Marriott.com currency rip off on pre-paid rates
Apr 3, 2019, 12:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YOW
Posts: 150
Marriott.com currency rip off on pre-paid rates
Hi Everyone,
I'm a Bonvoy Titanium member and I booked a pre-paid rate at a Meridien in Jaipur India. I happened to look at my credit card statement, and saw that while the rate was in INR but I was charged in USD with a 5% markup. I double checked the rate - it's definitely in INR with no mention of a 'home currency'. The charge was about $20 more than it should be.
I called the elite line and they opened a case. I called back two weeks later -- they were working on it. Called back again three weeks later -- the case had been closed inexplicably, and then the Marriott rep disconnected the line. Called back again, and was randomly transferred to the hotel in India without any explanation. Called back again - was told the hotel refused the refund as it was a pre-paid rate from marriott.com, and that Marriott had no control over it either. Was told to call the corporate office of Marriott if I didn't like the answer. Sigh.
Is this the future? I'm disappointed with this type of service over a small issue. Obviously I'll just open a credit card dispute, but thought I should try resolving it nicely.
Any lawyers out there? I bet you could make a fortune recovering thousands of these authorized dynamic currency conversion fees from Marriott.
I'm a Bonvoy Titanium member and I booked a pre-paid rate at a Meridien in Jaipur India. I happened to look at my credit card statement, and saw that while the rate was in INR but I was charged in USD with a 5% markup. I double checked the rate - it's definitely in INR with no mention of a 'home currency'. The charge was about $20 more than it should be.
I called the elite line and they opened a case. I called back two weeks later -- they were working on it. Called back again three weeks later -- the case had been closed inexplicably, and then the Marriott rep disconnected the line. Called back again, and was randomly transferred to the hotel in India without any explanation. Called back again - was told the hotel refused the refund as it was a pre-paid rate from marriott.com, and that Marriott had no control over it either. Was told to call the corporate office of Marriott if I didn't like the answer. Sigh.
Is this the future? I'm disappointed with this type of service over a small issue. Obviously I'll just open a credit card dispute, but thought I should try resolving it nicely.
Any lawyers out there? I bet you could make a fortune recovering thousands of these authorized dynamic currency conversion fees from Marriott.
Apr 3, 2019, 1:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Apr 3, 2019, 1:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
The other side of this coin: pay in the local currency by card and the rate is correct because the exchange rate is not determined by the hotel; but then you might notice that an entirely different rate is applied for the purposes of crediting points ( presumably this latter rate, disadvantageous to the guest, IS determined by the hotel). Consequence: lower earning of points and lower ( than actual) expenditure in USD for those tracking spend for Ambassador status.
Apr 3, 2019, 2:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,057
If the OP has a receipt in INR but was charged in USD, he should easily win a dispute for the amount of the difference--both MC and Visa prohibit DCC without the cardholder's explicit permission (and Amex prohibits it altogether). For an online booking it's pretty simple--if the receipt was in INR, the charge should've been in INR.
Apr 3, 2019, 4:29 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Apr 3, 2019, 4:40 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,193
If the OP has a receipt in INR but was charged in USD, he should easily win a dispute for the amount of the difference--both MC and Visa prohibit DCC without the cardholder's explicit permission (and Amex prohibits it altogether). For an online booking it's pretty simple--if the receipt was in INR, the charge should've been in INR.
Apr 3, 2019, 7:12 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
I am not sure where you are booking, but IME if you read the terms they clearly say what currency you will be charged in...specifically in the section that has a link down by the cancellation information right before you pay
Apr 3, 2019, 7:31 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA: EXP, 1MM Marriott: Ambassador, LTT
Posts: 407
When booking a reservation on the Marriott website for a European hotel reservation recently I was given the option of paying for the stay in USD or EUR. I had never seen that before and it stopped my in my tracks. I now suspect that I had I chosen USD I would have been secretly charged a DCC fee. If I remember correctly the default was USD and I changed it EUR to specifically to avoid any DCC scams. I wonder if this is what snagged the OP. Has anyone else seen this currency choice when making an online reservation?