Id Needed When Paying Cash. Why?

[horseshoes]

Premier Inn's terms and conditions state that if paying cash, ID is needed. Why would that be?

Thank you.

[gingejbee]

horseshoes: if VHG is correct, then so am I...only 10 minutes earlier!

[jno]

factor-fiction, that's common enough abroad, where everyone has ID and they like to check your papers. No theoretical reason for it in the UK, though.

[Mamyalynne]

Handy if you need an alibi though.

[factor-fiction]

Hopkirk's answer seems to cover it too.
They need ID when you check in if you say you will be settling bills by cash

[Hopkirk]

Don't credit me, Boxtops said it first.

[Maydup]

I think they are entitled to know who's staying in the hotel. Mr and Mrs Smith are no longer welcome!

[jno]

everybody was first and all shall have prizes

[horseshoes]

Yes sorry gingebee. Anyway I have just rung the one who made the booking and when he booked he had to leave card details, which is just like a lot of hotels. However, when they were leaving, they asked to pay using cash - their choice and nothing wrong with that in my book. Otherwise they'd have been faffing around; as I said they're not youngsters - most are in their 70s, and all perfectly respectable gentlemen who just prefer using real money!

[horseshoes]

...... and ps, you all gave wonderful answers and I love you all.

[Hopkirk]

In that case I return to my previous comment that the staff don't understand their own regulations.

Oh, and we love you too.

[kjn2]

Could it be something to do with the fact that if and its a big if the hotel was burnt down they have a record of how many people and who were there. Thats what I have always thought myself.

[Sycamore3House]

I was a manager of a premier inn until about 5 years ago.
The reason for id for cash paying customers is for identity purposes. There are a lot of criminals who stay in such places (not just premier inn) every night of the week. This type of hotel is an easy and anonymous way to stay somewhere and not be noticed once you have checked in. If you pay by a credit/debit card it is traceable. In asking for some form of id you are therefore still traceable.
I place for about 7 years and believe me it was not unusual to see a serving police officer at least on a monthly basis.

[horseshoes]

Well there we go! Premier Inn's obviously a crooks paradise. Oo-er. Remind me not to stay in one!

[Hopkirk]

Yes but this was on check out, not on check in, so why ask for ID then?

[horseshoes]

BONKERS!!!

[grasscarp]

I would imagine they need to know who was actually staying in the hotel. It may be needed later by the police or they may need to ask for their towels or furnishings back. Quite understandable.

[New Judge]

Just to avoid any further confusion (of which there seems to be some) - in Premier Inns and Travelodges you do not check out, you only check in. You must pay for your room in advance and you cannot run a tab for meals or drinks. When you leave you simply hand in your room key.

If you pay by cash you pay when you check in and the reason for ID being required has been provided by Sycamore3House.

[Hopkirk]

Thank you m'lud.

[dzug2]

..In that case I return to my previous comment that the staff don't understand their own regulations. ..

Do they need to though? A simple instruction of you need ID for a cash payment is better from a management perspective then going into long winded explanations which some of them won't understand anyway

[Old_Geezer]

Do they sling you out if you aren't carrying ID ?