B&B and debit cards

lh79

Hi

Looking for a little bit of help if I may?

I recently stayed overnight in a bed and breakfast along with my two sisters. I had one room whilst they shared another.

I initially paid a £50 deposit on my debit card and settled the remainder of the balance on checkout using the same card.

When I returned home I had an email from the owner saying that she could not find a throw blanket that had been in one of rooms and could I check our luggage in case it had been mistakenly packed... which it had. The email also went on to state that she had taken a payment of £22 from my card which would be refunded to me when the throw blanket was returned.

The problem that I have with this is that at no time did I see any terms and conditions or any statement informing me that she could keep hold of my debit card details and use them without my permission. The other issue that I have is that she took money from my card without first informing me or asking me.

The mistakenly packed throw blanket will of course be posted back to her on Monday morning so I'm sure I will receive a refund, but I am absolutely livid with her unprofessional behaviour and wondered if she were breaking any laws by taking this action?

Thanks in advance for any help

fluffnutter

Why is this unprofessional? Most hotels do this. Can't you see it from their point of view? As far as they were aware, you'd nicked their blanket!

peachyprice

How on earth do you pack a blanket in your bag by mistake???

lh79

Yes I can see their point of view.

However, it is unprofessional as this was not stated anywhere in any terms and conditions that they could do this. Nor did it state that my card details would be retained so there is also the security aspect to consider. Nor did she advise me first that she was going to be taking a payment from my card.

If you don't consider that to be unprofessional then I don't know what is.

lh79

Wow, what a great help so far from the two responses!

For your information peachyprice the blanket was very small and my sister informs me that her clothes were on the bed and she just picked them all up and threw them in her bag as we were in a rush. Does that satisfy your curiosity?

dreamypuma

This is standard practice at a lot of Hotels.

arcon5

Op, they probably haven't stored your card details. They will use a payment gateway and cross reference your original transaction.

Personally I agree with you in that its poor practice. The very least they can do is inform you they will be charging your card or something so your atleast aware of the money coming out.
But it is actually quite standard and unlikely to change.

Are you sure its not in the T&Cs?

fluffnutter

I think perhaps they don't bother with asking permission as they'd be unlikely to get it

What's upset you most? The fact that you were charged or the fact that you didn't know this happens? If you'd have tried to pay with cash, they'd have asked for card details. If you'd queried this, they would have explained why. Would you not have stayed there or would you have thought 'fair enough, stands to reason, I don't intend to steal anything so there's no problem'?

The reason I ask is because I think you're annoyed that you were charged, not that this practice happens. If you were told when you first arrived that card details are taken so that they can recoup any losses through damage or theft would it have made it OK?

arcon5

peachyprice wrote: »

How on earth do you pack a blanket in your bag by mistake???

Are you serious?

Whenever I go away I put my stuff to one side then let my partner fill the case with all her rubbish -- so when it comes to leaving I don't really know whats our or theirs.

Although I would make an effort to check I can see how easy it could be.

I'm sure i'm not the only one either.

People aren't perfect, sometimes you do things without realising.

fluffnutter

arcon5 wrote: »

The very least they can do is inform you they will be charging your card in 3 days or something so your atleast aware of the money coming out.

Thing is, if you have trashed the room or nicked a load of stuff, this advance warning's simply going to enable you to cancel your card, or try to block payment in some way.

fluffnutter

arcon5 wrote: »

Are you serious?

Whenever I go away I put my stuff to one side then let my partner fill the case with all her rubbish -- so when it comes to leaving I don't really know whats our or theirs.

Although I would make an effort to check I can see how easy it could be.

Women wouldn't accidentally pack a blanket, trust me