What do they check for a corporation code
 

I need to know what they check for a corporation code. I'm only 21 and this is the first time I ever go to a hotel. I used a code online and it brought the cost down from $250 to $115 a night. It is a code for citibank. I am poor and owe child support so a brotha cant afford $250. How likely will they be to check for a id? Or what else can count for a id? Can I print something out on my computer? I'm straight poor so F*** ethics. I just want a straight dope answer.
Thanks

They might ask for corp id or they might not. If you've got it (corp biz card, corp pic id, etc), you won't have a problem. If you don't, then you'll be charged rack rate (aka, the $250).

Another alternative is to book a hotel via Priceline. Many times hotels can be booked very cheaply via Priceline, and you won't have to worry about producing a corp i.d.

There is a forum on FT called Budget Travel. You can get information there re: how to book via Priceline. You won't earn hotel points or night credit via stays booked on PL, but it doesn't sound as those are important to you as getting a reasonable rate.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/budget-travel-597/

Good luck!

Cheers.

There is a distinct possibility that you will be asked to show Citibank employee identification, such as an employee ID card or badge. Looking like a college student instead of an experienced banker will increase the chance of being asked.

Someone without proper identification may be required to pay the full, undiscounted rate.

Technically, it's fraud to claim employment falsely to get a contract rate. But I've never heard of anyone being charged with fraud under these circumstances.

Is there a Motel 6 or a Knights Inn anywhere nearby? Those might be more suitable.

There is some thats cheaper but they are in bad areas of town. but I cant carry my gun anymore though cuz im on probation and I want to be safe

Do go to the Budget Travel forum, post the city & dates you're looking for, and ask for help in getting a good hotel at an inexpensive Priceline (PL) price. You don't need to go into the guns/probation (unless you wish to, but it's not really anyone's bizness).

Just say it's your first time staying at a hotel, you're on an extremely limited budget, you don't want to stay at the Motel 6, etc, because they're not in safe areas, but would like a decent hotel in a certain area of the city. Tell them you asked on the Marriott forum, were recommended to the BT forum, you're new to both traveling & FT, and ask them for assistance & to be kind since you're new to this (sometimes folk can be snarky, as they've forgotten what it's like to be a 'newbie').

I think you'll have better luck w/ a Priceline booking in terms of getting a low rate than you will trying to pretend to be a Citi employee.

Good luck.

Cheers.

I was staying on a regular basis at a Marriott using an incorrect corp code (the corp had provided a list of valid employees) and I received a letter from the accounting department asking for the difference in costs and my upcoming reservations we put "on hold' until this was settled.
Fortunately my project had a valid corp rate so it worked out.
But yes, I've seen this matter.

Are you a AAA member (or could you become one quickly)? The AAA code usually saves a little money, sometimes a lot, and it's available to anybody. It's also almost never checked, if you want to gamble.

Bruce

I think the likeliness of being checked for ID is in how you present yourself. If you present yourself as someone who could be a Citibank employee, then you probably won't be asked.


Usually, when they ask for ID, they want ID. But if you just have a letter that says "Congratulations on accepting your offer of employment at Citibank, welcome to new employee orientation..." and that's why you don't have your ID, then maybe they'd accept that instead.


Actually, forget my above answers. That's what you want to say if they ask for ID. Since the person asking you doesn't own the hotel, I'm sure they'll agree with you and let it slide. Maybe if you're extra suave, they'll even give you the room for free. Word.


If you don't have ID, don't try to scam as if you did. You'll get caught. Life's hard, suck it up and do the right thing. Learn from your mistakes, don't repeat them. Good luck getting your gibs.

1. Why would they give you a corporate rate when you don't meet the qualifications?

2. Not only won't you get the corporate rate, but you will be offered the rack rate which will be at least twice the rate you found without a discount. If that's $250, be prepared for $500.

They aren't really as stupid as you may think. Cancel your reservation and start over at a location within your means.

The OP has a legitimate question. What type of i.d. is asked for if booking a corporate rate? It's not the first time the question has been asked on this forum, nor will it be the last.

From the responses (some of which are more polite than others), the OP now knows the type he'll need or that he might be asked to pay rack rate. He's also been told that Priceline is an option to reduce hotel costs & which forum might give him additional information on how to book Priceline. I think he would have more success with that than trying a LNF scenario.

His personal life is not our concern other than it helps us to understand why he's looking for a less expensive rate & why he doesn't want to stay in a bad section of town. I would hope that my fellow FTers would respond with information that's helpful or, if they feel they don't have information that would be helpful or can't post without being snarky, that they'd just refrain from posting & move to a different thread where they can provide help information in a friendly fashion.

Cheers.

Business card or company ID.

BTW, whats a gibs?

Agreed. I book Govt rate for every stay and I would say that I have been asked for Gov't ID only a handful of times. Each time though I think it has been when I am getting a rate much less than their normal rate (Like JW Denver for $149 vs normal rate of $300+). I am never asked for it when I am booking gov rate and it's $149 vs a normal rate of like $169.

Troll.

It definitely depends on who you get at the front desk as well, I would believe. One time I was staying on a AAA rate (a year and a half ago) and was asked for my AAA card by someone being trained - at that time I was never asked for proof so I was a bit surprised. The trainer then told the employee that she should always ask for it but if the customer is Platinum, don't worry if they don't have their card. I'm wondering if it this could be similar to a corporate rate. Needless to say, I had my card and was Platinum so in that scenario I was covered.

Also, as Pooker asked, what is a gibs?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gib

I don't quite know why OP needs a hotel room for them though.

I occasionally get asked for my AAA card. The first time was when I was in the UK & I had left it at home because I knew I wouldn't be driving. They gave me the 'one-time exception' (probably helped I was elite status), but ever since then if I book a AAA rate even if overseas I bring the card w/ me. The Prague Marriott insisted on copying the card; I insisted they had the right to look at it in order to verify it was valid/me, but that they weren't going to copy the AAA card/it's not Marriott policy to do so.

Cheers.

Greenery!!!! Where you been, man?

Larger corporations often give employees corporate credit cards, which makes it very obvious that we qualify for the corporate rate. Only twice have I been asked to show a business card and one time the desk clerk actually went on line to check that my company, "ABcdefgh" was actually part of the "AB" family of companies. We use the "AB" rates.

So am I the only one thinking this is a BS post

No, the 'on probation' part gave it away.

Why would someone gain pleasure from posting unnecessarily? I'm not commenting on this OP, rather the idea in general.

My read is it's a real post by someone trying to be incognito.

Who cares? It's an unremarkable question on a subject that many, many people wonder about. And we've answered it. What's the point of getting inside the OP's head?

Bruce
Moderator

When I used to work for F50 & F500 companies we used our personal cards & submitted for reimbursement. One of the F50s eventually implemented a corp card, which became problematic when they hadn't paid the bill on time & the card was declined :D I do think some of the larger corps have corp c.c.'s, but my guess is there are still many that don't. I had corp id (needed to enter the buildings where I worked), but I left that at home when I was on the road. So many times the only i.d. I would have, (if asked - never was), would indeed be a biz card or they could have called my boss if it was during working hours.

Cheers.

I think it more likely refers to this (from Wikipedia):

Gibs, short for giblets (pronounced "jiblets"),[1] is a humorous term referring to the variably-sized body parts ("guts"), fragments, and offal produced when non-player characters or game players are damaged or killed in video games. To "gib" one's opponents (pronounced "jib") is to hit them with such force (often with explosives) that they rupture.

Urban Dictionary is your friend tu understanding the linguistic curiosities of the young, hip or urban.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gib

2. Google It .....!
22. Given that the word "chav" has been ruled politically incorrect by the government for fear that these knife wielding hoodlums may become offended, thus the creation of the word "gib" was born. Originating in Cheltenham, the same town that created the word chav (Cheltenham Average), gib is the new way of bypassing political correctness (until it's band) and is an acronym for "Genetically Inferior Beings"...the gibs will never know.

Now that we are suitably off-topic did anyone else see what great rates this code gets at certain RC properties - wow. I won't be using but wish I could.

What is the code?

It's probably not too hard to figure out ;), but corp codes aren't posted publicly in the Marriott forum so if someone posts it the mod will just delete it.

Cheers.

I would just like to mention that I have been asked for my corporate ID. I am in O&G so we get some pretty good rates, especially in Houston. I haven't been asked for a form of proof when using our weekend leisure discounts though since the discount is not too extreme and it is nationwide. I would imagine if you are getting 50% off BAR that they would ask for something.

Yup.

Bruce
Moderator

I am an independent consultant that gets on projects run by big consulting groups. I am NOT an employee of theirs and have no ID. I have been doing this for many years and have never been asked for ID. If I was and had to prove it to get the discount I could not. I am required to get that rate for the project budget. If I didn't get the rate the project manager would call an fix it. I am Platinum so maybe that helps.

BTW what is a GIBS?

I dunno, I am too ADD to go back and look, but I think its a cat without a weiner or something.

A customer once told me to use their rate at the Brooklyn Marriott, which is a few steps from the customer's large office. When I called the hotel, I was told I would need a letter - not an email, but a letter - indicating I qualified for the rate, which was quite good. When I checked in, I was asked to produce the letter and was told the customer had also let the hotel know I was eligible for the rate. Apparently, there had been an issue with people using the customer's rate.

i've been asked for CO ID a number of times already. i work for a USG contractor and our rates match fed GOV rates. there are SubK staff on my project and if they go on work travel, i have them stay on my CO rate but should probably issue them some kind of letter too.