Question about debit cards and motels?

Steven G asked:


Ok If I check into a best western and the price of the room is 92 dollars is that all they will charge to my debit card? I’m confused because I heard they charge much more than that or something to that nature and they put a hold on my funds or something can someone explain it to me?

Todd

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2 Responses to “Question about debit cards and motels?”

1. Shelley L Says:
   July 28th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

   Danny

   There are usually two types of additional charges and hold.

   First, you’ll pay room taxes, surcharges and any mandatory gratuities that the specific hotel collects.

   Secondly, they put a HOLD on you card based on how many day, how many people any what your expected use would be for incidentals.

   If this is just an overnite stay in a business area..it’s likely to be only $100 or so. If you are going to a resort location or somewhere where it’s likely that you would put your bar bill, restaurant charges or spa services on your room charge.. then it could be $250 or more.

   Depends on the type of hotel and services available.

   If you use a DEBIT card, the amount will be taken from your account, and then a refund processed . which means that those funds are unuseable for the time it take for the refund to be charged back to your account. This can be a week or so.

   It’s better to use a charge card.. or even cash as your room deposit.

2. A A Says:
   July 29th, 2009 at 2:58 am

   Brent

   You generally want to use a credit card and not a debit card, if there is any dispute with services they try to charge you for that you didn’t use your pretty much out of luck with debit but can get charges taken back by your cc company.

   Also, be careful when booking a hotel with a debit card, your room may only be $92 but they will probably put a hold on your card for about $500, they won’t charge it but that money will be tied up, basically just incase you trash the room, run up a big phone bill, order a bunch of expensive porn movies on the tv, etc. If you only have a couple hundred in your account this could tie up all your money.

   Final thing is even if your room is only $91 there are taxes and other fees often charged. If your staying in Chicago they have ridiculously high taxes on hotels and tourist type things. It’s pretty stupid if you ask me that hurts our tourism part of the economy but that’s mayor daily for you.

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