Complaint Review: Hotels Reserved With Your Credit/Debit Card - Anythere Internet

Having worked for the hospitality industry for 7+ years, I'm totally inline with what David is saying! A note about credit card guarantees: Hotels use these as "contracts" (for lack of a better term). It implies that you will pay for the room whether or not you show up. This guarantees not only that your room will be available to you, but also that they'll obtain revenue for that room! In sell-out situations--with walk-ins circling the lobby, I would start gaining approvals for one night's room & tax on all outstanding guaranteed arrivals (after the courtesy 6pm guarantee had expired). Any reservation whose credit card was incapable of obtaining an approval for that amount was considered to be 'void' and the room would sell the the very next person in line. I still consider this to be fair-practice, afterall -the hotel's guarantee for revenue is non-existent at that point! So, if you guarantee your room via maxed-out credit card and arrive to find that your room was sold... don't get angry at the desk clerk as your guarantee 'contract' was voided when your credit card was deemed incapable of living up to your half of the 'contract'. Fair is fair!

Wow after many years in management in the hotel industry I find this kind of disturbing. I have worked for Holiday Inn, Radisson, Best Western, and currently for a large upscale/luxury chain. While I wouldn't refute what you are saying here in the least, I would hope that for the most part this isn't necessary. I just want to add a bit more clarity. I think alot of these problems can be avoided by simply booking at a reputable company. You probably wouldn't buy a car made by a company you ahve never heard of. You wouldn't buy a DVD player from a company you have never heard of. Especially without physically "seeing" the product or having it backed by a store/dealership that you trust. I confounds me why people are so often shocked by getting a poor rooms at the Cheap Valley Inn. Pictures lie, brochures should come with a disclaimer, book with a brand you trust. More specifically, in regard to your specific points. 1) Yes, absolutely. A confirmation number is all you have. If you booked a flight through a travel agent, would you show up without a ticket? 95% of the time not having this is no big deal, but the other 5% it is a drag. 2) Every hotel is different. You are right, but that requires going all the way through your credit card to fight the charges. It also becomes difficult once you agree to the hotels cancelation policy which you should be informed of when making the reservation. Quite often it is 4:00pm. Follow the hotels policy and you will have no worries. 3) Absolutely. This is called covering your rear. Don't count on anyone in any industry to keep records. Especially if they have your money. 4) True again. Don't let them send you anyplace that isn't as nice if not nicer. Also, if you flew in and took a cab/shuttle, then they are responsible for transporting you there and back. All major companies will also pay for a phone call home, forward your messages, and most likely provide you with the room for free. The downside of this is that if you have a 3 night stay and only the first is sold out, you will have to come back after the first night. Otherwise cancel the reservation and pay for all three nights on your own. It really does pay to book througha reputable company. The Cheap Valley Inn may have a different policy, but every company I have worked for and many other moderat/upscale companies that I am aware of have this policy. 5) I have never heard of anything like this. If the room is unacceptable, return immediately to the front desk and demand a refund. If you try what you have suggested, this is probably what they will tell you to do. 6) This is true. I am at a fairly upscale hotel and we lose 3 TVs a month!!! About 20 Irons and more alarm clocks, sheets, towels, and hangers than you could shake a stick at. It is absolutely rediculous. While you are right, we will prosecute and you will wish we just charged your card. 7) Absolutely. The hotel industry is odd. We cannot build more rooms when we are sold out or carry rooms over from a night when we were slow. For this reason, rates do tend to be set on a sliding scale. Come in on a night where we forecast selling out and you will pay a premium. The rate we charge with 150 rooms left is a ton less than we charge for the last one. When you are quoted a rate it is the rate if you book at that time. If you wait, that rate may not be available any longer. It is just like the airline industry. If you call a year in advance you will get a better rate than if you walk up to the counter and say, "put me on your next flight." If you want the room at that rate, book it then. Very few industries have the same rate guaranteed forever. If I like a shirt on sale at the mall, I cannot be guaranteed that the price will be the same next week. If you use a large reputable chain, you will avoid these problems. Also keep in mind that using a hotel that is franchised from a large chain (ie most Super 8, Best Western, Red Roof, Microtel, etc) will provide you only limited protection. You will be dealing with a franchisee and not the owner of the brand. While the brand's owner will help because thier reputation is on the line, but their recourse may be limited. Contact the local Convention and Visitor's Bureau if you need help determining quality. Complain to them if the owners are unresponsive. My biggest piece of advice is do not book through 3rd party internet sites. They make you prepay and at the hotel we cannot do anything to refund your money or adjust your bill. You gave your credit card to them, we never get that information. Cancelling due to quality or complaints is nearly impossible without paying a fine. There are a million things about this industry that confound me. I really want to help people out and hop on this board primarily for travel related posts (well that and Tupper Lake just for amusement) If I can ever help anyone get a refund or anything like that, consider me at your service.