can the hotel charge me?

yvonne3009

I need to pick your collective brains please!!?? I went to a hotel for an overnight spa stay with some girlfriends. One of my friends had an additional treatment and we were told it would be charged to our rooms. When we checked out the treatment hadn't been charged to our room. I paid for my stay by vouchers and cash for the balance but the hotel had swiped my credit card when we first arrived and now I've had a bill for the price of the treatment.

My question is whether the hotel can just do this given that the treatment wasn't for me and I haven't authorised this payment - I have assumed they can and I'm making arrangements to pay it (I'm not trying to dodge payment here folks! lol) but just wanted to run it past those in the know as it doesnt seem quite right that they can just do that without firstly contacting me to let me know of their administrative shortcomings.

lisyloo

Were the rooms booked together?
When they swiped your card was it on behalf of everyone for the entire booking?

If so then I'm pretty certain they can charge your card.
I'm pretty sure it's in the Ts & Cs that you signed up to somewhere.
This is exactly what they take your card for and it's quite normal.

They did make it clear it would be charged to your room(s) and it's not unusual for things not to get through on time, especially if it was the morning of checkout.

If your not happy to take responsibility for your friends then you need to make it explicit that the card is ONLY for your room.

withnell

I concur - Its allowable if it went on a room that you guaranteed with the card

This is the whole reason they take the swipe - as you said it hadn't been charged to the room when you checked out - did you not query this at the time?

yvonne3009

Yes they did take a swipe of my card on behalf of both of the rooms - I must admit I initially assumed that it was as Lisyloo said and that because I'd been the one to hand over my card I assumed the responsibility for the group.

Thanks for your help