good question and see where you are going on this. I paid using my personal card at the desk when checking in (i have a corp card on my profile) and they apparently had systems issues. Anywho, I have resolved the issue and they issued the credit...but I am just surprised that considering they have had serious data breaches that have made the mainstream press, that they would not be more educated at the staff (hotel manger even). Anywho, nothing is 100% but one should never send their cc via email (a password protected pdf is a good idea btw for the person that recommended that), but phone (when you initiate the call is the way to go imho.