Phantom Minibar Charges
Dec 19, 2010, 4:59 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Near IAD
Programs: UA 1K For Life; Marriot Gold (through United); Hilton Silver; misc. airlines
Posts: 60
Refusing the MiniBar Key
Yes -- I too have noticed fraudulent minibar charges although I have had no issue when asking the front desk personnel simply to remove them when I check out. I always refuse the key. I know revenue is hard to come by, but falsifying the bill? That does not lead to loyalty.
For the past few visits, have even asked the front desk specifically to note that I do not want some boneheaded housekeeping person to come to my room at 11:30PM to check the minibar -- I have been awakened several times because of this!
For the past few visits, have even asked the front desk specifically to note that I do not want some boneheaded housekeeping person to come to my room at 11:30PM to check the minibar -- I have been awakened several times because of this!
Dec 19, 2010, 8:22 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 517
Was it possibly the bottle of water that was sitting on the counter and not behind lock and key?
Dec 19, 2010, 10:11 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
If you get no satisfaction from the hotel, you can dispute the charge on your AMEX. That will cost the hotel a hefty fee in addition to the $8. That will get their attention.
Dec 19, 2010, 10:21 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 858
Every time you nick or shake the damn counter near the minibar a charge gets through. But the staff have been very good about rectifying the charges though it is a pain when it happens as I have to queue the check in counter to reprint the invoice.
Dec 19, 2010, 11:41 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM / 2MM - Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,515
Dec 19, 2010, 3:14 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ROA / CLT
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Life Plat
Posts: 801
I had this happen just last week at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, CA, also with one of the bottles of water left out in the room. Fortunately I caught the charge before I checked out and they were fine about removing the charge on my bill. Something like this seems to happen relatively often, perhaps once out of every dozen stays at various hotels.
While I know one should always review every hotel bill for errors, it's unfortunate that things like this seem to be a regular cause of problems. Also, even if you can fix the problem before checking out, having to do so does take away the convenience of express checkout.
While I know one should always review every hotel bill for errors, it's unfortunate that things like this seem to be a regular cause of problems. Also, even if you can fix the problem before checking out, having to do so does take away the convenience of express checkout.
Dec 19, 2010, 4:26 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM / 2MM - Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,515
The problem here is that it was a 1 night stay. NOT on the bill when I checked out with my copy. They never sent a "Thanks for staying" email copy of my bill (first Marriott not to do so) so I never realized it until I did my expense report. This is how it always seems to happen to me. AFTER check-out, which if I were a fraudulent person running a hotel, thats exactly how I would do it.
Dec 19, 2010, 5:00 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,037
Some Marriott properties are slowly rolling out these new things called "door locks" and "do not disturb" signs.
Dec 20, 2010, 12:34 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
C'mon now. While it is *possible* they are falsifying bills, it's highly unlikely that Marriott is willing to take the huge risks involved with such a scam (as well as the cost of losing customers) for such a small theoretical gain. It's much more likely that such charges are the result of poor accounting or technical glitches, such as the ones suggested in this thread. A problem that should be improved/fixed? Sure. A purposeful falsifying scam? I doubt it.