last day tomorrow and hotel just informed me I haven't paid!

hateshousework

I booked my room directly through the hotel's own website and received a confirmation email stating this among all the room and board info
Total 333.45
Deposit 333.45
Pending 0.00

I leave tomorrow and just had a call from reception asking me to go and pay my bill, when I asked what Bill she told me they were having problems with their machine when I booked on April 16th and no money was taken. I cannot check this with my bank until return but my main argument is they have had plenty of time to tell me it was outstanding, and can't expect me to just rustle up such an amount with no notice, as it will take me overdrawn and incur all the penalties attached to that.

Advice please

amcg100

I'm assuming you don't have proof of payment with you such as the e - mail which shows the deposit etc.

Provided you supply the hotel with your name and address and express a willingness to settle your account when you have checked the bank account, they cannot prevent you from leaving, nor can they prosecute you under the theft act since there is no intention to permanently deprive the hotel of their money.

hateshousework

I do have email access on my tablet so can show it to them

amcg100

That should be enough to satisfy them. Just say you do not have means to settle since you thought the bill was paid, but stress you will pay the bill in full when you have been able to check back at home. Make sure you provide them with written accurate contact details and like I said, they cannot prevent you from leaving and the police cannot either.

amcg100

I am assuming you are in a UK hotel?

hateshousework

Mallorca, hoping language wont be a barrier, and they are holding my passport as they do everyones. Will go tackle them in a minute, talk about putting a downer on my holiday

amcg100

ah, sorry - advice I gave was based on UK laws, not sure about Spanish law, - take care

hateshousework

Thanks anyway, hopefully someone else will come along

Oli.s

Can you get on online banking on your tablet to check if the money was taken? If it wasn't do you still have it in your account or have you spent it on something else?

amcg100

If you have travel insurance they may have a legal helpline.

InsideInsurance

If your finances are such that you cannot afford €333 then surely you would have noticed that it hadnt been claimed yet?

You cant check with online or telephone banking?