Major Hotels May Have Had Their Guest's Data Hacked

[vanguardisle]

Originally Posted by Sundaydrive00

Yes but even without those things, people still damage hotel rooms. How would a hotel recover those costs if someone paid in cash? Require a cash deposit? Then what, follow the security deposit laws of their state? They can collect up to 2x the amount of the room for a deposit. Any damage above that would have to be settled in court with someone who might not even live in the state, or even the country. So good luck getting money for damages. Any guests who don't cause damage will need their deposit mailed back within 30 days... And what if the person Is traveling for the next few months, how do they get their deposit back? Or if they live in another country?

And not to mention all the cash a hotel would have to have on hand, and their customers would be carrying. Say you stay 7 nights at a hotel that costs $250. That's $1750. They want a deposit equal to 2x your stay, that's $5,250 in cash you would be carrying to check into the hotel. Seems like hotels would end up being a criminal's new favorite place to rob.

Putting a small hold on a credit card is just much simpler.

How do they determine how much money to charge a credit card for damages? What if the guests claims the hotel is lying ? Or what if the credit card is stolen, or if it is valid,the credit card does not have much money allowed on it? I really feel safer paying with cash for most things with all the hacking , and on a trip rather then carry a lot of money what about going to an atm machine when you need to for extra cash?

[Sundaydrive00]

Originally Posted by vanguardisle

I really feel safer paying with cash for most things with all the hacking , and on a trip rather then carry a lot of money what about going to an atm machine when you need to for extra cash?

My bank would not have allowed me to take out enough money from the ATM to pay for my 10 nights in a hotel during my last trip. And that's not including any deposits a hotel would require for someone paying in cash.

I doubt my bank even had ATMs where I was, so I would have had to pay service fees to withdraw cash. Much easier to just use a card instead of running around looking for a place to withdraw cash. And it's not like ATMs are magically safer and immune from being hacked. A card reader can be installed on ATMs that allows thieves access to your information.

[meo92953]

Since I got rid of all credit card debt I only use my debit card. Recently someone hacked my card and someone tried to purchase items online from Australia. Thankfully it put up a red flag. They also tried a few high end stores and were immediately rejected.

My bank took care of it and the charges were taken off my account. Maybe it's because I live in a small town but I know they will protect me.

Next time I travel though, I will purchase a pre-paid credit card, just in case.

[Sundaydrive00]

Originally Posted by meo92953

My bank took care of it and the charges were taken off my account. Maybe it's because I live in a small town but I know they will protect me.

I don't live in a small town, and use one of the largest banks in the country. They have stopped any unauthorized use of my card before I saw any charges on my account. One time I didn't realize anything had happened until a new card showed up in the mail. I called to see why I got a new card, since my old one didn't expire for a few years. They told me that my card had been compromised, and that they had tried calling. Oops, I never updated my new phone number with my bank, and they also had an email address I rarely checked.