"Dad... why did he call you a liar? I saw you call and talk to them... He wasn't telling the truth."
Those were the words of my 11-year-old as we walked out of a Quality Inn in Williams, AZ.
If you were a detective, you'd probably want to know: who am I, who called me a liar, and why?
But before we get to that, let me give you a quick overview.
Last Thursday, my family and I were returning home to Mesa, AZ after a trip to the Grand Canyon. I had booked a night at the Quality Inn to make our journey easier. Due to a snowstorm, I knew we would be checking in late, so I called the hotel around 9 p.m. (screenshot of the call included) to let them know we'd arrive around 1 a.m. The person on the phone assured me it wouldn't be a problem.
However, when we finally arrived—exhausted, as you'd expect after a long day of travel—things took an unexpected turn.
When I approached the front desk, I was told the hotel was sold out. I wasn't worried, though. I had my reservation and had called to confirm our late arrival. But the clerk insisted my room was given away because we were a "no-show." He went even further, saying I never called—claiming that, since he was on duty, he would know.
I clarified that I had called, and that my son was with me during the call. To my disbelief, the clerk called me a liar. I showed him the call log on my phone, confirming the hotel’s number and the call duration. Still, he refused to help, offering no apology or solution. Instead, he argued and...