Hotel taking payment 14 months after stay

CROSSIE

Unsure if I am asking in the right part of the forum.

Hotel have taken some money from my account and then sent me a bill
Basically saying they have had an audit and realised that 14 months ago the transfer that didn't go through.
They sent me the original receipt but seem to be refusing to send me the latest receipt.

My main concern is can they hold my personal bank details for 14 month and then just use them without asking me?

[Deleted User]

Yes, that's fine.

They had 6 years to process it before it would become problematic for them.

unholyangel

Assuming its a UK hotel, there isn't a strict limit on how long they can hold your details.

Other than that, they're supposed to take the money within 6 months. But, firstly did they notify you before they debited the funds?

Next I'd point out that even if they did debit the card before making you aware and you can get a refund from your card provider, you'll still owe the hotel if you haven't already paid them.

DoaM

Is the hotel in the UK?

Did they notify you before taking the money (again)? (I believe they're supposed to if it's more than 6 months later, and it is a UK business).

Have you checked your account to see if the original payment was actually made?

Edit: cross-posted with Devil Woman ...

Matty36

Did you check your bank statement to check if it had originally been taken to see if they have made a mistake?

If you hadn't paid (although their fault) they're entitled to be paid. Although I think the least they could do is send a courtesy letter or email saying they require payment due to original not coming through

CROSSIE

The original payment wasn't taken

They didn't inform me that there where going to take a payment - which has now been taken

My main concern is they are holding my bank details - is this standard practice?

They haven't supplied me with a receipt and they haven't supplied me with what I originally bought from there hotel

DoaM

As it is more than 6 months then (I believe) they've breached a code of practice or other financial control mechanism by taking the money without first giving you notice. This could allow you to reclaim the money.

However you'd still owe it - but you could possibly then pay under your own terms (getting a receipt / evidence for what the payment covers).

But to answer your original question - yes, they can hold on to your details for as long as they reasonably require to. This includes the period required for financial and HMRC audits, so could be several years.

Aylesbury_Duck

Sounds like you knew you owed the money. Up to you whether to dispute it and have to pay later anyway or just leave it and move on.

k3lvc

CROSSIE wrote: »

They haven't supplied me with a receipt and they haven't supplied me with what I originally bought from there hotel

Drip feeding information really doesn't help - what's the full story ?

DoaM

k3lvc wrote: »

Drip feeding information really doesn't help - what's the full story ?

That highlighted statement confused me too. I assumed OP meant they can't recall what was bought (that the sum was in relation to), so hotel has provided no info to justify taking the payment.

CROSSIE

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Sounds like you knew you owed the money.

didn't know that they hadn't taken the money originally