Hotel charge still not posted... Did I stay for free? (pay, deposit)
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Over valentine's day weekend I stayed at the JW Marriott in Downtown Houston - very nice hotel.
The original charge was $652 and after champagne and extras that I pre-ordered before arrival, I was charged $852 to my card at check-in (I saw the money leave my account). Note: No deposit or hold for incidentals of any kind.
Halfway through my stay I reported an issue with the room and was told I was be refunded $200.
Fast forward to today (2 days post-checkout) and I see a $200 credit from JW as promised and the room charge is gone all together.
I've stayed at plenty of hotels and for the most part I usually pay at checkout if it's not prepaid. Is this type of delay normal for higher-end hotels or something?
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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Okay, I have a funny related story about hotel charges. We once stayed at a hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Something was screwy with our reservation (our reservation was broken in two). And on the day of checkout, there was an extra charge on our credit card. So upon checkout, I discussed the problem at length with the young guy at the front desk who assured me that the charge had been corrected. But as I left I still didn't feel quite satisfied that he had fixed it.
So I go into our car in the hotel parking lot right outside the hotel office where my husband was patiently waiting for me. I relay the story to him and add, "I don't think the guy at the front desk knew what he was doing. The charge is still on the credit card. I'm going to call the main 800 number for the hotel chain and have someone else help me." So I dial the 800 number and the person answers, "Hello, can I help you?"
I relay the whole long, sordid story to man on the other end of the phone, and he replies, "Yes, m'am, I just told you at the front desk that the charges have been corrected. It will take a few days to show up on your credit card bill." How embarrassing! I had called the local hotel's 800 number! As I hid my face, my husband discreetly pulled out of the parking lot.
PS. The charges showed up correct a few days later on the credit card.
Over valentine's day weekend I stayed at the JW Marriott in Downtown Houston - very nice hotel.
The original charge was $652 and after champagne and extras that I pre-ordered before arrival, I was charged $852 to my card at check-in (I saw the money leave my account). Note: No deposit or hold for incidentals of any kind.
Halfway through my stay I reported an issue with the room and was told I was be refunded $200.
Fast forward to today (2 days post-checkout) and I see a $200 credit from JW as promised and the room charge is gone all together.
I've stayed at plenty of hotels and for the most part I usually pay at checkout if it's not prepaid. Is this type of delay normal for higher-end hotels or something?
It's still within a few days - within the normal range of posting delays. Premature conclusion.
I was once charged six months after a hotel stay. I was young and it was for a wedding and I thought perhaps the bride's family had taken care of the bill as I was in the bridal party. Nope, it showed up much later. I raised a stink though and I think I wound up not having to pay.
Over valentine's day weekend I stayed at the JW Marriott in Downtown Houston - very nice hotel.
The original charge was $652 and after champagne and extras that I pre-ordered before arrival, I was charged $852 to my card at check-in (I saw the money leave my account). Note: No deposit or hold for incidentals of any kind.
Halfway through my stay I reported an issue with the room and was told I was be refunded $200.
Fast forward to today (2 days post-checkout) and I see a $200 credit from JW as promised and the room charge is gone all together.
I've stayed at plenty of hotels and for the most part I usually pay at checkout if it's not prepaid. Is this type of delay normal for higher-end hotels or something?
Nope they're simply holding onto your money as long as they can before they are required to return it to you.
Okay, I have a funny related story about hotel charges. We once stayed at a hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Something was screwy with our reservation (our reservation was broken in two). And on the day of checkout, there was an extra charge on our credit card. So upon checkout, I discussed the problem at length with the young guy at the front desk who assured me that the charge had been corrected. But as I left I still didn't feel quite satisfied that he had fixed it.
So I go into our car in the hotel parking lot right outside the hotel office where my husband was patiently waiting for me. I relay the story to him and add, "I don't think the guy at the front desk knew what he was doing. The charge is still on the credit card. I'm going to call the main 800 number for the hotel chain and have someone else help me." So I dial the 800 number and the person answers, "Hello, can I help you?"
I relay the whole long, sordid story to man on the other end of the phone, and he replies, "Yes, m'am, I just told you at the front desk that the charges have been corrected. It will take a few days to show up on your credit card bill." How embarrassing! I had called the local hotel's 800 number! As I hid my face, my husband discreetly pulled out of the parking lot.
PS. The charges showed up correct a few days later on the credit card.
(singing)
That was your first mistake
They took your reservation and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
They broke it in two
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