What hotel are you staying in? Where? When?

Yes they check, they didn't use to check at all but now they are checking pretty often. I have a card so it hasn't been a problem, but for years I was never asked. Membership vaires by state and apparently how long the cards are good for as well, since my card is valid for one year at a time only.

Hilton does not ask very often, but they have my number online and it is verified directly with aaa at booking for validity. Try entering a digit wrong and see what happens. YMMV