HotelBeds USA review: Hotel booking

On Nov 10, 2024 I booked 2 rooms through HotelBeds for 2 nights each at the AC Hotel by Marriott Sawgrass/Sunrise; 1 room each for myself and my mother-in-law. Check-in was scheduled for Nov 15. On Nov 13 I called to cancel my room because I was diagnosed with COVID. I was told that I had to cancel both rooms and the cancellation fee was $593. At the time of booking, my card was fully charged $1,186. I received the booking confirmation email only after I had completed booking and my card had been charged in full. The confirmation email stated "By booking this reservation you have accepted the Terms and Conditions" and also notes the $593 cancellation fee. I was never informed of either the full charging of my card nor the cancellation fee until after the rooms were paid for...and then it was too late! That is intentional mis-representation. I sent the HotelBeds customer service rep a copy of the medical doctor's report confirming my positive COVID test, as requested, and asked that the cancellation fee be waived due to the unique circumstances. The rep said she had to reach out to the 'hotel partner' for approval of the waiver. The waiver was denied; I was led to believe the hotel had denied the request. I called the front desk of the AC Marriott hotel directly and spoke to the supervisor there; she confirmed the hotel saw the cancellation, the hotel itself had not charged my credit card, and the hotel had not been contacted for a waiver of any cancellation fee. It would seem that HotelBeds will pocket that cancellation fee in full, as the hotel itself never charged my card nor received any form of payment from me, and therefore has nothing to return to me. HotelBeds should return my payment in full for not properly disclosing the booking terms, terms that I would not have agreed to had they been provided at the time of booking. Additionally, given my COVID diagnosis and the fact that I cancelled more than 48 hours before check-in, I should not be charged the extraordinary cancellation fee of $593. I request a full refund of the $1186 paid.