No Hotel Points due to "Direct Bill"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 34
No Hotel Points due to "Direct Bill"
Second time poster long time lurker of the forums I have a question that maybe you experts can help with.
Our company is booking our hotel arrangements through a third party; this third party uses a “direct billing” system to pay for all of our rooms (it all goes to one company credit card). They do this and negotiate lower rates for us all at the cost of our individual hotel points.
So far this year I have been lucky enough to get the majority of my stays credited however it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so
Do you guys have any suggestions on how I could go about getting all if not more of my stays credited.
I do realize the criteria for earning points is that you have to stay in the room and also pay for the room.
Our company is booking our hotel arrangements through a third party; this third party uses a “direct billing” system to pay for all of our rooms (it all goes to one company credit card). They do this and negotiate lower rates for us all at the cost of our individual hotel points.
So far this year I have been lucky enough to get the majority of my stays credited however it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so
Do you guys have any suggestions on how I could go about getting all if not more of my stays credited.
I do realize the criteria for earning points is that you have to stay in the room and also pay for the room.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,447
Is this a Hilton HHonors question or a Marriott question?
I understand that you may have a similar question for each forum, but it would help to know more: for stays in which country or countries is it becoming "increasingly difficult"? Is there any difference between brands? What exactly does "increasingly difficult" mean -- points credited after escalating the issue or no points credited despite raising the matter?
I understand that you may have a similar question for each forum, but it would help to know more: for stays in which country or countries is it becoming "increasingly difficult"? Is there any difference between brands? What exactly does "increasingly difficult" mean -- points credited after escalating the issue or no points credited despite raising the matter?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 34
Is this a Hilton HHonors question or a Marriott question?
I understand that you may have a similar question for each forum, but it would help to know more: for stays in which country or countries is it becoming "increasingly difficult"? Is there any difference between brands? What exactly does "increasingly difficult" mean -- points credited after escalating the issue or no points credited despite raising the matter?
I understand that you may have a similar question for each forum, but it would help to know more: for stays in which country or countries is it becoming "increasingly difficult"? Is there any difference between brands? What exactly does "increasingly difficult" mean -- points credited after escalating the issue or no points credited despite raising the matter?
Both brands have reacted fairly similar.
The last time I escalated the situation I was told they would do it as a one time courtesy
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,447
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 34
It seems in the beginning of the year I was able to call the hotel and just tell them it hadn't posted and they would overlook the direct billing and post it to my account. Now i'm just not having any luck
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Welcome to Flyertalk
Confused as to what the question is.
You should not be getting points or credit for the stays, they probably just realized that you were getting points and credit you don't deserve and stopped giving it to you.
I would say the easiest way to get the credit is to have stays that are eligible for points and stay credit.
I would not be posting in a forum that Hilton reads how the majority of time you are able to get credit for stays you know you should not, it's just going to make them watch everybody more carefully.
That's not 100% correct. You can get points and credit for one room billed to and paid for by a company
A Member whose individual hotel bill is billed directly to a company and the Member is responsible for authorization for settlement at check-out is eligible for HHonors points as described herein.
The issue is you are using a third party and a rate that is probably not eligible for points and stays, probably not that it's direct billed.
Confused as to what the question is.
You should not be getting points or credit for the stays, they probably just realized that you were getting points and credit you don't deserve and stopped giving it to you.
I would say the easiest way to get the credit is to have stays that are eligible for points and stay credit.
I would not be posting in a forum that Hilton reads how the majority of time you are able to get credit for stays you know you should not, it's just going to make them watch everybody more carefully.
A Member whose individual hotel bill is billed directly to a company and the Member is responsible for authorization for settlement at check-out is eligible for HHonors points as described herein.
The issue is you are using a third party and a rate that is probably not eligible for points and stays, probably not that it's direct billed.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,447
Indeed. I replied too hastily to the headline question and somehow overlooked the fact that OP quite clearly told us that he/she knows the bookings are being made at ineligible rates:
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 34
I don't know this for a fact... it's simply an assumption I have not been told my any hotel personnel that this is the case. Well that helps on the HHonors side i'm not sure that the Marriott is the same
#9
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,149
Marriot has the same rule. If the hotel is master billed then you get no points.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
What was the third party's answer?
OP - What did your company's third-party vendor say when you called and asked your question?
Doesn't it seem best to start there. If the vendor has negotiated a discount which includes no credit, doesn't this issue end right then and there?
Also, in the instances where you are receiving credit, is the vendor being denied the discounted rate and your employer being billed a higher rate? Wouldn't you want to know that for job reasons?
Doesn't it seem best to start there. If the vendor has negotiated a discount which includes no credit, doesn't this issue end right then and there?
Also, in the instances where you are receiving credit, is the vendor being denied the discounted rate and your employer being billed a higher rate? Wouldn't you want to know that for job reasons?
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: FRA
Programs: UA, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 34
OP - What did your company's third-party vendor say when you called and asked your question?
Doesn't it seem best to start there. If the vendor has negotiated a discount which includes no credit, doesn't this issue end right then and there?
Also, in the instances where you are receiving credit, is the vendor being denied the discounted rate and your employer being billed a higher rate? Wouldn't you want to know that for job reasons?
Doesn't it seem best to start there. If the vendor has negotiated a discount which includes no credit, doesn't this issue end right then and there?
Also, in the instances where you are receiving credit, is the vendor being denied the discounted rate and your employer being billed a higher rate? Wouldn't you want to know that for job reasons?
This is something that is far above my paygrade. If I could do our travel it would be done significantly better and more efficient with less mistakes however we continue to let the less intelligent run the show and promote them for it
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
I had this problem about one year ago, working with a new client that wanted to master bill.
The HGI was certain I would not get points or nights credit with this arrangement.
I petitioned the client's head off travel to make an exception--which was granted.
So I paid all the hotel bills and expensed costs with the rest of my travel charges-and got all the points.
The HGI was certain I would not get points or nights credit with this arrangement.
I petitioned the client's head off travel to make an exception--which was granted.
So I paid all the hotel bills and expensed costs with the rest of my travel charges-and got all the points.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,057
I have been staying at the same HH property for over 2 years now on my client's direct bill arrangement. I get full credit/points for every stay. This is something that was negotiated with the hotel directly by my client. It's nice not to have to float the charges for 30-60 days while I await reimbursement.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
I have been staying at the same HH property for over 2 years now on my client's direct bill arrangement. I get full credit/points for every stay. This is something that was negotiated with the hotel directly by my client. It's nice not to have to float the charges for 30-60 days while I await reimbursement.