Strange hotel reservation system
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
August 3, 2016 10:00am CST
I looked online for a hotel in Llandudno for a couple of nights this weekend. After browsing for a while I settled on a certain hotel and proceeded to book the room.
Once I clicked on the link to reserve the room I was presented with a message stating that no payment is required prior to arrival. Despite this the site requested my Debit card details to confirm the reservation.
This afternoon I logged into my online banking to pay a bill and noticed that the hotel has submitted a pending payment to my bank account for one penny.
It seems quite ridiculous to se3cure a reservation in this way. Personally I would have preferred to just pay the hotel cost up front.
14 people like this
12 responses
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
5 Aug 16
When we traveled to Europe I booked our 22 days stay's online with booking.com - 3/4 of the hotels took no deposits, nor immediate cash out my card and sent that same message - pay on arrival. However I did check that there was no fee in the event i cancelled - didnt want to fall into that trap. It helped with all our bookings as there was one day we had to move our booking by one day forward - easy as pie!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
3 Aug 16
It must work for them, but I agree that prior payment is best for the traveller. I just paid for the tips for my cruise rather than waiting until afterwards. This way, when I get the bill under the door the night before the end of the trip, there should be very little on it.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace That does sound a more practical approach than requesting one penny. Of course I shall find out on Friday when I book into the hotel in person.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
3 Aug 16
@Asylum In the U.S. often a business will put through a "test" purchase for $1.00 in order to make sure a card is good. Later the amount is adjusted up to the real amount. One business where I live, the local gas station, puts through a charge of $50 and then adjusts downward. I hate that.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Aug 16
I wonder what the reasoning is behind that.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
17 Aug 16
@Jeanniemaries There is no secret to solo travel, just choose somewhere and visit.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Aug 16
@Asylum I'm like you, I would just prefer to be charged and be done with it. I would love to read some of your travel tips about traveling solo. I'm about ready to venture out to unknown cities on my own. So far I have either gone to family homes or had family travel with me on cruises or to destinations.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
6 Aug 16
I guess they just want to make sure that it is a real card with money in the account.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
3 Aug 16
It 'almost' sounds a little shady.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
3 Aug 16
@Asylum But it still makes you 'think'
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Aug 16
That is an odd way for the hotel to bill.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79638)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Aug 16
@Asylum have never heard of anything like this. Usually I would book a hotel room on my card and then arrive and make the payment.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
3 Aug 16
@RasmaSandra Either pay at booking or on arrival would make sense, but not charging one penny.
1 person likes this
