Policy on deposits/pre-authrorization for damages, incidentals etc
 

Is there a Marriot-wide policy on how hotels should be dealing with deposits for incidentals, etc?

Basically, am in the UK currently and when I got to this Couryard branded hotel , they said I need to pay a desposit for damages, incidentals ,etc which I get but the way it was processed isn't how I feel like US Marriot hotels do it. Basically, my credit card has been charged the rate + this deposit as one line item (one charge for everything). It's been 3 days since I have checked out of the hotel and there's been no adjustment or anything that I can see and have asked my bank about it and they said it's still just the same amount that I was charged on site. I feel like in the US it always comes up as 2 seperate line items (one for the room charge and then seperately a pre-authorization/deposit) - and the pre-authorization/deposit one always just shows as pending but then drops off or adjusts to reflect an amount that was charged

The other weird thing is I have an invoice after checking out (the one that's emailed) and on that as a line item it's showing 'Refund' and then in the amount it's showing the deposit amount so the final total at the bottom is just the room rate + taxes that I should be charged

I hope this makes sense and anyone can shed some light for me. Thank you

No. Every property has wide latitude to within reason do/authorize what they want and why shouldn't they? At the end of the day, it's not Marriott's hotel, it's XYZ franchisee's hotel. Processes and amounts are 100% up to the mangement company or local management.

Sounds like they refunded the deposit. Just give it a week and I bet it comes through.

I personally don't stress on these things as the payment is always on a credit card and always comes back. If I had paid on a debit card (a terrible idea I feel), or needed to pay cash, this would be more of a concern.

I'd just wait ten days and it should all be sorted out. Likely the US Courtyard is slow at submitting their real payment charge slip internationally for some reason - but even in the US when I pay at a restaurant I pay USD100, and then 5 days later it sorts itself out to be the USD125 including tip that I'd written down on the slip (!). I would only be unhappy in the scenario:
1. Charge say USD1000
2. Refund, say USD500

As in this case you'd be typically paying the FX charges twice, so it would really be costing you money for having the deposit, then I would complain.

The only UK Marriott I have experienced this was Courtyard LCY. They charged £50 to my card for incidentals. I spent around £37 for dinner and the remainder was promptly refunded to my card on check out day. A little back to front but all good.

It is normal for every Marriott I have been to both in the UK and overseas to block off more on your holding card especially so if you wish to charge incidentals to your room. Usually its around £50-100 on top of the stay rate depending on how long my stay is. Once the final bill is through, only the actual total is charged on my card.

Just think of it like filling up with petrol - your card is "charged" more than what you fill up with usually, but it is just the actual final total that comes off your account.

If it is still showing as a pending charge, it might be worth giving your bank/credit card provider a call.

Even in the US - if it's on points they normally hold like $50 per night or something like that on my card. Cash - I think it's the nightly rate + $50.

That's why the best way to pay is to check-in with a CC and then pay with your cheapest forex card (for me it's the Revolut card).