Thank you all for the helpful information. Looks like no one had ever filed a credit card dispute for minibar charges. I have decided against credit card dispute as well. Even though I have had multiple communications with the property, management and my Ambassador already, I will contact Lurker to see if he/she can help. If not, I will choke it up as an expensive minibar lesson. I don't want to break up with Bonvoy over $106.89.

Like others mentioned, I have not had a need to dispute minibar charges via credit card over a few thousand nights in hotels. I did have a few incorrect minibar changes, like once in a few years, which was promptly removed after questioning. This is the first time that a property would insist on charging for minibar. I was asking for general experience about minibar charges not limited to a particular property, but looks like I need to provide more details. Story is a bit complicated so it is for your perusal when bored.

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I had a short overnight stay in a nice luxury Bonvoy property back in October. Room was not ready by published check in time of 16:00 (4PM). I had to wait until 16:40 to receive a key. Went to the room to find housekeeping still working in room. Went back to front desk; the agent apologized and provided a F&B credit as service recovery . It was around 17:00 when I went to my room again. All was well and the room had a gorgeous ocean view with huge balcony . The erroneous minibar charge later roughly offsets the service recovery credit.

About half an hour later, I noticed that there was a periodic beeping sound in the room. It was not very loud but annoying. I called for an engineer and a tall affable gentleman arrived around 18:00. He checked and advised that drinks in minibar was blocking refrigerator door from full closure. The minibar was actually a Subzero refrigerator with like 40-50 bottles of drinks. They were randomly arranged and some bottles were leaning against a shelf leaving the door about 1/4" ajar. I learned that Subzero emits a periodic beeping sound if door is not fully closed. Thereafter, he took out a lot of the bottles and put them back neatly. Then, the door could fully close and all was well. I thanked him and asked him to advise minibar attendant of this event. In retrospect, that was a sign that minibar was not serviced prior to my arrival that day but I didn't think too much of it then.

I enjoyed dinner on property, partially offset of F&B credit, and checked out at 12:06 next day. No late check out was available. Then, I was surprised to receive a revised folio with additional $106.89 charge the day after check out. I called the property directly the following day to question it. I was transferred to accounting and a nice lady advised that she will bring this to her manager for approval. Not hearing back from her after a day so I called property again. This time I was transferred to an extension where no one picked up. I tried again in a few hours and was advised that accounting, who I need to contact, doesn't take calls. I suppose I was lucky to have gotten through the first time. I was advised to email [email protected] for all billing questions (xxxxx is the MARSHA code for the property). I emailed them but was bounced right back. That email address does not accept external emails.

I decided to contact my Ambassador as I had no other way to follow up with the property. My Ambassador, to her credit, send my request to property Room Manager who promptly responded. He was apologetic and offered to credit $106.89 to my credit card. I was happy with his prompt resolution and thanks him.

The following Monday, I received an email from Accounting advising F&B Manager denied the credit. She claimed I had consumed half of bottle of wine. She attached a photo but no invoice. I protested but she claimed that previous guest had been billed for minibar charge so it was me who consumed that half a bottle.

I emailed Room Manager again to see if all is well. He assured me that I will receive credit in 10 business days as he had sent in credit request to accounting.

After that, no credit after more than one month and the Room Manager had stopped responding to my follow up emails. My conjecture is that F&B Manager, or GM, overrode Room Manager and denied credit.

Lessons learned:
1) Always check minibar and take photos upon arrival.
2) Take video when someone needs to touch minibar content even if by staff.
3) Minibar is managed by F&B Manager, not Room Manager.

My conjectures:
1) The engineer did not tell minibar attendant that he re-arranged bottles.
2) Minibar was not serviced prior to my arrival as housekeeping was still in room when I arrived. Wine was consumed by previous guest.
3) Minibar attendant was pissed off as bottles were re-arranged neatly but not in correct positions. He/she retaliated against me even though it was the engineer who re-arranged them. There were 40-50 bottles and it can take time to sort them out.