Comments on: How hotels help themselves to your money http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cara Handke http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/comment-page-1/#comment-15986 Cara Handke Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:17:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5140#comment-15986 The Watertown, SD, Holiday Inn Express charged my CC $20 for a missing pillow from my room. I know for a fact we did not take a pillow. I've beaten the issue to death with HI guest relations & the hotel manager telling them they've made an error somewhere along the way. Yet, they will not remove the charge. Guilty until proven innocent is apparently their motto. Absolutely ridiculous. What is a person to do?? ...force a staffer to do a room inventory before checking out to prevent getting stuck with an erroneous charge? Advice welcome. Steaming in SD The Watertown, SD, Holiday Inn Express charged my CC $20 for a missing pillow from my room. I know for a fact we did not take a pillow. I’ve beaten the issue to death with HI guest relations & the hotel manager telling them they’ve made an error somewhere along the way. Yet, they will not remove the charge. Guilty until proven innocent is apparently their motto. Absolutely ridiculous. What is a person to do?? …force a staffer to do a room inventory before checking out to prevent getting stuck with an erroneous charge? Advice welcome.

Steaming in SD

]]> By: Dang http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/comment-page-1/#comment-14678 Dang Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:27:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5140#comment-14678 Last August, we stayed at the Marriott Renaissance Fort Lauderdale hotel, and after reading this article, we asked adamantly to empty the fridge and we return the fridge key to the front desk right after check in, yet one month later returning back home we get a bill for 37,80$ for the mini bar. I also make sure that there is no extra charge at check out time (10 AM) by asking to verify the bill before we leave and the front desk assures us that there is no charge and it only applies to people who check out late. The practice is stil there despite the publicity. Last August, we stayed at the Marriott Renaissance Fort Lauderdale hotel,
and after reading this article, we asked adamantly to empty the fridge and we
return the fridge key to the front desk right after check in, yet one month later returning
back home we get a bill for 37,80$ for the mini bar.
I also make sure that there is no extra charge at check out time (10 AM) by asking to
verify the bill before we leave and the front desk assures us that there is no charge
and it only applies to people who check out late.
The practice is stil there despite the publicity.

]]> By: Richard http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/comment-page-1/#comment-14211 Richard Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:12:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5140#comment-14211 Once, I left the mini-bar key in the room when I checked. I did get a delayed charge for the mini-bar, which the hotel removed. However, I felt that maybe somebody had used the key to access the mini-bar. Be sure to either decline the key or turn it back to the front desk. Don't leave it in the room. Once, I left the mini-bar key in the room when I checked. I did get a delayed charge for the mini-bar, which the hotel removed. However, I felt that maybe somebody had used the key to access the mini-bar.

Be sure to either decline the key or turn it back to the front desk. Don’t leave it in the room.

]]> By: Carver Clark Farrow http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/comment-page-1/#comment-13789 Carver Clark Farrow Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:24:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5140#comment-13789 I flatly do not believe that hotels are purposely placing charges that they know are bogus. Particularly at the big, reputable chains. I believe that more likely the hotel systems don't talk well to each other and the nifity new idea from marketing may not play well with the hotel's computer systems. For example, whenever I use Marriotts free second weekend night offer, the hotel charges me for the second night. Does anyone really believe that the hotel thinks that they are going to get away with an extra $250 on my bill. Of course not. Its an example of poor training or a computer system not designed to handle this promotion. I used to have late mini-bar charges all the time. But its been years since I've received an after check-out charge. I think its also somewhat disingenious of us to conclude that because hotels step up and remove the charges immediately that somehow that shows duplicity by the hotel. More likely they recognize a problem and rectify it quickly. Would we rather the hotels not remove the charges immediately. I'm not an apologiest for the travel industry. It seems to me that the travel industry has enough shady practices that we don't need to invent more. I flatly do not believe that hotels are purposely placing charges that they know are bogus. Particularly at the big, reputable chains. I believe that more likely the hotel systems don’t talk well to each other and the nifity new idea from marketing may not play well with the hotel’s computer systems.

For example, whenever I use Marriotts free second weekend night offer, the hotel charges me for the second night. Does anyone really believe that the hotel thinks that they are going to get away with an extra $250 on my bill. Of course not. Its an example of poor training or a computer system not designed to handle this promotion.

I used to have late mini-bar charges all the time. But its been years since I’ve received an after check-out charge. I think its also somewhat disingenious of us to conclude that because hotels step up and remove the charges immediately that somehow that shows duplicity by the hotel. More likely they recognize a problem and rectify it quickly. Would we rather the hotels not remove the charges immediately.

I’m not an apologiest for the travel industry. It seems to me that the travel industry has enough shady practices that we don’t need to invent more.

]]> By: RandyB http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/how-hotels-help-themselves-to-your-money/comment-page-1/#comment-13766 RandyB Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:55:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5140#comment-13766 Concerning the minibar, if it's an option on your bill you might want to have noted on it so if the hotel does charge you have proof that you denied the key or had the minibar removed. Concerning the minibar, if it’s an option on your bill you might want to have noted on it so if the hotel does charge you have proof that you denied the key or had the minibar removed.

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