Holiday reservation websites Booking.com and Agoda.com are to be investigated by the consumer regulator ACM for allegedly misleading customers about costs and discounts.

The consumer watchdog Consumentenbond said Booking.com left out tourist taxes and supplements from its advertised prices and falsely claimed that hotel rooms were almost sold out.

“These are deliberate ploys to make consumers feel they have found a good deal and need to decide quickly,” Sandra Molenaar of the Consumentenbond told NOS.

“For example, on a random Tuesday they claimed 84% of all accommodation in Nunspeet was fully booked.”

Booking.com was reprimanded by the European Commission and national regulators including the ACM four years ago for using manipulative practices and fake discounts to lure customers.

The ACM said it would investigate the latest claims by the Consumentenbond and could impose fines if it decides Booking.com has broken the roles. “We see this as a serious indication and we will look at it critically,” said a spokesman.