Discrimination - Paying for a hotel room by credit card!

fiestafolie

I would welcome comments on a situation I experienced today.

I wanted to book a hotel room for November online through a popular hotel chain. After sussing out a very reasonably priced double room for £39.00 I proceeded to try and book and pay for it it online.The booking indicated that the discounted price was due to it being non-refundable which I had no problem with as have no intention of cancelling. However, when I came to the last part of placing my booking and paying for the room it asked for a credit card and indicated that DEBIT cards were not acceptable. As I do not live my life by credit cards and have absolutely no intention of doing so in the future due to their notoriety for getting people into debt quite easily, I proceeded to ring the hotel to see if I could pay over the phone, using my Visa debit card. I was told that unfortunately in order for me to enjoy the discounted price of £39.00 I would have to pay by credit card online or else pay via phone by debit card but that the price would then rise to £53.00!!!! Surely this is unjust and not fair and breeches equality and human rights. Surely they should be able to accept payment by any form of legal tender?It would seem that the hotel are disciminating against people who haven't got a credit card! I firmly believe in not having anything in life unless I can pay for it up front myself. If can't afford it, I don't have it! Simple as! but it would seem in this case, hotels promote you 'lending' money via a credit card before making a booking! No wonder people get into debt! :mad:

MPH80

So - which human right do you believe has been breached here?

Surely they should be able to accept payment by any form of legal tender?

I notice you're not complaining about any website which isn't accepting cash as an option. You're also not complaining about websites not accepting Discover card - which, while limited, is used in the UK.

They have chosen to offer a discount online and chosen to only accept credit cards.

That is much like the water company offering a discount if you pay by direct debit.

Nothing illegal about it. Frustrating yes - but not illegal.

DevilsAdvocate1

fiestafolie wrote: »

I would welcome comments on a situation I experienced today.

I wanted to book a hotel room for November online through a popular hotel chain. After sussing out a very reasonably priced double room for £39.00 I proceeded to try and book and pay for it it online.The booking indicated that the discounted price was due to it being non-refundable which I had no problem with as have no intention of cancelling. However, when I came to the last part of placing my booking and paying for the room it asked for a credit card and indicated that DEBIT cards were not acceptable. As I do not live my life by credit cards and have absolutely no intention of doing so in the future due to their notoriety for getting people into debt quite easily, I proceeded to ring the hotel to see if I could pay over the phone, using my Visa debit card. I was told that unfortunately in order for me to enjoy the discounted price of £39.00 I would have to pay by credit card online or else pay via phone by debit card but that the price would then rise to £53.00!!!! Surely this is unjust and not fair and breeches equality and human rights. Surely they should be able to accept payment by any form of legal tender?It would seem that the hotel are disciminating against people who haven't got a credit card! I firmly believe in not having anything in life unless I can pay for it up front myself. If can't afford it, I don't have it! Simple as! but it would seem in this case, hotels promote you 'lending' money via a credit card before making a booking! No wonder people get into debt! :mad:

I think you're clutching at straws, I don't see how this is breeching your human rights. Makes a change, as usually it costs more to pay by credit card.

lawstudent

Just for the sake of belligerence I thought I would point out that legal tender is a term used to define acceptable methods of settling an existing debt. It does not define what methods of payment a company must accept. For example if you eat in my restaurant I must accept your £50 note to settle the bill however if you come to my shop and try and pay for your groceries with a £50 note (or credit card for that matter) I am under no obligation to accept this as you do not yet owe me the money.

Having said that I do think it is unfair that debit card users cannot get the discounted rate.

[Deleted User]

While it's admirable that you don't want to spend money that you don't have, you have made one small but important mistake. Credit cards do not get people into debt, people get people into debt. Credit cards are simply a means of payment, there is absolutely nothing that says that you have to spend money that you don't have. If anything, credit cards used properly have the potential to actually make you money (cashback cards, points cards etc).

I use a credit card for virtually all of my spending and repay in full by direct debit each month. I pay no interest and benefit significantly from the perks that certain cards have. I have the money sitting in my bank account so in no way am I spending money that I don't have.

Like I said, admirable that you don't want to get into debt, but the view that credit cards are evil is a little silly. People make mistakes and screw themselves over and while it's easy to blame it on the big nasty banks, the simple fact is that some people don't have any self control or will power. Honestly, take a look at getting a basic credit card. Used responsibly it will allow you to improve your own credit and give you another option for payment that doesn't cost you a thing.

meer53

Having a credit card is not "being in debt" It's a form of payment, same as a debit card. If you had a credit card, you could have booked the room at the discounted price and repaid the balance on your credit card in full, on the due date. No interest incurred, no debt. No problem.

Hominu

You will find a lot of other sites also only take credit cards and not debit card, as well as a long of car rental companies. Last time I asked they said it was something to do with the rules and regulations between debit and credit card use.

Personally I find it easier to use a credit card for everything, it gives me a better cash flow. I know what I can spend, so I ensure I don't go over that limit, then I can just pay in full at the end of the month whilst I get cash back and interest on the funds whilst waiting for the payment due date to arrive. I'd estimate that using a debit card would cost me about 4 - 5% more per transaction than using my current credit cards.

JakeGreen

Every hotel that I've stayed at required a credit card (rather than a debit card). Even rooms which had been fully pre-paid. It's standard practice.

Many of us here on the credit cards board use cards to our advantage. Rather than leading us into debt, we use them to reduce our living costs and get rewards.

Gromitt

JakeGreen wrote: »

Every hotel that I've stayed at required a credit card (rather than a debit card). Even rooms which had been fully pre-paid. It's standard practice.

I normally present my CC at reception to get my key and then have to present it again when checking out. It seems like typically they reserve an amount on booking in and take it on booking out.

I do remember being in reception once and someone was trying to book a room with cash, and the receptionist refused, saying they only accepted credit cards.

fiestafolie

Thank you for all your comments and I do accept all your points. Indeed you are correct that ultimately the controlling of a credit card account responsibly is down to the individual holder, but sadly I have seen all too often , credit cards being used just to survive the normal basic needs of life. Wrong I know, but with the economic climate as it is, many people are having to resort to this form of living just to keep their heads above water.
However, my issue is more to do with the fact that I do still feel that I am being discriminated against for not having a credit card and that the hotel's policy is completely unfair. Looks like I will have to apply for a card that I really don't want, just to get the perks in life!

safestored4

Exactly what 'human right' has been breached by the refusal to accept payment other than by credit card? That you trivialise and bring into disrepute an important concept for people around the globe is truly sickening.