I've had reservations booked at 3rd party websites earn CC points. But only at hotels which I had previuosly stayed at (and booked through the CC website). What happens is I book the room. Then 1 or 2 days later, that reservation will show up in the "my reservations" section of my CC account (with a CC confimation number); even though I never enter my CC number when booking. Perhaps the hotel's computer system recognizes my name and attaches my profile to the reservation. The points post normally after checkout. Whether or not this is done in error and not an allowed policy is a different matter.