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Avoiding the no-show fee at hotels

Avoiding the no-show fee at hotels

Old Oct 3, 2013, 10:46 am
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Avoiding the no-show fee at hotels

This strategy can be used to reserve a hotel room/rate and avoid being charged a no-show fee in case you don't show up or cancel the reservation before the free cancellation date limit, for example because you are travelling in "last minute" or unplanned mode.

The technique requires a hotel that doesn't charge your credit card at the time of booking. Use a prepaid or virtual credit card with a low balance (ex: 3$) to make the booking, the low balance is required in case the hotel performs a temporary authorization on the card to verify that it is valid before confirming the reservation.

Now if you don't show up or are unable to cancel the reservation before the free cancellation threshold, the hotel won't be able to actually charge the card due to its low balance.

Has anyone ever resorted to this technique before ?
Unfortunately more and more hotels and booking websites charge the credit card at the time of booking

Last edited by MasterGeek; Oct 3, 2013 at 11:01 am
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 10:51 am
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And you still owe the bill.

1) Think they'll let you stay there again?

2) They can pursue other means of collecting the money.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 10:55 am
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 10:56 am
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You're serious? Wow.

You will still owe the balance. They'll pursue it.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 10:57 am
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Perhaps you could use a stolen credit card instead?
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:01 am
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It's the hotel's fault, they shouldn't place such restrictive terms on us customers. Years ago it was possible to reserve a hotel without providing credit card details, now every business is resorting to taking a hold of our money and charging penalty fees in case of cancellation, why ? They want more and more profits at the expense of consumer's convenience. All airline tickets must be fully refundable!

Last edited by MasterGeek; Oct 3, 2013 at 11:10 am
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:07 am
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Originally Posted by MasterGeek
It's the hotel's fault, they shouldn't place such restrictive terms on us customers. Years ago it was possible to reserve a hotel without providing credit card details, now every business is resorting to taking a hold of our money and charging penalty fees in case of cancellation, why ? They want more and more profits at consumer's convenience. All airline tickets must be fully refundable!
Book fully refundable hotel rooms then. If you choose to book a room with a cancellation or no show fee, you are bound by those terms.

Airlines and hotels both offer discount airfares with restrictions on cancellations and changes. If all tickets/rooms had to be fully refundable the prices would be much higher.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:08 am
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Originally Posted by MasterGeek
It's the hotel's fault, they shouldn't place such restrictive terms on us customers.
Too funny! Do you have any good techniques to get out of airline change fees?
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:09 am
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Another option is to never travel. You will NEVER be charged for a no show or changing a reservation.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:12 am
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Originally Posted by nux
Book fully refundable hotel rooms then. If you choose to book a room with a cancellation or no show fee, you are bound by those terms.

Airlines and hotels both offer discount airfares with restrictions on cancellations and changes. If all tickets/rooms had to be fully refundable the prices would be much higher.
I can't afford to pay such rip-off rates for refundable reservations.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:17 am
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Originally Posted by MasterGeek
I can't afford to pay such rip-off rates for refundable reservations.
Then be very glad you have the option to make cheap inflexible bookings.

If all hotel bookings were refundable, you wouldn't have any cheap rates.

If you want flexibility, pay for it.
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Old Oct 3, 2013, 11:28 am
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Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
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On that correct note, I am locking this thread.
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