On three of my last four stays at a Kimpton hotel, I've noticed a mysterious credit card charge for $5-12, and called to ask. They said that it's a charge for a minibar item.

Seriously? I have not taken any such items (and when I "raid the bar", I always tell them at checkout).

This points to a combination of problems:

• Poor inventory control -- items already missing before guests arrive
• Poor customer service -- no proactive notification of item found missing

The least they could do before charging my credit card would be to ask me whether I consumed item X.

Incredibly annoying, and seems to be part of a new trend. Anyone else?