This happened to me this weekend for a last minute stay at the Four Points Fullerton. Initially I was told that there was no awards available. When I told the Plat desk that the room is available on the internet, the response was regardless there was no award room available, but he booked it for me anyways in a round about way. Booked it as a regular reservation, then went back and made it into an award stay.

When I got to the hotel, my reservation showed a paid stay, but they agreed to change it into an award stay.