Advance purchase question
 

I apologize if this has been answered already but I searched the Marriott forum and did not find a clear answer.

I am trying to book an advance purchase room and do a LNF so I'd like to make sure I could still cancel if it is not approved.

The cancellation policy is the following: (bolding emphasis mine)

Rate Rules
Advance Purchase rate, wireless Internet, deposit required, see Rate Rules
Additional Information
- 1 night Room and Tax due at time of booking. No cancellation
or changes allowed.
Holding Your Reservation
We will need a credit card prepayment to reserve your room.
To ensure that you receive this special rate, we will charge your credit card a prepayment of 77.97 USD (your room charge plus tax for 1 night[s]) on September 22, 2013.
Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until October 3, 2013 (1 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 77.97 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 1 night(s) of your room charge plus tax.

I am unclear about what happens if I cancel after the 22nd when the prepayment is charged but before October 3rd. Do I get a full refund on the prepayment? If that is the case, I don't see the difference between this and a cancelable rate?

I appreciate the help in advance.

First, be sure to keep a copy of the terms stating the cancellation date. Secondly, I have found many properties do not charge my card until the day of or day before arrival. Rarely do I see a charge immediately following a reservation.

My guess is the person loading the rates is selecting text that they have used before and may only make additions without regard for what is already there. If there is a conflict in terms, generally the most lenient terms will apply, although you may have to argue your case if they don't do that to begin with.

In this case, IF they do charge at time of reservation and you choose to cancel in time, they should refund to your credit card. If not, dispute the charge and show your confirmation stating the later cancellation date.

Marriott Advance Purchase 30 Day rate
 

Some replies already in this thread to my question but still I would like to ask.
I post it here so that someone in Google finds this too.
I booked a room from Japan with Advance Purchase 30 Day rate four days ago.
A stay will be after couple of months. Cancellation fee below is one night rate inc. taxes.
I thought it was a advance purchase/ prepay rate, but still no charge to my credit card.
Do they charge total stay at the time of booking or later?
Also I thought that my rate is not possible to cancel.
If I cancel is the fee 1 night or total stay amount?
I will not cancel it anyway, just want some info about this rate.
Rate rules for my booking are a bit confusing:

Rate Rules

Advance Purchase 30 Day rate, see Rate Rules

Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until Xxxx XX, 2014 (2 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 22,210. JPY 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 1 night of your room charge plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).

Modifying Your Reservation
Please note that a change in the length or dates of your reservation may result in a rate change.
Your current rate may be available if your modified reservation still includes:
A reservation made 30 day(s) before your expected arrival.
Eligible charges from this stay will be credited to your Marriott Rewards account.

Funny you mention about not having an immediate charge....I just canceled a reservation that required a deposit. It wasn't advance purchase. Reservation made in August. Got the notice of deposit refund. I checked all my CC statements-never was charged the deposit.