First time traveler?!

[SCSlave]

I could be wrong, but I think the 'deposit' is actually just an authorization or 'block' on funds. That's what we did at check in when I worked at a Hotel. We ran an 'authorization' on a credit card, but never actually charged it until check out. That way, if the cc is declined on check out, we have the authorization and can 'force' the transaction thru. ((That way, they can't charge up their credit card to the limit while on their trip and try to leave w/o paying...they'd leave w/o actually 'checking out'. But since we had the authorization, we still got paid.))

Of course, this was about 10 years ago....so who knows. I have, though, been to hotels where I've already paid for the room and they still take my credit card at check in and swipe it. I assumed it was for authorization for incidentals.

[Getoutofmylobby]

I have stayed at many hotels and i have never had to put a deposit on for my room. They have taken my information and credit card number and made me sign a form in case somethings damaged that i will pay for it and it will be charged to this credit card. But I have not had to pay for the deposit upfront.

No, you probably paid that discount and didn't even know about it. When you check in, we always authorize your card for about 10% over the total amount. Most chain hotels do this. I think the lady in the OP was just mad that someone was asking her for more money after she was sure she paid for the room. Common mistake. And she was lucky they accepted a cash deposit. We don't. Hell, we don't even accept checks.

And, to be fair, we take this deposit for good reason, people like to steal shit. A towel or two missing from a hotel room is usually no big deal, but youd be amazed at how many people "purchase" coffee makers, hair dryers, pillows, sheets, table lamps, (unusable) N64 controllers from their rooms each week. I had one lady ask for an extra coffee maker "i just want to make more than 4 cups tomorrow morning." Sure enough, both were gone the next day and later the lady found a $75 dollar charge on her credit card.

And it isn't the travel agent's job to tell people about this stuff. Usually they have no idea. It's the travel agent's job to pester the hotel each day until they get their commission check... but ah... travel agents... Such wonderful people, but that is for another thread....

[uthdentroll]

its our hotel's policy to place a hold for certain amount on the credit card just incase the guest calls for room service, cocktail charges, purchase event tickets, babysitters, and etc etc etc. you never know what they want.
I came across one guest thought we wouldnt charge anything after he checked out. so he tapped the minibar in his room for over $200 worth of alcohol right before he checked out.

as for if thats the first time she travel. i think not. we ran through her stay history, and she stayed with us a few times. turns out she bitched about this incidental thing everytime.

[CherryB]

I have stayed at many hotels and i have never had to put a deposit on for my room. They have taken my information and credit card number and made me sign a form in case somethings damaged that i will pay for it and it will be charged to this credit card. But I have not had to pay for the deposit upfront.

When they take your credit card, they will put a block on say $200.00 worth of charges. It's a reserve on the card. When you check out, whatever the incidentals actually were will then be charged. But if you card is maxed out or delinquent, the processing center will not authorize the block. That's when you have to pony up a good card or lay some cash on the counter.
Now that most rooms have mini bars and PPV, hoteliers have to make sure they have a way to collect from you all the crap you eat out of the fridge and to make sure you pay for "Debbie does Dallas'

[BusBus]

In defense of the OP, I will say that when I travel, I bring along both of my credit cards with more than enough credit on them just in case of a situation like this where I need the extra cash. You never know when an unexpected circumstance will arise while abroad.

[powerboy]

So, just out of interest, how do people learn these things for themselves? There is a first time for everyone to do things like put petrol in the car, stay in a nice hotel, etc, and sneering at someone because they don't know how these things go is a bit unfair.

Just because you work in the hotel business and its second nature to you, doesn't mean that everyone else knows all about it. The lady didn't sound particularly sucky from what you've said.

Seriously. Hey OP, am I going to read about me, not having enough cash, to take care of it, if I stayed at your hotel?

[Rapscallion]

I don't travel much, but when I did stay at places, I was never told upfront about the idea that some money would be taken out of my credit card temporarily. If it was a background thing, I never noticed it, though I never fail to pay my card off completely every month (the card companies hate me). I'm trying to work out if it's better practice to tell people up front about the damage deposit requirement.

I don't particularly like the practice, but I can see the necessity for it, what with the tales of horror we hear here on a regular basis.

I still think she was somewhat daft not to come out with enough cash for other essentials, though. Wasn't she planning on tipping the housekeeping staff? Wasn't she planning on eating?

Rapscallion

[Legal Eagle]

i have stayed in hotels in the UK & Europe loads of times (never in the US) and i have never come across this practice, is this only US hotels?

[Buglady]

I've never had a hotel actually put a specific block on my CC# either. There have also been many times in my life that no, I wouldn't have had $200 room on a CC for that kind of expense if I wasn't expecting it (particularly if I'd rented a car or something and had the block from THAT on there). So what, I shouldn't travel? Give me a break. There are many reasons to travel beyond pleasure trips, and people don't always have the chance to plan ahead for making room on CCs etc.

Also, a friend of mine was just at a convention on the weekend, and the hotel charged *every room on the floor* a smoking surcharge of $200 each, because ONE room smoked. The charge went through two days after my friend left the hotel. She had used a Visa-imprint debit card and the charge caused several of her cheques and other payments to bounce. Guess that hotel doesn't want any more convention business...

So I think the OP is being a bit harsh here.

[tollbaby]

Wasn't she planning on tipping the housekeeping staff?

um.... feeling extremely sheepish here, but I've never tipped housekeeping staff.... How the heck are you supposed to do that? (maybe I should explain that I've never stayed in a hotel for more than 2 nights, and it's always a Days Inn, where the housekeeping seems to be of dubious quality to begin with... no offense to any DI employees, just been my experience in the 6 cities I've traveled to).

[Kiwi]

I ran across them blocking money from my credit card.... at the end of 6 months backpacking across america when I was 18.

In the 6 months I hadnt come across it because.... I was backpacking.... but decided to splurge for one night in Las Vegas.

It was a little bit of a nasty shock when I got there.... I didnt have that money on my card, no one mentioned it when I booked the room, my mum had always paid for hotels and the like before (this was my first independant trip)

I had $250 left on my card, they took $200 of it... left me a bit stuck until I could call home and beg for another $100 so I could actually do stuff. The front desk where actually really nice about it, and gave me a card that meant I could use that $200 to charge back to my room.... so I could eat and go do stuff.

If the woman was snarky about it every single time she stayed thats one thing, but not all sucky customer behaviour comes intentionally... my incident was born of pure ignorance on everyones part.

I assumed if I was paying for the room at check in, why would they need anymore money? They assumed that if I was booking a room that cost $200 a night, I would know already about CC incidentals charges.

Innocent mistakes are one thing, sucky attitudes are another.

[BookstoreEscapee]

um.... feeling extremely sheepish here, but I've never tipped housekeeping staff.... How the heck are you supposed to do that? (maybe I should explain that I've never stayed in a hotel for more than 2 nights, and it's always a Days Inn, where the housekeeping seems to be of dubious quality to begin with... no offense to any DI employees, just been my experience in the 6 cities I've traveled to).

You can leave a tip on the dresser; some hotels have envelopes for that so the housekeeper knows it's for them and not just left out...or if you see them you can give it to them directly. You can tip a few dollars each day or leave a bigger tip at the end of your stay (especially if you're staying for several days).

As far as deposits, it's pretty much like renting an apartment. You have to put down a security deposit, and if you don't leave behind any damage you get it back when you move out. Rent a hotel room, why shouldn't it work the same way? Especially since the hotel people can't check your credit history and stuff like that like a potential landlord can to see what kind of a risk you are when it comes to paying the bills

[wagegoth]

Maybe hotels in smaller towns or less touristy areas don't charge things upfront, but as mentioned in several posts there are a lot of people who steal everything that isn't fastened down (actually, even stuff that is fastened down) and will empty the courtesy bar (I won't even touch it, that stuff is WAY too expensive), then mosey out thinking they've managed to rip off the hotel (apparently feeling that they should steal enough to recover the cost of the room, 'cause, hey, just having them stay in your hotel is a reward).

So, as usual, thanks to 10% of the population that is psychotically sucky, the 90% of us (semi-)normals have to suffer.

[tollbaby]

Geez, I normally don't even end up using their soap thingies and shampoos. I always bring my own.

[Cia]

The mini bar thing reminded me of this - 2 years ago one of our vendors had a conference at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. On the paperwork they sent us about the resort they pointed out that the mini bars are computerized. Which means if you open the bar and move things around to see what's in there you will get charged. If you move things around to make room for your water bottle you will get charged. Take something out and put it back you will get charged.

Yes you can have them check the mini bar and get your credit but charging you just cause you opened the door to see what's in there is rediculous.

Needless to say we didn't go to the convention and according to other partners that we had spoken to that particular conference wasn't well attended and those who did attend didn't give it high marks.