Originally Posted by 3544quebec

But for a pre-paid stay there should be no balance to pay. If there is a balance to pay it usually means it is not a prepaid/non-refundable rate. Its an automated process that the balance is charged at point of booking not something that requires costly human input. Hence my question was this truly a prepaid non-refundable rate.? It could be but the way it has been described in the OP is not the normal way for a prepaid, non-refundable rate to be processed.