Days Inn Vega, Vega

I would recommend not using the online reservation system, it has a 2 day cancellation policy which under normal circumstances is not a problem. For me it became one, on the day of check in my truck broke down 438 miles away from the hotel with a broken radiator around 3:00pm PST. Called AAA for a tow and called the hotel to let them know we would not make it, the desk clerk said they could not cancel my reservation as it required 2 days, asked to speak to the manger and he was not there, she said I could call the corporate customer service. Called the Days Inn Customer Service explained my situation and that it was out of my control and was told that only the Manager of the Hotel can cancel/refund my reservation. Called back to the hotel ask the clerk to have the manager call me the next day, no call! Called back 2 days later asked for the manger, not there asked for his email address and received a bogus one that did not work. Called Customer Service again and received a direct phone number to the Manager, called explained my situation and he responded that he would contact me the next day after he checks to see if he was booked at 100% if so he could not refund me my money since they held the room, even though I called by 4:00 local time and let them know I would not be there and they could give the room away. No reply for 2 more days until I followed up my self and this is what I received: "Dear Sir, my name is Ray and i am the manager of Days Inn Vega. i took a look at your reservation and since your reservation was a guarantee and the time line was already passed i could not unblock your room. our desk clerk blocks the rooms for guarantee so we do not sell the rooms to our next guest. since the room was already pre- blocked before the arrival date, i could not cancle the rooms. i am very sorry for your damages but i could not cancled your reservation. i am genuinley sorry for this charges. sincerly, General Manager Ray" As I stated I called by 4:00 local time to cancel so they could have given the room away, I offered to provide them with a copy of the repair which stranded me in Gallup, NM over the weekend as parts needed to be ordered to prove that I was not just blowing them off and making up a story. No good, they don't care. Called customer service and plead my case and was told there was nothing they could do, I said so the lesson learned is that I should not stay at Days Inn again? She responded "if that what you learned then that is what you should do!!! " So I will not use them again!! Sorry for the rant, just frustrated with the situation and the coldness of the hotel management and their customer service.