Hotel check-ins and credit cards

[Chris S]

I've been looking at a number of hotels online and they all require you to show them your credit card on arrival. Presumably they make a note of the number and charge you for any damage that they think you might have done when you leave.

Has anybody had any bad experiences with this? How easy would it be to get your money back if they've wrongly charged you for damage?

 

[Bristolian]

It's not so much for damage you may cause but so they have a payment method if you do a runner without paying. It's been fairly standard practice for several decades and I must have checked into several hundred hotels in that time without even one problem.

If you are really worried then get yourself a pre-paid credit card (that isn't connected to your bank account), put sufficient money for your hotel onto the card and use that.

 

[T4tomo]

I've been looking at a number of hotels online and they all require you to show them your credit card on arrival. Presumably they make a note of the number and charge you for any damage that they think you might have done when you leave.

Has anybody had any bad experiences with this? How easy would it be to get your money back if they've wrongly charged you for damage?

Have you stayed in a hotel before?

if you don't have a credit card then the alternative is to pay upfront at check-in

 

[sevenfourate]

Done this all around the World multiple times a year for decades. Without a single issue 👍 **To date 😁

 

[sungod]

also been doing it for decades, not one issue, there's also considerable legal protection when using a credit card

unless the hotel is pre-paid, the card is needed as a guarantee that you have the means to pay, another reason is to allow you to charge things to the room - bar, restaurant, room service, laundry etc. which is far more convenient than paying for everything on the fly

hotels will typically put a pre-authorisation charge on the card to cover room etc., some may ask you to estimate how much extra you want to allow for services, this process doesn't actually charge you, but it allows the hotel to confirm your card is active and that there is sufficient credit available to meet the final bill

as far as damage goes, i was in phoenix in the 80s, there was a hefty-looking vase on top of the tv, i wanted to move it out of the way, just reached and grabbed, to my surprise the thing broke in my hand, it was glued down! i told the front desk, they thanked me for letting them know, no charge, i think you'd have to go some to get charged by a hotel for accidental damage

 

[raleighnut]

I've not got a credit card

 

[Chris S]

Have you stayed in a hotel before?

if you don't have a credit card then the alternative is to pay upfront at check-in

The booking site requires me to pay for the room in advance.

 

[fossyant]

The booking site requires me to pay for the room in advance.

Many do - depends on the hotel - UK and abroad.

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Only a problem once, in Parma, Italy. The hotel had been booked and paid for in advance but on our arrival it took a refundable deposit of 150 euros. Come check-out time the receptionist said she wasn't authorised to refund the deposit. It took about 3 months to get our money back, and then from the credit card company (Visa) not the hotel itself.

 

[markemark]

Done it countless times. They don't take the money but rather put a hold on it with the card company. Obviously a result of people using extras or to pay for damages too often. Standard practice.