Hotels demanding credit cards on arrival before you are allowed to check in

[Suade7]

I just wondered where the law stands with hotels demading credit cards before you are allowed to check in, even though the room has already been paid for. I am finding now everywhere I stay, I can't even check in (even though the room has been paid for) without them wanting a credit card. This nearly runied my family's holiday to Amsterdam, we arrived at the hotel which we had saved many months for and just about scraped spending money together, to be told we would not be allowed to check in until they took �300 euros from a credit card, apparantly this is the same throughout all of Amsterdam. We had to phone home and sort out a credit card. Its everywhere I stay in the UK now though, my partner and I do not have credit cards. If we have already paid for the room, can a hotel legally demand to swipe or take money from a credit card before checking in?

[Peter Pedant]

your room hire is a contract

and yes as far as I can see,
the hotel can put in a term in the contract saying you need a credit card.

Doing it at the desk isa bit sharp -but it is easy
credit card you get the bed
no credit card you get the street.

Amsterdam - are you joking ? you're not really asking us what Dutch Law is on this point are you ?

This happens every time I go to a hotel and I have to say, it doesnt matter what the staff are, I have NEVER had a ghost payment taken.
But it does make you look at your credit card statements with added concentration.

[loonytunes]

They put mini bars in the rooms so that they can do this. I stayed at the Radisson in Birmingham and they have trays and fridges which contain movement sensors. If you (Or the chambermaid) even nudge a packet of nuts, you get charged over �3. Easy when they put the ice bucket at the back!!

[Goodsoulette]

Holiday inn seem to be lenient on this. I have paid in advance and they have accepted a driving license or passport instead.

[dot.hawkes]

I went to trhe radisson at heathrow 3 years ago with my company and checked into the advance paid room without a credit card and had 2 cans of diet coke from the sensored fridge and they left an urgent message for me on the hotel TV station which flashed at me as i got into the room at 1am, it just said ring receoption urgent mssage- i thought there had been an accident at home, it was bercause i owed �4.20 for the 2 cans, I was furious with them and thye wiped the bill.

[Peter Pedant]

Dotty behaviour Dot !
How are you by the way ?

Anyway, hotels are now taking out minibars, out of rooms because - heeeeey! - they dont make the profits anticipated.

Yeah wow, I wonder why that is !

[loonytunes]

Peter Pedant, That's not the reason. The Licensing Act 2003 is worded in such a way that each room with a mini bar actually becomes a licensed premises. They cannot supervise the alcohol all the time to ensure that children cannot drink it and, consequently, could be liable if that happened and subject to heavy penalties, loss of licences or even prison.