Check Cashing Benefit
 

When vacationing, I regularly use the check cashing benefit. Many times when I indicate to the desk clerk that I need to have a check cashed, I get the canned response, "how much, as we are low on cash". Typically I flash my plat card, and the tone immediately changes to "Why, Of Course Mr. Sullivan".

I was at the Ren. Concourse (Usually a Favorite Hotel, but this trip had a rocky stay - for another post.) I approached the desk prior to checking out and got the whole canned response. They indicated that they could not cash a check...blah blah. I presented the Drivers License and Plat card, and still no dice. So I indicated that I would have to invoke the platnum guarantee, to which I got dumb looks. I asked for a manager who gave me the same song and dance.

Finally the $200 check was cashed. (Imagine if it has been $500!)

1> Anyone else having problems such as this?
2> Anyone know what the penalty is for can't/won't cash a check?

I have never tried cashing a check at a marriott but as a Platinum I would be very unhappy if I received the repsonses you indicated you received. I have always viewed it as a perk if I really needed it.

I have always thought that this check cashing capability is nice, but I haven't carried a check book with me in years! :( I've never needed it, but I wonder if they'd give a cash advance on a credit card?

Although I would also be upset (and as a Plat have never had trouble cashing a check), I didn't think there was a "guarantee" here per se, such as would be with the case with something like room type, welcome gift, etc.

If anyone knows of anything in the T&C's that defines a "Guarantee" for check cashing, please let us know.

i have never had a problem checking cash at marriotts
but i was at the renaissance portsmouth in may
i wanted to cash a check and they told me they would only cash a minimum of $100

A "minimum" of $100 or a maximum?

Bruce

song and dance
 

I hate this song and dance stuff...am i getting older and less tolerant, too busy to 'play"...i dunno. Mostly lately haven't had problems cashing a check, but i will never stay at the LAX Renaissance (now renamed something new but i don't care) because of the refusal to cash a check a few years ago...and have stayed around the corner at the LAX Marriott 25 times since then...so it definitely cost them a lot of business.

Unfortunately most business's aren't allowed to by their agreement with the credit card companies

My personal understand is the same as your own

Checkbook, what is a checkbook? No seriously, I also do not carry this thing called a checkbook, (but my wife does)...which is why this always happens when vactioning.

Here is the actual verbiage from: https://marriott.com/rewards/terms/elite.mi (bottom of the page)
So basically its a toothless "Privilege" that they don't have to honor. (Kind of like "Priviledges" #2 & #3 - 10% off Courtyard / Springhill Fri/Sat Nights. or 10% off the giftshop.

Your thoughts?

Seems like they must have that script at the front desk. The only time I don't hear that is when I'm in a property where the front desk people actually know me.

Yeah...

As posted previously, I ran into this about a year ago at the CY in Oxnard CA.

Like a lot of folks here, I normally don't cash checks while traveling. But on this particular morning, I wanted to save myself a stop at the ATM and cash a $20 check. Unbelievable hassle...."We don't cash checks....blah blah blah. We've never heard of the platinum guarantee....blah blah blah."

I would up going to the ATM up the street anyway. After that, I was thinking Guest Services would probably like me to call them so they could hear about this little episode. Indeed they did! They apologized profusely, said they'd straighten out the hotel in question, and then without my asking, they dumped 10,000 points into my MR account.

To follow up on some of the comments above...

I leave tomorrow morning for Chicago and stay in 3 different hotels on 3 different nights. Between business meeting, a trade show, and driving from and to places that I have never been to before (Yahoo Maps in hand), who has time to find a local offic of my bank...

I also wish to point out that most of the cash needed for travel winds up in the hands of the Marriott employees...bellmen for luggage and packages, housekeepers, valet parkers...and don't forget the newest one - the tip jar at the Starbucks in the lobby of the hotel (like the Renaissance Ohare Suites, Marriott LAX, etc)...

I guess that if i didn't need as much tip money, i wouldn't need to occasionally cash a check...

1. I use it often and I have never had a problem.
2. I can't find a penalty clause any where, so like many other issues with the Marriott web site, it is of little help here.

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