Question - scanning copies of cards

GT2o1o

Question - I booked a hotel on a 'pay on arrival' rate. Now wish to pay in advance. They asked for scanned ID and card. Normal?

grumbler

Sounds weird to me unless you gave them the card details already, authorised them to charge it if you don't show up and they want to make sure that the card is yours. In this case some card details (typically middle 8 figures) can be blanked when sending a copy. For the ID it's worth adding a watermark, something like "Copy for Hilton only".

eddddy

It sounds like they're concerned about fraud.

If you present the card in person and enter your PIN correctly into their card reader, they are guaranteed to get the money.

But for a 'card not present' transaction the payment is not guaranteed. If the transaction is reported as fraudulent or unauthorised (perhaps long after the hotel stay), the bank will take the money back.

So the hotel is trying to check that you really are who you say you are, and that the card number you are quoting really is yours.

bengal-stripe

GT2o1o wrote: »

I booked a hotel on a 'pay on arrival' rate. Now wish to pay in advance.

That's a very strange request. - Why do you want to do that?

No wonder, the hotel is suspicious!

pogofish

The last time I had a request like this (not for a hotel), I took it up with the security line at my bank - Their response was there were few good/legal reasons to ask this but a whole lot of illegal ones.

So their advice was to tell the company to put-up or shut-up and that as far as the bank was concerned, the info I had already provided was good enough. So they should either submit for payment or cancel the order forthwith and let me go elsewhere.

So I did - they submitted and got paid and my order was filled.

InsideInsurance

What country are they in?

Practices do vary by country and in some places things like scans of cards arent that uncommon. When I ordered some hifi equipment from Germany a few years ago they wanted a load of ID as the most common way of doing mail order back then in Germany was cash on delivery or a bank transfer and credit card payments were rare. The former didnt work internationally and I didnt want the higher fees of a transfer -v- using my card

If you are concerned and arent getting any advance payment discount as you originally booked for pay on departure then why not just leave it as is?

chattychappy

I've had odd requests such as these from time-to-time. Used to happen alot when buying online in Asia. I rememeber using an Expedia-type site in Taiwan. They'd always phone me back and ask for a fax of both sides of my card together with my passport. I used to worry, I don't anymore.

If you are happy that the hotel/organisation is legit, then I wouldn't worry. Some are plagued by fraudulent card use so are just doing their best to protect themselves.

Whatever you have done, it is for the CC to prove that your authorised a transaction should you dispute it. For cardholder-not-present transactions, it's difficult to prove anything.

I suppose I would avoid sending my signature where possible. (For fear of faked signed delivery notes which might be believed.)