If this happened to me, I would call the hotel and ask to talk to the manager. The minute I got any flak or got put on significant hold, I'd hang up and call Marriott's 800 number and ask to talk to a manager there. The minute they gave me any flak, put me on lengthy hold, or told me to call the hotel directly, I'd hang up and call Visa to dispute. Your TIME is worth too much. Be upfront, be honest, but demand efficiency.

Only time I've ever had to dispute a charge, the hotel fought back hard. It was a non-chain, small hotel in rural England. We were flying in that day and driving about halfway up from London to Chester. When I booked the room, they asked when I would arrive. I said "about 3PM" (I distinctly remember that this was my decision to estimate a 3PM arrival!). I arrived at about 4PM to find the hotel completely shut and locked up. After knocking on all the doors and even walking around back to try and peek into the kitchen, I gave up and stayed in the little hotel next door. (It was a strip of about eight small hotels and B&B's.)

I get back to the US to find that my CC has been charged for the night by the original hotel. When I contested the charge, they fought back saying that I was a no-show because I didn't arrive precisely at 3PM. I was the only guest that night, so they shut down the hotel at about 3:15. Fortunately, I had used the same CC for the next-door hotel stay, so the bank knew I actually made it to town. Finally, after about three months, I got a note from the bank saying that they had ruled in my favor and that the decision was final. The hotel apparently had fought it all the way, but fortunately my bank didn't agree with their arrival policy.