We rented a couple of rooms at a local Hilton Hotel. They were 359 dollars apiece plus tax. On the credit card they charged the account 441 dollars for each room. We found out about the overcharge after we checked the account on Monday morning.
Upon calling the Hotel we learned that they routinely charge your card more than the amount of the room just in case there are additional charges incurred such as room service etc. and that the charges remain on your account for over 72 hours. We never gave them permission to do so, nor did they ever tell us they were going to do so.
Think about. If they do this to everyone at all their hotels they probably have many, many millions of dollars in their bank account that they are making money on that doesn't belong to them.
We are seriously considering making a complaint to the State's Attorney General. No where did we agree to be funding Paris' wild lifestyle.
A call to the Better Business Bureau ?
Cheers
Derek
Paris wrecked another Lamborghini...;-)
I have NEVER had this happen, and we've stayed at plenty of hotels over the past few years.
You need to look at the statement when you check in, and be clear about what is being charged. They don't need to block out any specific amount to your account.....they've already got your CARD NUMBER.
Clearly something that needs to be cut off at the time of check-in.
One thing to keep in mind is the number of summer trainees on staff at many of these places....sometimes they misinterpret policies and implement erroneous charges. Also, if you check-in late at night, the most inexperienced staff is often on duty, so things don't always get done properly, and it's often a real pain to get it fixed the next day..
It's bad enough they now charge you if you even LIFT UP the stuff in the refrigerator......:-)
> I have NEVER had this happen, and we've stayed at plenty of hotels over the past few years.
That was my take also, but most of my luxury hotel stays were pre-Internet banking days where you have near real-time access to your account. In the back of my mind I seem to recall this being done before and the State or Fed saying that it was illegal, but I can't be sure.
If it was a mistake by the staff, they didn't own up to it and they did say it was their policy.
Actually ....
most hotel's have a dollar amount that if the expected bill is going to exceed that amount they will put a hold on the card for an amount as you indicated. Almost always the card holder is not aware that it has even happened - that is until one of life's embarrassing moments happens.
Actually ....
Seems like fraud. Put a hold payment on it with your credit card company.
72 hours after you check out seems excessive to me. As Frank said, if the hotel doesn't tell you in advance that they will overcharge you for 72 hours, then IMHO it is fraud and theft.
As An Aside
I'm heading for Maine next week......we stay at an in in K'port that charges $160 a night, and an inn in Eastport that charges $140.00 a night.
I know it's 'the season", but geez.....$359 ?!?!?!
