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

mrcow

zagfles wrote: »

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.

When you check in, you're signing for your authorisation for charges to be taken if you incur costs.

Out of interest, how old are you? In the past, a blank signed mandate was pretty standard in any half decent hotel. Nowadays, they just swipe the card.

zagfles

mrcow wrote: »

When you check in, you're signing for your authorisation for charges to be taken if you incur costs.

No you aren't. We've had this discussion before and it was full of people saying the exact same thing without any evidence. Why do you think Barclays advise hotels to get a signature on the final bill? Just for fun?

Out of interest, how old are you? In the past, a blank signed mandate was pretty standard in any half decent hotel. Nowadays, they just swipe the card.

I've been staying in hotels since the 80's and have never signed a blank mandate. Sometimes (rarely) a fixed amount mandate but never a blank one.

FBaby

You must have made yourself look quite like a fool and it is only them remaining professional that means they didn't make it clear that is what they were thinking.

Yes, it is very common practice. My OH and I have had to provide a cc at every hotel we've been to in the last 5 years. I certainly wouldn't have been impressed if I'd been the customer behind you waiting to be served.

brightonman123

one hotel I went to in Ibiza, off season, charged a cash deposit for the tv remote!

mandragora_2

Thanks for all the replies. Nice hotel stays are our guilty indulgence now that we are child and mortgage free; we've stayed in a fair few hotels across Europe in the past several years. I've only once been asked if I'd like to give over cc details at check-in prior to this, and when I declined, there was no insistence that I do so. Hence my asking the question here, as I was surprised. I did ring my bank today (I know, I know...), and they have confirmed that any charges made using this generic authorisation could be disputed. I've asked that they make a note of the details of the phone call and date for future reference in the unlikely event that the hotel does decide I owe them something.

So, for all your help, advice, opinions and information, many thanks. For anyone that I've unintentionally irritated, please let me apologise, and let's all be thankful that you weren't, in fact, standing in the queue behind me on Friday.

It may be that the answer to the question I originally asked 'Am I just being an old fart about this?' is 'Yes, you are. An over-cautious, paranoid old fart'. I'll live with that, and next time go armed with a bit more knowledge and understanding than I had this time last week.

zagfles

mandragora wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Nice hotel stays are our guilty indulgence now that we are child and mortgage free; we've stayed in a fair few hotels across Europe in the past several years. I've only once been asked if I'd like to give over cc details at check-in prior to this, and when I declined, there was no insistence that I do so. Hence my asking the question here, as I was surprised. I did ring my bank today (I know, I know...), and they have confirmed that any charges made using this generic authorisation could be disputed.

Maybe some bank staff do know what they're talking about after all

I've asked that they make a note of the details of the phone call and date for future reference in the unlikely event that the hotel does decide I owe them something.

So, for all your help, advice, opinions and information, many thanks. For anyone that I've unintentionally irritated, please let me apologise, and let's all be thankful that you weren't, in fact, standing in the queue behind me on Friday.

I've been stood behind far worse whingers in checkin/checkout queues. One woman complaining about a list of utterly trivial things (so trivial I can't even remember what they were!) and punctuating each one with "it's not what you expect from a 4* hotel".

It may be that the answer to the question I originally asked 'Am I just being an old fart about this?' is 'Yes, you are. An over-cautious, paranoid old fart'. I'll live with that, and next time go armed with a bit more knowledge and understanding than I had this time last week.

As perhaps will other contributors to this thread

meer53

zagfles wrote: »

No you aren't. We've had this discussion before and it was full of people saying the exact same thing without any evidence. Why do you think Barclays advise hotels to get a signature on the final bill? Just for fun? I've been staying in hotels since the 80's and have never signed a blank mandate. Sometimes (rarely) a fixed amount mandate but never a blank one.

Some people don't hang around a hotel to sign a final bill. They leg it in the hope that they got their accomodation for free. This is exactly why hotels ask for a swipe of your card or a signature when you check in.

zagfles

meer53 wrote: »

Some people don't hang around a hotel to sign a final bill. They leg it in the hope that they got their accomodation for free. This is exactly why hotels ask for a swipe of your card or a signature when you check in.

:rotfl:Only if they're terminally stupid! If you're going to steal off someone, it's best not to give them your name, address, car registration number, credit card and probably appear on their CCTV!

Some hotels particularly in the US are happy with guests just leaving without checking out, and having the bill charged to their CC. They aren't doing a runner, they've given their CC for that very purpose. Makes any dispute harder to deal with from both party's POV, hence Barclays' advice.

But they're much more relaxed about that sort of thing in the US, in some bars the done thing when sat at the bar is to simply leave a wad of notes on the bar and the bartender just helps himself when drinks are ordered. People even leave the cash on the bar when they go to the "restroom"!

meer53

zagfles wrote: »

:rotfl:Only if they're terminally stupid! If you're going to steal off someone, it's best not to give them your name, address, car registration number, credit card and probably appear on their CCTV!

Some hotels particularly in the US are happy with guests just leaving without checking out, and having the bill charged to their CC. They aren't doing a runner, they've given their CC for that very purpose. Makes any dispute harder to deal with from both party's POV, hence Barclays' advice.

But they're much more relaxed about that sort of thing in the US, in some bars the done thing when sat at the bar is to simply leave a wad of notes on the bar and the bartender just helps himself when drinks are ordered. People even leave the cash on the bar when they go to the "restroom"!

Some hotels in the UK are also happy about guests checking out without paying. Which is why they take a swipe of your card get a signature and your card details when you check in. You are still effectively signing a blank authorisation. You can still dispute any charges which you feel aren't justified through your card issuer.

There are lots of "terminally stupid people" about.

dawyldthing

The per problem with them setting a bill up is sometimes drinks get added on that you didn't have. We went to Egypt a few years ago and when checking out they tried charging us for several drinks we hadn't had, including coke which neither of us drink. I'd rather pay as you go to know what I'm spending and what I have left