Hotel overcharging

[Dantrag]

Long story short. I stayed in a hotel for a company trip. Hotel bill came out to $221.76. My CC is now showing a pending charge of $255.03. I called and told them and they said that they put onto the "pending" charge an assumption that you would rent a movie or laundry mat or some other random stuff. I'm still waiting for the charge to finalize so I can see if it'll come out to what's on my bill or what they put in as pending.

Has anyone ever run into this before? Is this a new common practice with hotels trying to sneak in an extra 10-15% and just assume people won't look at their bill? Thanks D;

[Wetticus]

I work at a hotel and have for several years now. It's pretty standard for most places (not just lodging) to authorize you for more than the actual cost. Pay close attention to your statement after you go to a restaurant. They're pretty notorious for it.

Give it 2-3 days and the authorization will be reversed by the bank. They won't charge you more than the $221.76 after it's all said and done.

[Mayareira]

Its all cool. If you haven't rented anything they'll charge you for 221$

It is a common practice for hotels, car rentals (in case you smoke in it or whatever) etc.

[isladar]

When you pay for a hotel with a card, they usually will tack on extra for exactly what they told you: movie, laundry, room service, whatever. The final charge will be what's on your bill, assuming you didn't steal pillow cases.

[Yabby]

I love their little soaps and towels..... I have a bathroom full of 5 star hotel towels for guests lol.

[Mayareira]

They are washed pretty well, but I still wouldn't use towels that other people came on, fucked whores, wiped their butts, balls, noses, popped cherries and stuff.

EDIT: Not would, wouldn't ahah.

[LilWhmMan]

I work as a night auditor at a Mariott... When you pay with a credit card, it's usually standard to authorize $20/night extra for incidentals. 2-4 days after you check out, the extra charges will drop and your bill will be left as the right amount.

[Dantrag]

Thanks everyone D;

[Edgie]

Sometimes restaurants, pizza delivery and other such services will also add on this invisible charge, for the just in case tip. Once a few days go by the actual charge is there.

[Alvein]

I always use cash at restaurants, so that the servers can evade taxes, and so that there's no chance of messing up the bill.

Not that I'm saying it's common, but there was a restaurant in town here a few years back that always tacked on an extra couple percent without telling customers. Went on for quite some time before they were caught. They charged an extra amount than what was printed for customers to sign. Shady stuff. Such a small amount that people didn't notice, but it really adds up over time with a lot of customers.

[Dense]

In case you haven't figure out yet, it is standard procedure to make sure that they (the hotel or service company) have the ability to charge you for incidentals, etc. If they didn't make that initial charge, just the room costs, and you opted for some incidentals but did not have the money left on your credit card, obviously they would have to spend time/resources to get paid, etc...

[Edgie]

I always use cash at restaurants, so that the servers can evade taxes, and so that there's no chance of messing up the bill.

Not that I'm saying it's common, but there was a restaurant in town here a few years back that always tacked on an extra couple percent without telling customers. Went on for quite some time before they were caught. They charged an extra amount than what was printed for customers to sign. Shady stuff. Such a small amount that people didn't notice, but it really adds up over time with a lot of customers.

I always tip in cash, pay for meals with credit. Cashback bonus or miles reward depending on the restaurant.

[Cyn]

Long story short. I stayed in a hotel for a company trip. Hotel bill came out to $221.76. My CC is now showing a pending charge of $255.03. I called and told them and they said that they put onto the "pending" charge an assumption that you would rent a movie or laundry mat or some other random stuff. I'm still waiting for the charge to finalize so I can see if it'll come out to what's on my bill or what they put in as pending.

Has anyone ever run into this before? Is this a new common practice with hotels trying to sneak in an extra 10-15% and just assume people won't look at their bill? Thanks D;

You have to pay for hotels with your personal card on business trips?

[Acturus]

You have to pay for hotels with your personal card on business trips?

That's not terribly uncommon for companies that don't have regular travel.

My department reimburses expenses, so we pay first, and then the money is reimbursed on our next paycheck after we file for it.

[Cyn]

That's not terribly uncommon for companies that don't have regular travel.

My department reimburses expenses, so we pay first, and then the money is reimbursed on our next paycheck after we file for it.

Wow. I could see that on like gas if they want you to drive to another branch or something, but they seriously would make you pay for the room when they could just call ahead and do it themselves? I've never dealt with shit like that. Hell, I don't even pay for incidentals when I travel.

Fuck that noise.

[Dantrag]

You have to pay for hotels with your personal card on business trips?

Fuck yeah, I get reimbursed a few weeks later and I get free points on my card <_<; Fkn win win imo.

[Manako]

When we go out to conferences my company pays, I get reimbursed for other expenses. Anyway, my boss makes a point of telling us to never give our personal CCs to the hotel because of what you experienced.

I'm sure often these charges work themselves out, but we don't like taking the chance. I think a few years ago there was an issue where someone got charged, and had to have a heated discussion to get things reversed. We are also told to never use the hotel phones to call anywhere besides within the hotel, and that sometimes they charge even for local calls.