Travel website Booking.com is still using pressure-selling tactics despite a crackdown by the competition regulator, Which? has found.
The consumer champion carried out spot checks on six websites ordered to make changes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had over concerns of pressure selling, misleading discount claims and hidden charges.
The regulator gave Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, Hotels.com, ebookers and Trivago until September 1 to change their ways, warning them that they could be breaking consumer protection law.
Despite this, and weeks after the deadline, Which? found five out of 10 claims of "only one room left" on Booking.com failed to give an accurate picture of availability.
Which? Travel's Naomi Leach said: "We found clear evidence that Booking.com has not yet sufficiently cleaned up its act and is flouting the rules on pressure-selling, which could lead to millions of consumers being rushed into making a booking.
"It must now provide cast-iron guarantees that it won't continue to mislead holidaymakers with these unscrupulous practices, otherwise the regulator will have to step in with strong action to bring it into line."
In one example, search results for the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge warned that just one "secret deal" room was available - a superior double room with disability access priced at £232.
However, after clicking through to the booking page, Which? found another 10 superior doubles with internal view available for a cheaper rate of £226.
In total, 34 empty rooms were still available at the same hotel on the same night.
In another example, The Banjo B&B in Liverpool showed "1 room left" - on a budget double room.
When Which? clicked through there were four identical "budget double rooms" for the same price of £49.
But the five other sites named by the CMA now seem to be complying with the rules, the consumer group said.
A Booking.com spokeswoman said: "We have worked hard to implement the commitments agreed with the CMA and maintain continuing collaboration and dialogue to inform ongoing enhancement of the consumer experience."
