Can a hotel charge me for their mistake?

zagfles

fifeken wrote: »

As been said several times already, authorisation will likely have been given at check in.

I don't care how many times it's been said. It doesn't make it right.

If people are stupid enough to think filling in a hotel's registration card automatically gives the hotel a blank cheque to their account, they can carry on thinking it. I'm not wasting any more time on them. Ta ta.

peachyprice

zagfles wrote: »

I don't care how many times it's been said. It doesn't make it right.

If people are stupid enough to think filling in a hotel's registration card automatically gives the hotel a blank cheque to their account, they can carry on thinking it. I'm not wasting any more time on them. Ta ta.

And it doesn't matter how many times you say it's not right, it's still standard practice throughout the hotel industry. You can carry on thinking it but it isn't going to make a jot of difference. It's the way it works, get over it.

GingerBob_3

peachyprice wrote: »

And it doesn't matter how many times you say it's not right, it's still standard practice throughout the hotel industry. You can carry on thinking it but it isn't going to make a jot of difference. It's the way it works, get over it.

Yes, this "fraud" is standard practice in the hotel (and car hire) industry. Once they get your DC/CC details they consider it an open cheque book to your account. They may have some small print in the T&C about this, but you're hardly going to stand at the reception desk reading all the guff (some !!!!!! posters here probably do just that). As a matter of principle you should report it to the bank as an unathorised transaction, regardless of whether or not you owe the money. If you do owe the money call the hotel and ask them to send you an invoice, like most other businesses would have to do.

The sooner more people kick up a fuss about this disgusting practice, the sooner something - e.g. tougher regulation - will be done about it.

peachyprice

GingerBob wrote: »

Yes, this "fraud" is standard practice in the hotel (and car hire) industry. Once they get your DC/CC details they consider it an open cheque book to your account. They may have some small print in the T&C about this, but you're hardly going to stand at the reception desk reading all the guff (some !!!!!! posters here probably do just that). As a matter of principle you should report it to the bank as an unathorised transaction, regardless of whether or not you owe the money. If you do owe the money call the hotel and ask them to send you an invoice, like most other businesses would have to do.

The sooner more people kick up a fuss about this disgusting practice, the sooner something - e.g. tougher regulation - will be done about it.

Or as it seems to be in the OP's case, you shouldn't try to get away with not paying everything you owe. It's a two way street.

GingerBob_3

peachyprice wrote: »

Or as it seems to be in the OP's case, you shouldn't try to get away with not paying everything you owe. It's a two way street.

Irrelevant. You're talking about the specifics of the OP's case. I'm talking about the generality of the issue raised by the OP. If he wants to get away without paying for something that's his business.

LilMissEmmylou

Lets look at this from another angle.

Hotels will take a card detail from you at the time of booking, be it over the phone or the net. If you no show, we will bill you quite happily without you being there to say you authorise it - because you authorised it by agreeing to the terms and conditions in your contract.

This is the same in most decent hotels when you sign at check in. It is also what enables us to check out over the phone or through the TV in many hotels without having to bother going to the desk to physically check out.

Of course this does not mean the hotel will not charge u the full amount just because you didn't go to the desk. Of course your card details are still safely stored as per data protection laws. And last but not least - it is 100% legal so while the originator of the thread seems to have been oblivious to this but it does not mean that their ignorance to this fact will achieve them anything through complaining other than wasting their own time and energy

GingerBob_3

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

Lets look at this from another angle.

Hotels will take a card detail from you at the time of booking, be it over the phone or the net. If you no show, we will bill you quite happily without you being there to say you authorise it - because you authorised it by agreeing to the terms and conditions in your contract.

This is the same in most decent hotels when you sign at check in. It is also what enables us to check out over the phone or through the TV in many hotels without having to bother going to the desk to physically check out.

Of course this does not mean the hotel will not charge u the full amount just because you didn't go to the desk. Of course your card details are still safely stored as per data protection laws. And last but not least - it is 100% legal so while the originator of the thread seems to have been oblivious to this but it does not mean that their ignorance to this fact will achieve them anything through complaining other than wasting their own time and energy

Everything you say is correct, but that doesn't make it "right". I think the hotels should be forced to make it clear in large bold script that when you tender your card you "allow us to charge what we want, when we want, to your account". In other words, we take the money first, and if you don't agree, you'll have to fight to get it back.

In my view they should not be able to dib into your account like this. If they claim you owe them additional money they should send you a bill. This needs better regulataion.

GingerBob_3

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

Of course your card details are still safely stored as per data protection laws.

:rotfl:(why doesn't this move any more) :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

peachyprice

GingerBob wrote: »

Everything you say is correct, but that doesn't make it "right". I think the hotels should be forced to make it clear in large bold script that when you tender your card you "allow us to charge what we want, when we want, to your account". In other words, we take the money first, and if you don't agree, you'll have to fight to get it back.

In my view they should not be able to dib into your account like this. If they claim you owe them additional money they should send you a bill. This needs better regulataion.

And how do you propose this worldwide regulation be enforced?

GingerBob_3

peachyprice wrote: »

And how do you propose this worldwide regulation be enforced?

Well sorting out the CC card companies and banks for allowing it to happen would be a start. You'll change your tune if it ever happens to you - £500 filtched from your account on a disputed charge, then you have to go through hell and high water to get it back.