Unknown person is using my points for a poor value stay
May 30, 2012, 7:09 am
#61
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Got a name for the person occupying the hotel. Assuming they had to provide ID you might be able to run them down on publicdata.com or other site to do a criminal records search.
So it's the same guy, booking repeated stays at the same hotel, with stolen info? Seriously, it sounds like a pimp booking rooms for his prostitutes. No joke. I would get the police involved, at minimum for the identity theft, but also for what they may find when they go to the room.
May 30, 2012, 10:22 am
#62
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OP --
Just what credit card was on file? One of yours? If so, this is identity theft, and it is mail and wire fraud -- I do not know if the Houston PD knows this portion of the story, but I believe you are a victim as you neither gave consent nor knew of this indiviidual using your credit card to permit him entry to the room. It is an unauthroized use of the credit card and that is a crime.
Furthermore, the hotel has some real explaining to do as you indicated that they decline one credit card, but then authorize another's use, presumably with a different name. This is pure negligence, at the very least.
Keep us posted, as you ought to call the hotel again and get names, etc.
Just what credit card was on file? One of yours? If so, this is identity theft, and it is mail and wire fraud -- I do not know if the Houston PD knows this portion of the story, but I believe you are a victim as you neither gave consent nor knew of this indiviidual using your credit card to permit him entry to the room. It is an unauthroized use of the credit card and that is a crime.
Furthermore, the hotel has some real explaining to do as you indicated that they decline one credit card, but then authorize another's use, presumably with a different name. This is pure negligence, at the very least.
Keep us posted, as you ought to call the hotel again and get names, etc.
I agree that the hotel dropped the ball by placing the temporary hold on my credit card. I have a feeling the hotel won't ever do that again.
May 30, 2012, 10:24 am
#63
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The person WAS allowed to stay but had to pay cash instead of using my points. I have received 15K points back in my account, waiting on the other 60K. I guess another call to PC is in order.
May 30, 2012, 10:26 am
#64
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No, nothing was actually charged to my credit card.
May 30, 2012, 10:27 am
#65
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I intend to ask for a new account number, but want to wait until the points for the fraudulent stay are back in my account.
May 30, 2012, 10:28 am
#66
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Unfortunately, the name of the guest is a VERY common name, and I do not know the city/state in which he lives. The desk clerk probably told me more info that she should have. The manager is not nearly as forthcoming with information.
May 30, 2012, 1:07 pm
#67
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HTB.
May 30, 2012, 1:19 pm
#68
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OP: Thanks for sharing the details with us.
I'm honestly surprised that the hotel wasn't more proactive once you brought this to their attention, and I don't understand why they would protect his privacy, although it must be for reasons of liability. Had I been the manager, once he made payment with his own card/cash for the time he had already spent in the hotel, I'd have refused him any additional nights' stays, checked him out of the hotel, and would have had hotel security escort him and his belongings out of the building, hopefully to have a chat with the local police. How is this not theft and fraud?
I'm honestly surprised that the hotel wasn't more proactive once you brought this to their attention, and I don't understand why they would protect his privacy, although it must be for reasons of liability. Had I been the manager, once he made payment with his own card/cash for the time he had already spent in the hotel, I'd have refused him any additional nights' stays, checked him out of the hotel, and would have had hotel security escort him and his belongings out of the building, hopefully to have a chat with the local police. How is this not theft and fraud?
Last edited by youreadyfreddie; May 30, 2012 at 1:26 pm
May 30, 2012, 1:56 pm
#69
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The credit card on file WAS mine. While the credit card was used for a "temporary hold" upon check in, no charges were actually made to the card.
I agree that the hotel dropped the ball by placing the temporary hold on my credit card. I have a feeling the hotel won't ever do that again.
I agree that the hotel dropped the ball by placing the temporary hold on my credit card. I have a feeling the hotel won't ever do that again.
May 30, 2012, 2:25 pm
#70
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I don't know whether he paid for the last night only or for all 5 nights, but I certainly brought the 5 nights to the attention of PC and the hotel.
May 30, 2012, 2:29 pm
#71
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The police did NOT say this wasn't theft or fraud. Just that I was NOT the victim, because PC will make me whole by redepositing my points. I faced the same issue several years ago when a check I had written got stolen in the mail, "washed," and forged. The police would NOT take a report from me because I wasn't the victim because the bank redeposited the funds into my account. The bank was the victim, so any report had to come from the bank. By the way, I do NOT agree that I was not the victim in either of these circumstances.
May 30, 2012, 2:57 pm
#72
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The fact that you will, presumably, be reimbursed is not relevant to the crime being committed.
Since when can only the victim report a crime? I imagine that would cut down on murder investigations.
It's just lazy policing.
May 30, 2012, 3:09 pm
#73
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This is an unfortunate occurrence, and I hope that PC resolves it to the OP's satisfaction.
However, I can't help but chuckle at the thread title: "Unknown person is using my points for a poor value stay." As though the crime is in the poor use of the points rather than in the theft of the points!
However, I can't help but chuckle at the thread title: "Unknown person is using my points for a poor value stay." As though the crime is in the poor use of the points rather than in the theft of the points!
May 30, 2012, 4:04 pm
#74
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This is an unfortunate occurrence, and I hope that PC resolves it to the OP's satisfaction.
However, I can't help but chuckle at the thread title: "Unknown person is using my points for a poor value stay." As though the crime is in the poor use of the points rather than in the theft of the points!
However, I can't help but chuckle at the thread title: "Unknown person is using my points for a poor value stay." As though the crime is in the poor use of the points rather than in the theft of the points!
May 30, 2012, 4:59 pm
#75
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I agree, you were the victim - the points were taken from your account. The hotel would have been paid by the use of your points, so they would not have been the victim here.
The fact that you will, presumably, be reimbursed is not relevant to the crime being committed.
Since when can only the victim report a crime? I imagine that would cut down on murder investigations.
It's just lazy policing.
The fact that you will, presumably, be reimbursed is not relevant to the crime being committed.
Since when can only the victim report a crime? I imagine that would cut down on murder investigations.
It's just lazy policing.