Extra points for "complimentary upgrade"?
 

Have had this happen twice this week so wanted to find out if it's a common occurrence and at least alert everyone to it. Have had two RI stays booked on points and both properties upgraded me before arrival (without my asking). However when I check the reservation online, it shows that those upgrades come at a cost of extra points. The point balance remains the same (as it was with the original booking) but I don't want those points later coming out of my account. Anyone else have any experience with this?

What did you originally book (a studio and then got upgraded to a one-bedroom, etc.)?

Absolutely and always at RI's in my experience. Last time Marlboro, MA last Thanksgiving. Booked a 1BR but asked in the comments for a PLT upgrade to a 2BR. Got it but they took an additional 5000 pts per night after the fact.

This property also forgot my welcome gift, denied me a 2pm late checkout so I could shower the boys before a 6hr ride home (just cited it in the late checkout thread) and charged my card $32 in those internal housekeeping fees. Took 2 emails to the GM to get it it fixed and he didn't bother to respond to the other issues. I didn't force it.

What am I missing here? I thought Platinum upgrades, while not guaranteed, were not charged for in any way if they were given. I guess I am asking for further input on this because I have never experienced what happened to you. While I realize that we all pick and choose our battles, this would be one I'd raise the roof about. It is, in any event, inexcusable, to take the points after the fact and without prior notification. On that basis alone, even if some obscure T & C allows them to deduct points for the upgrade, I would still fight to get my points back. This is no different than arriving for a regular paid stay for a one room at x dollars, then having the front desk out of it's "goodwill"
put you in a suite, and then charge your credit card the difference without telling you. In that case at least you would discover the extra charges at checkout and could complain then and perhaps dispute the charges. But still I wouldn't let go of my points in your situation. Hopefully someone else here can chime in on this and correct me if I am wrong. In any event, I feel this was a bad business practice on the property's part.

I find it outrageous that a property would charge for a platinum member's request for a complimentary upgrade. The T&Cs of Marriott Reward membership guarantee a complimentary upgrade (if available, excluding suites) for gold and platinum members.

After talking with the front desk at the hotel I'm at now (RI Atlanta Midtown/17th St), Marriott Platinum Reservations, and Marriott Platinum Customer Care, here is the general consensus we came to. It is a glitch in the FOSSE system (I've never worked with this system before so I'm not familiar with it) that tags the reservation as a point upgrade in the MARSHA system (thus showing as such online), however, when the front desk clerks issues the upgrade, FOSSE does NOT indicate to the clerk that the upgrade is costing additional points. In fact, the clerk even agreed today that if the system ever states that additional points will be deducted, they never issue the upgrade. The front desk manager acknowledged that if the additional points do come out of my account then they will contact Marriott Rewards and have them credited back to my account ^. I'll post back and let everyone know what happens...

Yes, I've booked studio rooms and the hotels have upgraded me to 1BR or better (also of note, I have not asked for these upgrades, the properties have done it pre-arrival)...

Note that upgrades from studios to 1 or 2 bedrooms at RI and TPS are a specific exclusion from the upgrade benefit. http://www.marriott.com/rewards/memb...ts/platinum.mi

Not totally on point. The link merely says that upgrades are not guaranteed. It does not state that when upgrades are granted, that points will be deducted for the upgrade.

Just intended to point out that for whatever reason, Marriott decided to treat upgrades at RI and TPS differently than at all of its other properties. Not intended to justify unilateral deduction of points.