Energy surcharge?
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The sole issue is whether it was disclosed to OP at the time of booking. If not, then it is invalid. Forget the debate about whether it is a good or a bad idea.
Don't waste your time with phone calls. Send a note to Marriott advising that the fee was improperly charged because it was not disclosed (be 100% this was true for your booking) & ask that a refund be iissued in 7 days or a chargeback will be filed. On the 8th day, file the chargeback if you don't at least have an agreement that the property will refund.
Keep it all short and to the point and focus on the disclosure issue, not your views of the appropriateness of such fees.
Don't waste your time with phone calls. Send a note to Marriott advising that the fee was improperly charged because it was not disclosed (be 100% this was true for your booking) & ask that a refund be iissued in 7 days or a chargeback will be filed. On the 8th day, file the chargeback if you don't at least have an agreement that the property will refund.
Keep it all short and to the point and focus on the disclosure issue, not your views of the appropriateness of such fees.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Don't waste your time with phone calls. Send a note to Marriott advising that the fee was improperly charged because it was not disclosed (be 100% this was true for your booking) & ask that a refund be iissued in 7 days or a chargeback will be filed. On the 8th day, file the chargeback if you don't at least have an agreement that the property will refund.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 698
Are you suggesting that its possible to charge back just the fee? Because if OP charges back the entire room charge, then your advice will likely lead to nullification of their Bonvoy account and any value it may hold. Marriott are pretty serious about this sort of thing from what I understand.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 378
#20
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: I've gone underground!
Posts: 4,564
I personally think any "fee" should be optional for the use of a specific service. I.e. "checked bag fee" or "parking fee". If I don't have the option, then it's part of the cost of doing business... which means it's part of the price of the product. I.e. airfare or nightly room charge. Mandatory fees are unethical for many reasons, including artificially low price listing on reservation sites, making me pay them for my "free" room, and because they're completely made up. Why not have fees for labor, LED bulbs, toilet paper, sewage, and linens? What's part of the room?
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
The discussion is undisclosed markups because reasons (greed), and so I fail to see any justification for advocating the banning of anyone in this thread. Its been clarified that partial chargebacks are a possibility, which I wasnt clear about and hence my cautionary post/question. It seems like a viable approach if it comes to that (if standing on principle is deemed worthy of the effort by OP), as is public shaming on every possible review platform available to said OP...
#23
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, United Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,269
#24
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
Are you suggesting that its possible to charge back just the fee? Because if OP charges back the entire room charge, then your advice will likely lead to nullification of their Bonvoy account and any value it may hold. Marriott are pretty serious about this sort of thing from what I understand.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Platinum, MR Gold, Aeroplan 25K
Posts: 142
#26
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
it costs money for water/sewer too. And to pay employees. And insurance. Etc. Should guests reimburse a hotel for their expenses and pay them revenue on top of it?
#27
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
#28
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 378
#29
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 42mi from AMS
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott LT Au, Hilton C, IHG PtA
Posts: 576
Outside of that enveloppe you'll find your proposed option(s) (more unethical, more than not criminal in civilized jurisdictions and more typical of vultures or scum).
#30
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
OOOOOHHHH ! Don't suggest that. Otherwise they will charge us on a COST PLUS basis. There are a raft of "experts" dealing / representing vendors to the Defense Dept.