Hotel messed up

[Nick R]

So like I said in the other thread, I'm working overnights at stores across New York, Massachussetts and northeastern PA. Well, we all were staying at the Maplewood Inn off the thruway in Syracuse. Great hotel. Well, they asked to see my credit card for incidentals. I asked to make sure it was only for incidentals, she said yes.

Well, that was last night. I was going to order a sandwhich in the room so I could not have to leave until I have to go to work. Well, I decided to check my bank account, to see how much I had left. First thing I see is negative several hundred dollars. uh.... What?

Detail is that the hotel decided to charge me for 2 of the rooms, over $900 total. I'm not happy at this point at all. I called the Manager who is in charge of all this, everything was supposed to go on his Best Buy Corporate Card. He met me downstairs, and the woman (same woman, she was very snarky, and rude to all of us apparently) denied that she did anything wrong. when I showed her the Pending Debit on my card, she tried to claim that it was fake, to rip them off.

I might have yelled at her a bit, and we asked for her manager. Who then came out, apologized over and over for her behavior and the incident. She promised that she would be disciplined severely, and fixed it, cancelling the post, and putting it on the proper card.

Glad she fixed it, but was quite a surprise when I wake up ant immediately somehow lost almost a grand from my bank account. Whooo. Still, great hotel if you ever need to stay in the area.

 

[The_Jeff]

Were there any bedbugs?

 

[HTSS_TR]

I never have/use debit card linked to my bank account. You should use credit card for travel and big ticket items so that you have warranty and possible charge back if anything went wrong.

 

[toyotapriusguy]

As soon as she told me it was fake I would have flipped a biscuit too so don't feel bad.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Still, great hotel if you ever need to stay in the area.

At those prices..I think I'll just stick to Hampton. They are almost almost good.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I make sure I stay at an American owned hotels ONLY. I always ask them straight up before I even think about making reservations if they`re American owned. I had a non-American owned hotel try to raise the bill on me one time when we were checking out (I`d reserved our room at a specific price a week before). And when they were rude to me about the bill,I almost came unglued and pulled the guy buy his throat across the counter. I don`t take too kindly to anyone screwing with my finances.

 

[scurvy]

I never, ever, EVER use a debit card for anything but hitting up the ATM or point-of-sale purchases. Get a credit card that'll probably have a $300 credit limit. Start using it but pay it off in full every month. Pretty soon you'll have $2k in credit that you won't have to use except in these cases.

Be sure you find out if you're getting charged any fees by your bank and get the hotel to reimburse you for them as well.

 

[The_Jeff]

It's possible the hotel only *authorized* the card but did not actually charge it. Then the bank didn't let you have your own money, as there was a hold on it, but they might/ probably won't charge you overdraft fees on it.

+1 on the seperation of credit cards from debit. You're in college, now is the time for one low-limit card (that naturally you'll pay off every month.)

 

[hr1940]

I told my bank that I did not want a ATM card. I can use my credit card and then pay it off when the bill come in.

Nick, you were wise to check your account and to resolve the problem immediately.

Some of the motels I have stayed at are American owned and some are not. I have had excellent service. I call the motel to book a room and ask for a confirmation including price to be e-mailed to me.

 

[Pablo]

I hate to say it, but this charging to whatever card is fairly common. They simply do not follow your explicit directions - I guess they figure they have a "live" number, so whammo. Even happens to the travel pros.

Helen nailed it. I don't even have or carry an "ATM" card. I carry cash as necessary. Yes I have credit cards. One for family/travel, one for Amsoil, one for SBP. I will say the points lately are pretty rewarding.

 

[Nick R]

It's not an ATM card, it's a check card. It runs like credit, but it's directly connected to my Checking account through Navy Federal Credit Union (our bank). I like it coming directly out. It's like paying cash, but with a card. I do have a State Farm Student Visa with a $500 limit that I use for other stuff and usually use when travelling. fairly low interest rate, and very low minimum monthly payment. And no it hadn't actually posted, it was listed as "Pending" along with everything within the past few 2 days.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
It's not an ATM card, it's a check card.

It's a debit card.

You can use it at an ATM, with your PIN for POS purchases or LIKE a credit card - but it isn't a credit card, nor does it offer you the protection or benefits that credit cards do.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
I hate to say it, but this charging to whatever card is fairly common. They simply do not follow your explicit directions - I guess they figure they have a "live" number, so whammo. Even happens to the travel pros.

Helen nailed it. I don't even have or carry an "ATM" card. I carry cash as necessary. Yes I have credit cards. One for family/travel, one for Amsoil, one for SBP. I will say the points lately are pretty rewarding.


But where'd you get your cash from?

 

[KrisZ]

When I travel, I always have about $200 in cash for meals or other minor expenses, everything else like gas, accommodations or more expensive purchases go on the credit card.

Also I never use those free standing ATM's to withdraw cash, I always go to my bank or use my bank's ATM, on some occasions I will take cash back in major retail stores like Walmart or Canadian Tire when I shop locally, but I never use debit in small corner stores, gas stations or when traveling.

So far, knocking on wood, I don't have any problems with my debit card.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
I never, ever, EVER use a debit card for anything but hitting up the ATM or point-of-sale purchases. Get a credit card that'll probably have a $300 credit limit. Start using it but pay it off in full every month. Pretty soon you'll have $2k in credit that you won't have to use except in these cases.

Be sure you find out if you're getting charged any fees by your bank and get the hotel to reimburse you for them as well.


If CC balance is paid off in full every month, it will not be reported to the credit bureaus. In other words, you credit report will show that you have a card with no activity on it.
If it is your only card, it counts AGAINST you.
Carry a balance of 5 to 10 dollars for 3 months minimum, 6 months preferably (bank reports are sent in quarterly). That will show that you have a good debt ratio and that card is active. CC companies will WANT to issue you a higher limit card, since you are an active user.

PS this advise came from a VP of a local bank, a friend of mine. I used it to build my credit rating.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: Nick R
It's not an ATM card, it's a check card.

It's a debit card.

You can use it at an ATM, with your PIN for POS purchases or LIKE a credit card - but it isn't a credit card, nor does it offer you the protection or benefits that credit cards do.


But it also works as a credit card, Visa or Mastercard. The only difference is charges comes directly out of your checking account. Other than that, it can be charged back and offers the same credit card protection, ie, you are not really responsible for a merchant improperly charging the card. So other than charges directly being debited from your checking account, I don't really see it being that different from any other credit card for purchases. Having said that, I'd rather use a regular credit card for a hotel deposit so I would not have to wait for any improper or excessive charge to be taken off to restore my checking account balance.

 

[kkreit01]

^ What he said. I only use my bank debit/Visa card. I started with credit cards in college, and never again! The debit card is protected just like any other credit card. When it's your bank card, you DO pay close attention. If it's a credit card, you wait for the bill to arrive a month later (and then see the sticker shock).

 

[Sayjac]

If you used a cc, not debit/atm/check card, you would have been able to dispute the charge through your cc. I've needed to do it a couple times. Card immediately freezes the charge, and proceeds with the dispute. One of the benefits of using a cc.

As for ATM/debit card, I only use it at an ATM to get some cash or make a deposit. Honestly, I prefer to go to the ATM than go into the bank and deal with the tellers and a deposit or withdrawal slip. Never had an issue using it for ATM.

As mentioned, just sounds as though the worker didn't pay attention to detail. Her comment about trying to rip them off was rather inane though.

As for carrying a balance and it's affect on credit rating, perhaps true I don't know. However, I pay off my card balance each month and get the rewards. While I'm paying off the previous months balance, already carrying another balance so I still have a balance even with monthly pay off.

 

[hattaresguy]

Don't use a debit card for such things, since its your money you are out until the problem is fixed. If you needed that $900 to pay a bill your SOL until the dispute is resolved. If its the CC company's money who cares your $900 is in the bank.

Get an American Express, if such a thing ever happens again and they refuse to fix it call Amex and start the charge back procedure. Merchants hate this because it costs them a bundle.

Amex went to bat against the Chinese Government, they are not afraid of a little hotel.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: Ursae_Majoris
Originally Posted By: scurvy
I never, ever, EVER use a debit card for anything but hitting up the ATM or point-of-sale purchases. Get a credit card that'll probably have a $300 credit limit. Start using it but pay it off in full every month. Pretty soon you'll have $2k in credit that you won't have to use except in these cases.

Be sure you find out if you're getting charged any fees by your bank and get the hotel to reimburse you for them as well.


If CC balance is paid off in full every month, it will not be reported to the credit bureaus. In other words, you credit report will show that you have a card with no activity on it.
If it is your only card, it counts AGAINST you.
Carry a balance of 5 to 10 dollars for 3 months minimum, 6 months preferably (bank reports are sent in quarterly). That will show that you have a good debt ratio and that card is active. CC companies will WANT to issue you a higher limit card, since you are an active user.

PS this advise came from a VP of a local bank, a friend of mine. I used it to build my credit rating.


That doesn't work. I've seen my own credit card, which I pay off every time, on my credit report with high-ish average monthly balances, and a nick for high balance/credit line ratio. (I run everything through the card for rewards.) The only way out would be to "overpay" your last bill to cover the stuff in the 20-someodd days before your next bill. (Effectively, log onto your online banking day-of-statement and make a payment.)

However, by not paying interest, I don't attract tons and tons of prequalified offers. One time I accidentally paid $5 or so in interest (then another 50 cents next month-- two month averaging malarkey), and the offers came pouring in the mail. Paying interest or accidentally incurring a late fee or something, so long as you're still an okay risk, makes credit VERY available as bankers trip over each other trying to get the next subprime borrower signed.