I just got charged this $2 fee at the GEM CHELSEA (NYC).

Ghetto ghetto shady practice.

... and did you pay it? Every time I've complained about the charge it was taken off.

I thought this was long gone (although Choice has become my LAST CHOICE for hotels). Was the fee disclosed during the booking process? Was there anything in the confirmation email? This is the Choice version of resort fees, a way to lowball their room rates yet grab more money.

You might get more traction if you'd post your experience on TripAdvisor. You might even catch the attention of the property management/owners.

Never saw a thing about it. Didn't get my bill until checkout via email after the fact. I have no intention of paying it. If they don't refund me I will review them with 1 star on every site imaginable.

Absurd. Outrageous really, it's like they took a guest paying $650 and stole an extra $6 out of my pocket just because.

Soured my thoughts on the entire stay. I now hate the property. I can't imagine this is a good way to get repeat business.

This is the perfect kind of thing for some sheister to use for a class action. Maybe I should do it myself. Pocket millions in legal fees and make them stop charging the fee and send all of the victims a silly coupon.

They will refund your money. Many Choice properties play this ridiculous game.

They did take off the charge, and I wrote a cranky review on TripAdvisor, and after that, they emailed me again to give me a nice discount off my entire stay. I was pretty happy getting the windfall and I (voluntarily) deleted the negative review. So, the local property was very nice about it, but I still find this chainwide practice to be ludicrous.

It's too bad you took down the review. I think it's important for people knowing what they do and that they have reversed the charge when challenged. Having this out there may help them decide to stop the nasty policy altogether.

I agree, I would have preferred to revise the review instead. Unfortunately TripAdvisor only let's you delete, there is no edit function. And they also don't let you leave another new review immediately after deleting. Kind of a clunky site.

Comfort Inn in Woburn, Mass. recently charged me $1.05 per night for a "Safe w/ltd Warranty". For that $1.05 they've now lost a customer for life. :confused:

Did you challenge it at check-out? Do they know they lost another customer due to the fee? You gotta do more than just complain on FT. Go to TripAdvisor and post a review.

Let me ask the obvious question here. Is there a way for the hotel to even know that you have used the safe? Every room safe I have ever seen is definitely not connected to a network (unless it is wireless).

In fact, a high percentage of these safes are not even bolted down to anything and you could just pick them up and walk away (this is one of my pet peeves).

Just leave the hotel and challenge the charge with your cc company. A charge back will increase the cost to the hotel.

To bad you can't charge Choice's top executives with fraud like they do to their customers.

Comfort Inn has been charging for in room safe for ages. First time I noted this was maybe 8-10 years back in Virginia Beach and disputed the charge. I think they claim they have you initial the charge upon check in. Looks like things have not changed since.

i got same charge . i just called them , i also didnt even know there was a safe in room . we stayed just overnight to sleep in our travels. lol

I see this secretive safecharge added to a bill occasionally. But, it's not just at Choice Hotels. I have gotten in the habit of either inquiring about it at check-in, and or looking closely at the bill before I leave. Generally, I state that I did not use the safe and I was not aware there was going to be a charge. I have not had any problem getting it removed from my bill.

I don't think I have seen a safe charge in a year - and I always look.