What the is this? 5% Discretionary Service Charge - hidden fee!!
Feb 18, 22, 12:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 900
What the is this? 5% Discretionary Service Charge - hidden fee!!
I just noticed this on two reservations I made today with Hyatt properties in London.
PLEASE NOTE THAT A DISCRETIONARY SERVICE CHARGE OF 5% WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR ACCOMODATION BILL.
Nowhere did this 5% fee show up during the reservation process on the Hyatt website. Only after I booked the room did I see this statement show up in the confirmation email in the Reservation Details section of the email as a "Note from the hotel"
How can these properties get away with tacking on a fee after reservation has been confirmed at a previously confirmed price? What gives?
PLEASE NOTE THAT A DISCRETIONARY SERVICE CHARGE OF 5% WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR ACCOMODATION BILL.
Nowhere did this 5% fee show up during the reservation process on the Hyatt website. Only after I booked the room did I see this statement show up in the confirmation email in the Reservation Details section of the email as a "Note from the hotel"
How can these properties get away with tacking on a fee after reservation has been confirmed at a previously confirmed price? What gives?
Feb 18, 22, 1:08 pm
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2020
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 912
It says "discretionary"?
Doesn't that indicate its optional/available to you as a choice to pay or not?
This charge exists for the Andaz Liverpool and other Hyatt properties in the UK if you google this.
Doesn't that indicate its optional/available to you as a choice to pay or not?
This charge exists for the Andaz Liverpool and other Hyatt properties in the UK if you google this.
Feb 18, 22, 1:13 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by Gertjaars
It says "discretionary"?
Doesn't that indicate its optional/available to you as a choice to pay or not?
This charge exists for the Andaz Liverpool and other Hyatt properties in the UK if you google this.
Doesn't that indicate its optional/available to you as a choice to pay or not?
This charge exists for the Andaz Liverpool and other Hyatt properties in the UK if you google this.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/0...omment-page-7/
Feb 18, 22, 1:18 pm
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 900
So wait, if I understand this correctly, the hotel adds the 5% discretionary fee to your bill and then upon check-out you can decide whether you want to pay the added 5% fee or have them remove it?
Feb 18, 22, 1:34 pm
#8
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Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Originally Posted by PortlySpartacus
So wait, if I understand this correctly, the hotel adds the 5% discretionary fee to your bill and then upon check-out you can decide whether you want to pay the added 5% fee or have them remove it?
Feb 18, 22, 1:40 pm
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 900
Maybe they should install touch screen tablets at checkout and let the guest decide how much they would like to add to their bill. Maybe a slider scale, of course there wouldn't be a 0%, the slider scale would start at 5% and slide upwards to 25%. That way they make it as awkward and uncomfortable for the guest when they have to 'verbally' ask to have all discretionary fees removed from the bill. What a great parting encounter for the guest.
Feb 18, 22, 1:45 pm
#10
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Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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I agree it's awkward, and sneaky. I always give a hotel invoice a cursory review, and in this case I would ask what the charge is for. I expect to be told 'blah blah' and would respond with 'please take the charge off, thank you.'
Feb 18, 22, 6:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Tit/ LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold
Posts: 7,387
There are countries where I think a pre-announced service charge is acceptable. The UK is not one of them and this is added at the end. Unacceptable and something Hyatt should jump on immediately.
Feb 18, 22, 9:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,060
5% is actually not bad. At Hyatts in Tokyo it's more like 15-18%, and it's not optional.
The service is great, and I don't mind paying for it, but I don't understand tipping a percentage of the room rate. The service is just as good on cheap nights as it is on expensive nights.
The service is great, and I don't mind paying for it, but I don't understand tipping a percentage of the room rate. The service is just as good on cheap nights as it is on expensive nights.
Feb 18, 22, 10:01 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Bonvoy LT Titanium ANA Plat
Posts: 451
Originally Posted by VegasGambler
5% is actually not bad. At Hyatts in Tokyo it's more like 15-18%, and it's not optional.
The service is great, and I don't mind paying for it, but I don't understand tipping a percentage of the room rate. The service is just as good on cheap nights as it is on expensive nights.
The service is great, and I don't mind paying for it, but I don't understand tipping a percentage of the room rate. The service is just as good on cheap nights as it is on expensive nights.
This is absolutely NOT a tip, tipping basically does not exist in Japan, its actually considered insulting. It is a service charge and I am amazed to see this at Hotel, normally included, naturally.
In 20 years I have never seen a service charge added,
Feb 18, 22, 11:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,060
Originally Posted by BRITINJAPAN4
This is absolutely NOT a tip, tipping basically does not exist in Japan, its actually considered insulting. It is a service charge and I am amazed to see this at Hotel, normally included, naturally.
In 20 years I have never seen a service charge added,
In 20 years I have never seen a service charge added,
IIRC it's 15% at the HR and 18% at the GH in Tokyo (from memory; I'm too lazy to check). I've also seen it added at numerous restaurants.
