Payment issue; unauthorized charge
 

An issue that seems minor, considering the amount of "bonvoyed" experiences. But somehow i still didn't like what happened.

I had two separate pre-paid bookings in Schloss Fuschlsee and Sheraton Jagdhof, Salzburg.

There was an issue with my credit card originally used for the booking, and Schloss Fuschlsee asked me to provide another one. I did that, by updating the card number in the corresponding booking (not in the Marriott profile!). They managed to successfully charge it. Good.

But in a while, Sheraton Jagdhof also charged the same card. I imagine they weren't able to charge the first card (since it was the same one i had used to book Schloss Fuschlsee), but i haven't received any email from them. The question is: how did they get my card number?

I suppose that both hotels are under the same management, or something.

Still, i have only provided my card to Schloss Fuschlsee, not to Sheraton.

Again, it's not a big deal, since i probably would have used this card anyway, but i don't like the approach. What about privacy? I don't store my card details in the Marriott profile and only provide it to a specific hotel to pay for a specific stay. I haven't authorized the hotel to pass my credit card data to another hotel.

Am i off-base?

Two properties are only a few hundred meters apart on adjacent ground. They share same management team and reservation office. They could have been flagged as one property with multiple buildings. I suppose they market them as separate properties so that elites cannot book Sheraton Jagdhof and demand upgrades to Schloss Fuschlsee.:p:D

Also, I don't know what kind of "issue" you have with your old card. Many card issuers, notably Amex, will still process charges against old card by known merchants even if you reported your old card stolen. Charges will be transferred to new card.

Yes. ;)

In this case, it sounds like OP wasn't harmed ("probably would have used this card anyway"). But I agree it's bad practice to charge a card that hasn't been expressly used for the specific stay. What if OP had been close to the credit limit on the alternate card provided? What if the alternate card were a company-issued one, and the second stay was personal?

Exactly, that's my point.