SPG Member Account Integrity Restricting Accounts
Jul 1, 2018, 11:50 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2017
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Wait, are you saying you booked 50+ stays for the sole reason that you cancel them to give you leverage in a BRG dispute? Forgive me sir, but thats a real 'richard' move right there. Not just to spg, but to other members who might have not booked a room, or booked a room at a higher rate because of your shenanigans. Ive been in a tiff with spg before, so much so I threatened to walk my business. They eventually took care of me. But acting in bad faith aint cool.
Jul 2, 2018, 12:10 am
#17
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Jul 2, 2018, 12:51 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2016
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they were bookings that are made with the hope that the opening date will be delayed and they can claim compensation (according to the poster)
Jul 2, 2018, 1:06 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: IHG Spire, Marriott
Posts: 574
These sort of actions by Marriott let us understand how they think and operate from the inside.
The way I see it, if the rate plan is cancellable, the property should suck it up. Don't like members asking for compensation? Don't accept reservations until you have a certain opening date. Still concerned? When a date is announced, have a written term on the rate plan, if the hotel opening is delayed, the max compensation is re-accommodating at the same rate + 1k pts. Simple.
It's obviously attractive to book new hotels, and certain group of people do that; bloggers/reviewers, people that enjoy maiden voyage of flights and cruises. There are other ways of guaranteeing opening-day occupancy and holding members liable is definitely not one of them.
The way I see it, if the rate plan is cancellable, the property should suck it up. Don't like members asking for compensation? Don't accept reservations until you have a certain opening date. Still concerned? When a date is announced, have a written term on the rate plan, if the hotel opening is delayed, the max compensation is re-accommodating at the same rate + 1k pts. Simple.
It's obviously attractive to book new hotels, and certain group of people do that; bloggers/reviewers, people that enjoy maiden voyage of flights and cruises. There are other ways of guaranteeing opening-day occupancy and holding members liable is definitely not one of them.
Jul 2, 2018, 2:33 am
#20
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..........there have been reports of invalid guarantee methods being used for rooms reserved at hotels that have announced their grand opening date......some of these reservations are either canceled late or not at all leaving the hotels with no recourse for recovering the lost revenue .............
I don't think you have anything to worry about unless you happened to have a typo when inputting credit card info.
Jul 2, 2018, 4:55 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: IHG Spire, Marriott
Posts: 574
Things happen when you travel, the last thing you need is for the hotel group you're loyal to, suspect you of scam.
Even if the guy cancelled 100% of his cancellable stays, he's within the rules. I'll be less sympathetic if the hotel walks him due of his frequent cancellations but you can't take his account away.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:59 am
#22
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when credit card guarantee is required, and not given, could end up being fraud at some point
is some of this related to award stays? seem to recall some could still require credit card and charge[/QUOTE]
With SPG if you no-show an award stay the property can charge your card rack rate. YOU must make the request to replace that with forfeiting points instead and wait for the refund.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:45 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Wait, are you saying you booked 50+ stays for the sole reason that you cancel them to give you leverage in a BRG dispute? Forgive me sir, but thats a real 'richard' move right there. Not just to spg, but to other members who might have not booked a room, or booked a room at a higher rate because of your shenanigans. Ive been in a tiff with spg before, so much so I threatened to walk my business. They eventually took care of me. But acting in bad faith aint cool.
Point being - one needs to make a new reservation for each new BRG submission. That can add up. I'm assuming that's what this poster was doing - not pulling any "moves."
when credit card guarantee is required, and not given, could end up being fraud at some point
With SPG if you no-show an award stay the property can charge your card rack rate. YOU must make the request to replace that with forfeiting points instead and wait for the refund.
With SPG if you no-show an award stay the property can charge your card rack rate. YOU must make the request to replace that with forfeiting points instead and wait for the refund.
One the second point - you are absolutely correct. I have had to no show once for an award stay due to a medical issue. The property never charged me and kept the points. Months later SPG informed me they were supposed to do the reverse - and given they didn't, SPG refunded my points (which they should have anyways given the medical issue was caused in another SPG hotel...but European hotels are difficult to deal with on matters like this, I found out).
Jul 2, 2018, 8:06 am
#24
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Remember, I said "card not given" then there's no way to do a pre-auth, and I doubt drastic action would be taken for a single or even a few events. If it's looking like a chronic occurrence then some research is appropriate. Some properties have systems in place to adjust rates and availability based upon current sales and having someone making many bookings "just in case" should raise a red flag for someone to take a look.
Jul 2, 2018, 8:22 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Remember, I said "card not given" then there's no way to do a pre-auth, and I doubt drastic action would be taken for a single or even a few events. If it's looking like a chronic occurrence then some research is appropriate. Some properties have systems in place to adjust rates and availability based upon current sales and having someone making many bookings "just in case" should raise a red flag for someone to take a look.
Jul 2, 2018, 8:33 am
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 301
There were changes made to the BRG program in the last few weeks that make getting a claim approved much harder. And they can only review reservations made and claims submitted within 24 hours of doing so, but they often take longer to reply.
Point being - one needs to make a new reservation for each new BRG submission. That can add up. I'm assuming that's what this poster was doing - not pulling any "moves."
Point being - one needs to make a new reservation for each new BRG submission. That can add up. I'm assuming that's what this poster was doing - not pulling any "moves."
The hotel is supposed to take care of the pre-auth and cancel the reservation if it doesn't work out. A person making a hotel reservation is guilty of fraud? Really? Ugh.
In fact my cc issuer would probably flag and decline a preauthorization if my cc is being physically used in one place and a hotel on the other side of the world tries to preauthorize it.
Hotels can charge the cancellation penalty only if, and when, a reservation is cancelled after the cancellation deadline. No-shows have their own rules and, depending on the t&c, may lead to a charge for the full amount of the booking.
One the second point - you are absolutely correct. I have had to no show once for an award stay due to a medical issue. The property never charged me and kept the points. Months later SPG informed me they were supposed to do the reverse - and given they didn't, SPG refunded my points (which they should have anyways given the medical issue was caused in another SPG hotel...but European hotels are difficult to deal with on matters like this, I found out).
Jul 2, 2018, 10:07 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
It is so evident what I was talking about, that I didn’t even bother to dignify the comment you cite with a reply. Meanspiritidness deserves no response.
Hotels can charge the cancellation penalty only if, and when, a reservation is cancelled after the cancellation deadline. No-shows have their own rules and, depending on the t&c, may lead to a charge for the full amount of the booking.
True. However, cancelled award stays are charged for the applicable SPG50 rate, not RACK as was mentioned in the post you cited.
Hotels can charge the cancellation penalty only if, and when, a reservation is cancelled after the cancellation deadline. No-shows have their own rules and, depending on the t&c, may lead to a charge for the full amount of the booking.
True. However, cancelled award stays are charged for the applicable SPG50 rate, not RACK as was mentioned in the post you cited.
Absolutely agree on when they should charge the cancel penalty.
I always wondered how they calculated the forfeiture amount on award stays as it frequently didn't correspond with BAR I was seeing for the room type I booked. SPG50 makes perfect sense - but I assume this is "frozen" for the room type one books, and not increased based on an upgrade? (I certainly wouldn't want to pay SPG50 on a cancelled award complimentarily upgraded to a suite!)
Jul 2, 2018, 11:27 am
#28
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and my comment was if people are getting around this to never pay requirement
if hotels have issues, they need to improve their policies
we have already seen cancellations being lengthened, hotels can and will do more whenever they feel need / ability
Jul 2, 2018, 11:56 am
#29
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Jul 2, 2018, 12:33 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2017
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