Hotel insistence on signed authorised credit to 'activate account'. Is this usual?

mandragora_2

SW17 wrote: »

It's pretty unusual to be refused access to your room (outside the USA) if you refuse to provide a CC on a prepaid booking (they normally just block everything you can use from the room, like minibar and phone), but the fact that the hotel bar and restaurant don't allow direct payment is probably the reason here. Haven't stayed at the property in question, but H10 is a pretty reputable chain.

Out of interest, how did you book/pay for the main half board stay?

To be honest, this is what I was anticipating them doing, and what I'd imagined the one other (5*, top London) hotel did when I declined their 'invitation' to essentially sign what seemed to me to be a bit of a blank cheque. I wouldn't have had a problem with that, as I wouldn't ever use either a mini bar or a hotel phone. Their choice not to allow for any payment other than an 'account' (ie tab) in the bar and restaurant is also fine, I think - again, if a customer declines to 'activate the account' then all the hotel needs to do is put a marker on that room number to stop them ordering in the restaurant/bar until the account is 'activated'.

It was their intransigence that surprised me. The main stay we paid for in advance, to secure the best rate, and it was quite an act of faith in them on my part - that they wouldn't go bankrupt; that their standards wouldn't drop and that they would provide me with what they said they'd provide me with.

zagfles

mandragora wrote: »

To be honest, this is what I was anticipating them doing, and what I'd imagined the one other (5*, top London) hotel did when I declined their 'invitation' to essentially sign what seemed to me to be a bit of a blank cheque. I wouldn't have had a problem with that, as I wouldn't ever use either a mini bar or a hotel phone. Their choice not to allow for any payment other than an 'account' (ie tab) in the bar and restaurant is also fine, I think - again, if a customer declines to 'activate the account' then all the hotel needs to do is put a marker on that room number to stop them ordering in the restaurant/bar until the account is 'activated'.

It was their intransigence that surprised me. The main stay we paid for in advance, to secure the best rate, and it was quite an act of faith in them on my part - that they wouldn't go bankrupt; that their standards wouldn't drop and that they would provide me with what they said they'd provide me with.

It's unusual to be asked to sign a CC pre-authorisation, though some hotels insist on a CC swipe, which I'll do if they insist or if I think I'll be charging anything to the room (since as above a disputed charge could be challenged and charged back).

But IME even that is rare these days, I can't remember the last time a hotel wanted a swipe of my card on arrival. I think it's more common in the UK but I rarely stay in UK hotels these days...

budgetflyer

mandragora wrote: »

It was their intransigence that surprised me. The main stay we paid for in advance, to secure the best rate, and it was quite an act of faith in them on my part - that they wouldn't go bankrupt; that their standards wouldn't drop and that they would provide me with what they said they'd provide me with.

You are not serious?
When you pre pay for tin of beans in Tesco is it an act of faith that the product is the same as when you bought them last?
You could of course pay more for a refundable, pay on exit flexible rate at H10

SW17

zagfles wrote: »

It's unusual to be asked to sign a CC pre-authorisation, though some hotels insist on a CC swipe, which I'll do if they insist or if I think I'll be charging anything to the room (since as above a disputed charge could be challenged and charged back).

But IME even that is rare these days, I can't remember the last time a hotel wanted a swipe of my card on arrival. I think it's more common in the UK but I rarely stay in UK hotels these days...

I regularly get asked for a CC swipe in 4/5 star hotels around the world (not everywhere, but frequently), maybe I just have an untrustworthy face...:)

Doesn't bother me, as I always check the bill at checkout and correct any errors there and then (sometimes I'm even asking them to add things they've missed). I also always ask for a zero bill to show nothing is left outstanding.

mandragora_2

Thanks for the information and points raised. It's been interesting to hear from other travellers what their experiences and expectations are. As I said, I wasn't expecting to sign an open indemnity against my credit card, was surprised by it and hadn't ever come across a situation where if I decline to agree to a transaction (make additional purchases during my stay) that it's then been a problem. The information about the ts and cs linked to credit card transactions and that customers do need to actually agree to the final amount to be deducted was reassuring. I simply wasn't sure whether by signing the waiver at check in whether or not it would then overrule all other considerations. If I'm reading it correctly here, it seems it wouldn't. Just to be on the safe side, I will check with my card provider later today and see what they say.

zagfles

mandragora wrote: »

Thanks for the information and points raised. It's been interesting to hear from other travellers what their experiences and expectations are. As I said, I wasn't expecting to sign an open indemnity against my credit card, was surprised by it and hadn't ever come across a situation where if I decline to agree to a transaction (make additional purchases during my stay) that it's then been a problem. The information about the ts and cs linked to credit card transactions and that customers do need to actually agree to the final amount to be deducted was reassuring. I simply wasn't sure whether by signing the waiver at check in whether or not it would then overrule all other considerations.

What exactly did the waiver say? If it said something like "we can charge any extras purchased to your card" then you'd probably be OK as the hotel, if challenged with a chargeback, would have to provide evidence you purchased those extras. Though the evidence wouldn't have to be "proof beyond reasonable doubt", an audit slip by the maid of the minibar stating 3 drinks taken would probably do - you do need to put some trust in a hotel

If I'm reading it correctly here, it seems it wouldn't. Just to be on the safe side, I will check with my card provider later today and see what they say.

I wouldn't bother - you're unlikely to get an accurate answer from a bank call centre, just someone who's guessing, or has been trained in fobbing people off. Loads of threads on the CC board about people who've been told utter rubbish by their bank.

photome

zagfles wrote: »

. Loads of threads on the CC board about people who've been told utter rubbish by their bank.

A bit like on these forums then

mrcow

zagfles wrote: »

Pre-authorisation is normal, that's not "taking it off" the CC, it's reserving a bit of the limit so they can be sure it's available. It's nothing like being asked to sign a blank authorisation.

Which they'll take if they want to whether I sign it or not!

zagfles

photome wrote: »

A bit like on these forums then

That's right https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5090260

Seriously - check these threads for examples of bank staff telling customers complete rubbish:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4760434

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2695069

zagfles

mrcow wrote: »

Which they'll take if they want to whether I sign it or not!

Err, yes, but it can be charged back in the event of a dispute, as above. Which is why hotels are told to get a signature on the final bill to prove the amount being charged is authorised.