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

Hazzanet

Over the last decade or so, I've stopped in many hotels and it's a mixed bag whether they want a card swipe at check in. When I went to Switzerland, they didn't seem at all bothered and didn't take a swipe. In Finland, I usually stop at the Scandic chain and they seem to make the decision per-site some do, some don't, US, Canada and UK all seem to want to pre-auth a card now.

Like the OP I pay at the time when purchasing items at the hotel, occasionally I have something from the minibar, but in general I've never had any issues anywhere.

Doshwaster

meer53 wrote: »

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.

Automatic checkout is becoming more common in the UK. You get an invoice under your door at some unholy hour of the morning and if you are happy with it then you just leave. It's especially useful at airport hotels when you have an early flight as the reception is always busy first thing in the morning.

Pre-authorisation of a credit card has been going on for many years and doesn't bother me in the slightest. You can't blame hotels for wanting to protect themselves from runners, thieves and anyone who causes any damage.

moneymakeoverstudent

I have cruised for several years but since Carnival took over all the major cruise lines, credit card preauthorisation is mandatory.
Despite having paid IN FULL for the cruise, Carnival refuse to allow you to down load your boarding card until you have provided details of your credit card and ticked the box re electronic authorisation. On embarkation day and every night thereafter Carnival places up to $500US per person debit on the card which remains for up to 2 weeks after disembarkation, thereby severely restricting your use of your card. At the end of the cruise they simply take the balance owed on the account, disputed or not.


My problems arose because my credit card is in sterling and I did not wish to preregister the card for payment. So after downloading the boarding pass I cancelled the credit card. On board ship I paid my account with a USdollar account debit card made it clear that all payments must be signed and only signed for payments were authorised. When we left the ship the 2 disputed payments for overpriced badly organised misrepresented tours sold by Carnival on behalf of a third party were also debited to my US dollar debit card without my authority. When I contacted my Bank and requested a chargeback they contacted Carnival not Carnivals bank ( Royal Bank of Scotland) the Charge back was refused and now I am with the Financial Ombudsman. I would welcome other peoples experience of the charge back procedure please.