This irks me with Hilton and I sympathize. Whenever there's a problem, it doesn't seem to be a part of the corporate identity to notify you either preventively or proactively. I mean, honestly; even a quick email notifying you that there's been a problem would go a long way.

To the contrary, the actual properties I've stayed at are the opposite with communication. I've left a balance at large/small HH hotels before, and always receive an email asking me to give them a call and pay. If the property made no effort to reach out to you and cure a <$30 balance before contacting Honors, then I'd call that a service failure.