Recently we tried to change the dates on a prepaid noncancellable reservation from six months out: H said it is up to the hotel. The hotel said it is impossible due to central Hilton policy. Any way to get a more positive/ compliant result?

If the hotel won't budge, then you're out of luck. How major a change do you want to make, and how long a stay have you booked? If it is a "reasonable" change, a letter to the manager of the hotel might work. You've got six months, but I guess that's what I would question. Given what can happen in half a year, why would you ever book such a rate, knowing it was pre-paid and not refundable/changable? I would not fault Hilton if they don't agree to a change, but more details would give us an idea of how reasonable or unreasonable your request is.

Chalk it up to learning, but I would never book a non-refundable/changeable rate any sooner than a month prior, and then only knowing my plans were 100%. If I really wanted a property, I would book the least expensive, refunable/changable rate, then closer to the stay date take the chance the cheaper "locked" rate was available and book it, then cancel the higher rated room.

You could always try disputing the charge with your credit card issuer. Since you didn't sign anything, you could try aruging that you never authorized the charge.

I book prepaid rates knowing I might well lose it all (and have--but only once, which my client reimbursed since they caused me not to be able to show up!). Sometimes you save a bundle and take the risk. Other times, there is only a 3-10 dollar difference and I say it is better to pay more as I know that changes to my life can happen even as close to 24 hours (the example above was a case in point) to the booking date. Hey it's only money . . .

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Disputing a valid charge like that with the CC company will not work. When you make the reservation you confirm that you will abide by the T&C of the reservation, which in this case is a charge as soon as you made the reservation. The CC company will go to bat for you if there is a legitimate claim on your part, not everytime you change your mind.

I agree with shareholder. Your best bet is to try to work with the manager as that is your only shot right now. Hilton.com, Hiton, HHonors can't help you.

I also agree with shareholder about grabbing a pre-paid stay this far out to save few bucks. If you decide that the savings are worth the chance, then do it, but also realize that you're gambling with the money, as the hotel is not under any obligation to return it to you if they choose not to. Non-refundable means just that folks, it's non-refundable.


[This message has been edited by andrzej (edited Nov 29, 2003).]

Still, isn't the statement "it is impossible due to central Hilton policy" BS by the hotel manager? Ultimately, the hotel decides what they do. I have been able to at least change dates (one day later, two days later) on prepaid reservations.

Perhaps, if you are planning to stay at that hotel some other time anyway, they would at least move the reservation to another date?

I have never heard of any good reasons for booking non-canc reservations 6 months in advance (and this included HI, PR and Mex resorts). Too many things can happen. Actually I dont think I have ever seen non-canc offered that far out.

Trying to dispute the charges on a cc is rediculous and not kosher in any way. I have successfully changed or cancelled non-canc dates in the past a few times, but I ate the other 75%. You must deal with the actual hotel reservation management. Oh yes, it helps to be elite or have previously stayed at the hotel. At best try for ff credit. Good luck.

MisterNice

Is it a stay that you could possibly offer to someone else--a relative, friend, or fellow FTer, perhaps? Maybe that's a way to not lose it all.

--Grog--

P.S. the FTer wouldn't get the points so I don't know if any die-hards here would accept, though

Perhaps what they are getting at with disputing the charge, and I have no idea if this is true, is that the bank will not see it worth its time to engage in lengthy proceedings and may just write off or charge back the amount to the mercahnt. I mean what if you said you didn't know it was nonrefundable. Are they going to go through the trouble of making screen shots of the web site, and sending letters back and forth. Or would it be easier and cheaper for the bank and the hotel to settle/write it off. I have heard that many large companies prefer to settle things not admitting any guilt, rather than go through any sort of long and drawn out proceeding. However, again, I have not tried this, and have no idea of your success posibility.

Would agree that writing a polite letter to the manager asking for the change would be a good start, and you have absolutely nothing to lose and posibly something to gain.

I do know banks will make you fill out all sorts of forms, and posibly make you return notorized documents, etc. However, I really think they have some internal number where if it below amount X they are not going to dedicate resources for investigations and protracted proceedings. How much $$$ are we talking about?

Couple of years ago I helped a friend who was the general manger of a small beach resort out for few month, as he was in a real need for an assistant and just could not find one at a time when he needed one really bad. Anyway, since this was a small, 30 room beach resort type property and the time that it paid the bills and actually made a profit for the owners was between January and May(Florida), our reservation policy was, no refunds for the full reservation if you tried to cancel 30 days or less before arrival. We had to make sure our reservation clerks always stated the policy when doing the actual reservation. We had a check list on the reservation form and each time a reservation was taken, the list had to be checked off as the points were read to the future guests. Well, like anything else in life some people thought that they could do and change as the pleased. Occasionally the mngr. or I(he gave me the authority) upon hearing a plausible explanation granted the waiver, especially when it was a regular, year after year returning guest that had something go wrong at the moment. BUT many times we stuck to our policy and guess what? We never got screwed out of our money. AMEX, a company that really goes out on a limb for their card holders would try to investigate, but all we had to show was our official policy and the fact that it was always presented and even the all powerful AMEX had no choice and give the bad news to it's card holder. I'm sure when you click the I understand the T&C box during the reservation process, it's a done deal as far as any CC company dispute is concerned. It doesn't matter if it's for $50 or $5000, it's an official contract and is treated as such.