter.
At Dispute, you can generate a demand letter in minutes.
If you do decide to sue Hilton Hotel in small claims court, you may be first required to request (via demand letter) your money or property back before you can file the lawsuit. Checking with the court on their procedures and policies can help clear up any confusion on if it's required or not.
Follow these steps to write a formal demand letter:
- On the top, in the address block, put in the company name and address. You can find the registered agent below.
- Next, put the subject line as 'Re: Demand for Payment
- In one sentence, tell them how much Hilton Hotels owes you, which you will claim in your small claims lawsuit.
- Then, in a few sentences describe your issue.
- Finally, write in plain language that you will go to small claims court if necessary.
- Don't say that you will do anything else, such as speaking poorly about them.
- On the bottom, include your name and address
Hilton Hotel's Registered Agent:
Hilton Hotel Employer Llc
Corporation Service Company
1201 HAYS STREET,
TALLAHASSEE, FL, 32301
If you wish to sue a different hotel, check out our articles on suing IHG and Marriott Hotels.
How to Send a Demand Letter to Hilton Hotels
After writing the demand letter, you will want to send it to their registered agent so that it reaches their legal department. It's also helpful to send it in a way that provides you with a tracking number. This can be helpful evidence in your future hearing that your letter was sent and reached them.
If you don't have the time to 1) find a printer, 2) buy an envelope, and 3) visit a post office to buy a stamp, Dispute can generate it and mail it on your behalf. Send a demand letter in just a few minutes from the comfort of your home with our platform.
Fill Out and File your Small Claim Against Hilton Hotels
If Hilton Hotels does not agree to pay you after receiving the demand letter, you can file a small claim to try and get justice. And while this can be complicated, small claims courts are, at the very least simpler than most other types of court. There are some county guidelines you’ll have to follow, but filing with Dispute can make it easier for you.
You’ll want to prepare your small claims forms from the court where you decide to sue. People often sue where the defendant lives or does business. But, wherever you decide to sue, look up the county's small claims rules. This will provide details about what small claims forms are necessary. You can read more about the small claims process here.
Serve your Small Claims Paperwork to Hilton Hotels
After you have filed your case and it is added to the court's docket, one of the final steps will be to physically provide the mall claims paperwork (returned from the court) to Hilton Hotels. That is called "serving" or the defendant's service.
It's important to know that you are not allowed to serve the defendant yourself, but you can find someone else to do it. A lot of people hire professional process servers or their local law enforcement. It's important to know that with service there are legal guidelines that you must follow so that your case can go to court.
Defendants sometimes try to avoid service. In order to keep your court date, you should consider hiring a professional process server so that you can be sure all legal guidelines are appropriately followed.
Go to your Hearing
When the time comes for your small claims hearing, it's helpful to arrive early and well-prepared. Bring three copies of all the evidence you want to present, and if your hearing is remote, reach out to the court clerk to find out how you can provide those documents in advance. Similar to filling out the paperwork and serving the other party, breaking the rules of the court can result in your case being dismissed.
How Much Does it Cost?
So how much will you spend by suing Hilton Hotels in a small claims court?
- Court Filing Fees: The amount you will pay to file a small claims lawsuit depends on how much you are suing for and where you are suing. You can expect to pay between $30 to $400 to file the lawsuit. If you cannot afford to pay court fees, you can ask the court to waive the fees.
- Serving Costs: Once the lawsuit is filed, you must notify the hotel that you have sued them. This is called "serving." Serving Costs can range from $20-100 depending on the local area.
Remember, if you win, you can request that the other party pay for your court fees and serving costs.
Take the First Step in Your Lawsuit
If all of this work seems complicated or daunting, rest assured that it's easier than it initially seems.
2.7 million small claims court cases are filed annually in the US, which is only growing as more people realize how easy it is to enforce their legal rights in court.
There's no rush. But when you're ready to sue Hilton Hotels, you can get started with a simple demand letter online.
Please get in touch with us if you have any additional questions.
