Need some help: paying at the westin
Posted by kaleotter (Kale Otter) on Fri, 2008-06-20 07:52
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 Location: England
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I have a problem with paying at the westin. Until a couple of days ago, i was working under the impression that the people i was staying with would be paying for the hotel, and i would be paying my share back at the end of the con, however, they are now not arriving until the day after i do (I arrive on the 24th) This has caused a problem, because i have already taken all of the money on my debit card and turned it into travellers cheques and cash, as i didnt intend to take it. So i need to know if i can pay in cash, and if i can get that back when my freinds arrive and put it on thier cards. |
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Usually the hotel requires a credit card to check in. They place a hold on your card for about $150 for each day you'll be staying. All hotels do this just on the very off-chance that they get a customer who tries to sneak out without paying, or who tries to set up a hibachi-grill in the bathroom, or what-have-you.
When you check in, you will either have to present a credit card, a debit card, or cash for the amount of that hold. If you use a debit card to check in, that money will be frozen in your account and will probably stay that way for up to 10 days after you check out. It's one of the ways that banks are evil.
So you either use your debit card, which will freeze your funds, or give them cash, which will leave you broke, OR you can write to Jaime at jaime.andrade(at)westin.com and ask for a CREDIT CARD PRE-AUTHORIZATION FORM. The folks with the credit card can fill it out and assert that yes, you have permission to get the room and that their card can be used for check-in.
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permalinkLocation: Baltimore, MD
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So if we reserved the room with a Visa card (which is actually a Visa/Debit/Checking Acct card... woo Wachovia) and pay with the Visa using it as credit and not debit, the funds won't be frozen, but we'll need to get a pre-authorization form? Or is that only in the specific case of kaleotter? (Where he's getting in earlier than the people who reserved the rooms) and, no matter what sort of plastic we use, the card will be locked down for the con (and 10 or so days afterwards)?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
The funds will be frozen no matter what card you use, debit or credit. When you check in the hotel takes your card, and sends word to your credit card company saying, "Hey, this fellow's going to owe us $580 in a few days. Make sure it's there, OK?" And the bank immediately takes $580 from your credit line (or from your checking account if it is a debit card) and sets it aside. You can't get to it at that point.
Now, if when you check out you only owe $380, the hotel will send word to the credit card company: "OK, we're all paid up." But the bank says, "Let's just hold onto this money for a little while longer." Why they do that is a mystery.
If your bank account doesn't have enough money in it, or your credit card doesn't have a high enough credit limit, the hotel's going to say, "Sorry, we can't accept this card." And why wouldn't they? You're going to owe them money in a few days, and they have just seen that you don't actually have that money to give them. So if that is the only payment form you have, you are completely out of luck. The only alternative is to have someone else in the room check in with his card.
But what if the person with the credit card is not going to be arriving until 3 days later? Again, you are out of luck, unless that person sends along a CREDIT CARD PRE-AUTHORIZATION FORM. That form says, "Hey, Jaime, here's my credit card number. It's ok for this person, and this person only, to check in using this account, even though I am not there."
Is it clear now?
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permalinkLocation: Baltimore, MD
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Blog: [Link]
But if you pay in full, in cash, it wouldn't be a problem at all? (Minus not having any cash left, of course.)
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permalinkSimilar problem.
My debit card has a limit of about ~$390 a day.
Is it possible to pay part by card and part in cheques?
Or pay in 2 daily installments?
Noy
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
$390? That's about 12 pounds. You have a silly bank.
Let me repeat! If you use that debit card, then the money on it will be UNAVAILABLE for the entire remainder of the convention, and probably for a week or so afterward. The hotel might be able to split the cost up for you, but you might be better off purchasing additional travelers' checks...sorry, cheques, or you might be able to purchase a pre-filled card...sorry, quard such as one gets from Ameriquan Express.
You might also petition the banque to raise your quredit limit on your quard; they may be reasonable once you explain the situation to them.
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permalinkwell, i have $2000 in travellers cheques, i think i can cover the room with cash, possibly get my freinds to pay me back, im gonna fire off a few emails and stuff to see what my options are. Thanks for your help
-Kale.
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permalinkThat would be your limit on ATM cash withdrawls, not debit card transactions, for those you can spend until your account is out of money.
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permalinkLocation: Northern VA
I in the past have paid for my room up front in cash. They have my credit card on file, that way if for whatever reason they feel the need to charge me for whatever after the weekend is over they can do so. (though they never feel the need as i dont destroy my room.) This is the same way I intend to pay this year, (in fact the cash has allready been set aside) Up-Front in cash with my credit/debit card on file with them "just in case"
Tora-
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permalinkFirst. thank you for all the help youve given me, but i do have one last niggling question. Can i pay using travellers cheques and give them my debitcard number just in case anything goes wrong, like that other poster suggested, or would I have to turn my travellers cheques into cash?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
Travellers' checks are accepted the same as cash.
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permalinkWell. thats money woes sorted, Thanks
now all im waiting on is confirmation from a couple of furs who need a room so i can spread the cost and have more spending moneys.Gonna put something up in the forums incase that dosent pan out.
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permalinkI checked in today the 25th at the Westin.
The front desk informed me that they REQUIRED an additional 40% deposit for the duration of our stay, even though we already paid the room stay deposit in cash for all our nights, to alleviate any damages you may render to your room or if you happen to smoke in your room. Also, your room is REQUIRED to be accessible by the hotel room housekeeping after 10am everyday to check for cleanliness, and if your room is unclean, you will be assessed an additional $50 fee for each occurrence. Now back to the subject of the additional deposit, we are staying till Monday morning, meaning this is an Acct hold on my bank acct for an additional $230 since I did not have the adequate amount of cash.
I would of really appreciated a forewarning to the mandatory charge. I understand the hotel must cover its bases due to the state of the previous convention years.
I had the choice to pay with cash or use my debit card, but I wouldn't receive my room keys or even a "pending/checked in status" until the room deposit and the additional 40% deposit were made. A front desk associate assured me they would negate any overdrafts the additional deposit may incur. I didn't want to cause drama and accepted it.
If this mandatory additional deposit can be alleviated and my account replenished (since it is now sitting $230 in the red), great, if not, then I just have to accept being poor until the con is over.
This is just a forewarning post for you all.
If i am wrong about any of this, PLEASE CORRECT ME!
-Locado
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