You're past the 6 month limit for disputing with Chase, but as you have a printed statement where Marriott claims they reversed the charges, you have a clear case against Marriott if in fact they did not.

I'm confused, however, why your cards would have been charged *before* each stay was completed. Were they pre-paid rates? If so, you can't change to a GC after and they should have never stated that your charges would be reversed. Or, are you confusing card authorizations with card charges? Upon check-in for a non-pre-paid rate, your card will be authorized but not charged. They won't "reverse" this - they just won't charge you if you pay with GC. Do the statements you have literally say they reversed charges, or just that your CC won't be charged?

The prudent thing to do if you're worried in the least. I still never worry, knowing that my CC authorization at check-in is valid payment, so no matter what I do after, I can't be accused of not paying if I walk out, telling them to charge my GC on their own time, if given hassles/delays with my GC at check-out. If I were ever double-charged, I'd contact the corporate, show them both charges, and ask for written confirmation that the CC will be reversed. I've had to do this a couple times, not because they wouldn't accept my GC, but because of error. In the event my charges weren't actually reversed, as cleome apparently experienced, I'd use that written confirmation as proof to while filing a chargeback with the bank well in advance of the 6 month limit.

Marriott gift cards
 

Thinking about using marriott gift cards to pay for my upcoming stays for plat challenge, since I can get united miles by buying a bunch of them. My question is there any drawback to using the giftcards? Meaning are they accepted at pretty much all marriott properties? My travel will be focused on California, Nevada and Arizona and I would hate to buy the gift cards and then end up having to pay with my credit card for stays (I understand I will still need the credit card to hold the reservation etc).

No problems whatsoever using them anywhere. Once in awhile you will get a desk clerk that isn't that familiar with redeeming them, and it will take an extra 5-15 minutes or so, but they eventually figure it out.

No problem in the US - it's easy and I used them in CA and AZ back in Feb. it takes like 5 minutes to get it done. However if you are paying with prepaid rate, your credit card may have been deducted already and that you may need to tell the FD if they can reverse the charge and put the charge on your GC.

I would do what you're thinking about doing, so you have my blessing.

However, in the opinion of TSMRSRNE, there may be more desk clerk perturbation than is indicated by the preceding responses. She was trying to use a card at more than one Marriott property in the Boston area (all of which shall remain nameless, because I'm hating on SPG this week, not Marriott) and was flatly refused. Now, anyone who knows my wife and values his or her own life, refuses her nothing. But she spared them her wrath anyway (go figure) and was eventually able to use said card at a NYC area Marriott.

RNE, my point being: there may be more befuddlement than you want to experience.

Does anyone have experience using Marriott GCs in Dubai?

Yes. The hotel tried and tried at checkout, but ultimately failed, to charge my $800+ bill to a vacation card in March 2013. They wrote down the card number and promised to keep trying after I was gone. A couple of weeks later, a charge came through on my Marriott VISA, instead. I wasn't too happy about that, but what could I do?

Bruce

I also had this happen just after they changed over to the new system, but a few days after checking out I received an e-mail from the property that they had called MI and found out the right processing code (unlike entering it as a Visa debit) and thereafter had no problem processing the charge (as I recall I had about $700 on the card w a $900 bill for which they charged my Visa card $200 and kept the travel card until they could figure out how to process it)....

In case anyone reading this is planning to use a GiftCard...

My two rules are to email the property ahead of time and print the email stating they will accept the GiftCard and ask for the card to be charged when you check in. This gives the hotel the duration of your stay to correct any issues, as opposed to when you are rushing to get out of the hotel and to the airport.

I actually started the process the night before, but it didn't help. The hotel staff were really great about the whole matter, but they just couldn't figure it out, even after I left. For a while, I wondered if my stay was free, but then the VISA charge appeared.

I had a similar issue at the Courtyard in San Salvador last month. After 27 days, the charge finally went through on the vacation card.

Bruce

I like this idea!

This is nice, too, but if you have any incidentals, they can't charge for them until known.

Of course, as you always have to authorize a CC before you can enter your room, you can always limit your wait time upon checkout to 0 minutes if you'd like... you've already guaranteed payment. The risk is the need to appeal (and in the worst case scenario, charge back) in the event they screw up and charge your CC instead of your GC. But you never have to wait if you're okay with the risk of needing to correct and error later.

Here's something strange (at least to me)... Back in October, I had booked JW Marriott Cancun for Christmas week and the Cancellation policy stated this:

"Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until Friday, November 29, 2013 (22 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 1,162.80 USD if you must cancel after this deadline. If you have made a prepayment, we will retain all or part of your prepayment. If not, we will charge your credit card. This fee equals your room charge plus tax for all the nights of your reservation."

Well, we are really looking forward to the trip, so no worries about having to cancel. But, looking through my credit card charges, I found that they have gone ahead and charged the full amount on Dec 9th! Way before arrival date of Dec 21st. This is not just a hold, a full charge. Is this normal practice for such resorts? I have never seen such action by a hotel before.

I was planning on buying some gift cards at Staples using my Ink and paying for the stay. Can I still do that? Any suggestions?

Also another related question -- what are the chances of Gold elite getting an upgrade on check-in? Thanks in advance.

What rate did you book with? A prepaid rate, by chance?

I don't believe it is a prepaid rate. I booked on 10/31, it has been charged to credit card on 12/9, the stay starts on 12/21.

Here are the Rate Rules that I saved, in its entirety:
"Rate Rules
Marriott Rewards Member Exclusive Offer, includes buffet breakfast for 2 adults daily at Sedona Grill, non-refundable if cancelled less than 22 days before arrival, based upon availability, roundtrip airport transportation, see Rate Rules

Additional Information
Marriott Rewards Member's Special Offer
Offer includes
- Breakfast buffet for two adults
- Transportation for 2 adults to and from the Airport (a surcharge for additional guests does apply).
- 25 percent off Spa treatments at the JW Marriott Cancun Spa
(Discount only valid for treatments of 50 mins or longer, not valid for promotions or packages)
- 25 percent off food and beverages at any restaurant at the JW Marriott Cancun
- Guests will be contacted by Vacation Planning for
transportation arrangements within 3 days after booking is made

Holding Your Reservation
We will need a credit card number to reserve your room.

Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until November 29, 2013 (22 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee if you must cancel after this deadline.
If you have made a prepayment, we will retain all or part of your prepayment. If not, we will charge your credit card.
This fee equals your room charge plus tax for all the nights of your reservation."

It's much more difficult to get the hotel to charge back the card than it is to deal with issues when you are face-to-face. Since I've started having them charge the GiftCard at check-in, though, there haven't been any issues after leaving the hotel.

I usually get GiftCards for the amount of the stay and pay for incidentals out of pocket. Usually my incidentals are very small, and it's a chance to get rid of foreign currency on the way out of the country. I have CL access and never eat in the hotel or use other paid amenities.

When I email ahead of time, the hotel always has an envelope waiting with instructions for whomever checks me in. The hotel may have a dozen or so desk clerks, but only two or three that know how to process gift cards.