Originally Posted by
bigshooter
I would consider it a walk scenario and claimed Titanium benefits. If they are trying to put a hold on your card before checking in (card not present transaction) and the terms of the rate didn't require a deposit it should not give them a valid reason to cancel.
I'm sure OP isn't the first person to have a CC issue or expired CC on file before checking into a reservation.
The Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms & Conditions have this about the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee: "To be eligible, Member's Loyalty Program Member Number and a valid credit card number must be included with the reservation."
OP's credit card was not valid. OP wrote, "I later discovered [it] was because my bank had frozen it due to travel."
I'm not defending how the hotel handled the situation. I'm only mentioning this because OP could not have relied on a "walk scenario" under the Marriott's Ultimate Reservation Guarantee if the hotel was sold out when OP arrived.
It seems the hotel wanted to avoid a situation where a room remained empty after the hotel turned away other guests who wanted the room -- and was then also unable to charge for a no-show.
It seems reasonable that the hotel called the OP. A friendly conversation would have confirmed that this Ambassador Elite guest was the way, still wanted the room, and had another credit card. It doesn't seem reasonable to threaten cancellation of the reservation unless OP provided a different credit card number immediately while driving, in response to an incoming call.