Ways to tell if you have pre-paid your stay?

[Dannyism]

Hi All,

I recently completed a stay at HIX Kissimmee that was booked in November '16 YOUR RATE by IHG Rewards Club Advanced purchase. After checking out I realised I had been charged for the stay though I was under the impression I had pre-paid.

Now as a credit card churner I don't know which card I payed and cannot access the charges of all of my old cards. I had a look at the 'hotel receipt' in my account activity and it doesn't show as pre-paid, though I suspect this is an error.

Additionally I have a stay coming up at Crowne Adelaide that I know was pre-paid, however IHG doesn't provide a receipt for this at the time of purchase.

What I'm wondering is, how can I tell if I've payed twice ? I've sent an email off to customer care but would really appreciate some advice from anyone who thinks they can help.

 

[oz_mark]

As far as I know, it is not IHG that charge you, but the actual hotel that you are staying at. The process (for IHG) seems to be that the hotel will charge sometime between booking and you arriving at the hotel. However, I have had some prepaid rates not charges until arrival.

I don't think IHG would know - it is likely that this will need to be dealt with at the hotel level.

 

[ozjuice]

It seems that a pre-paid rate is merely a confirmed payment method. They hold the info until a few days prior to check-in and then process the payment. Happened to me a few times in the last 2 weeks across the USA. It's annoying when you pre-book and want to cover early booking costs but it messes up your budgeting. Of course there's always extra costs too.

 

[Dannyism]

Yeah it's really confused me because every other hotel was pre-booked and pre-paid (8 hotel trip) and I had the one in question marked in my itinerary as paid. The small print of an advance purchase rate says that they require a deposit for the full cost at time of booking.

I also booked at Crowne in Adelaide and they have charged me for that in February even though I'm not staying til June. So sometimes it is pre-pay and sometimes not.

I've contacted the hotel directly and will update the thread with their feedback.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Does the receipt not show at least part of the credit card # you used? Usually they do with most of the numbers xx_'d out.

 

[Dannyism]

Does the receipt not show at least part of the credit card # you used? Usually they do with most of the numbers xx_'d out.

It shows the CC that was charged on check out. I want to know the number of the card that was used for the deposit on booking...

 

[JohnK]

Happens to me quite a lot. Very confusing to try and remember if charged or not in the past.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It shows the CC that was charged on check out. I want to know the number of the card that was used for the deposit on booking...

Do you not keep your old credit card statements?

 

[Dannyism]

Maybe digitally, but not in paper. I churned about 6 credit cards last year so I guess I should look through them.

 

[Dannyism]

To close this thread out....

After not getting a reply from HIX direct I called up.

They were able to confirm the last 4 digits and I was able to check my statements and confirm I wasn't double charged. Guest services also confirmed HIX had tried to contact me but not been able to get through on the phone.

Guess I was just confused by "YOUR RATE by IHG® Rewards Club Advance Purchase" and the very random manor in which they take a deposit immediately, later or sometimes as it turns out, never.

I got an upgrade though, so at least I've got that going for me.

 

[Rick93]

Yeah, sounds like what happened to me at Narita ( Tokyo ) Airport Crowne Plaza last month ...

I booked 'Advance Payment' rate, but they didn't actually charge my card - but they did place a 'hold' over it ( which was identified ).

So, at check out, I had to pay the full amount owed. Took some going back over card details to work out what really happened. Few days after check out, the 'hold' figure was removed from my card.

 

[ramboflyer]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour in the June long weekend on an advanced rate. Booked in March and the payment was taken 3 weeks before arriving. I was surprised and called to ask why that time and they couldnt give me a valid reason. I thought the rate was a booking in advance rate and would be paid on check in.

Very nice hotel and got an upgrade for IHG member (although wasnt actually told that by staff)

 

[mannej]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour in the June long weekend on an advanced rate. Booked in March and the payment was taken 3 weeks before arriving. I was surprised and called to ask why that time and they couldnt give me a valid reason. I thought the rate was a booking in advance rate and would be paid on check in.

Very nice hotel and got an upgrade for IHG member (although wasnt actually told that by staff)

Isn't that what should have happened if you have booked the Advance rate?

The Flexible rates are the ones that don't require a deposit.

 

[ramboflyer]

I thought it was a rate for booking a certain time out from the stay and you pay when you get there. I have got those rates at other hotels. There was no deposit - just the full payment 3 weeks before we got there with no reason for why it was 3 weeks out - although I think the small print said they could take it at any time.

It wasnt a big deal - just a little confusing.

 

[basso]

I thought it was a rate for booking a certain time out from the stay and you pay when you get there. I have got those rates at other hotels. There was no deposit - just the full payment 3 weeks before we got there with no reason for why it was 3 weeks out - although I think the small print said they could take it at any time.

It wasnt a big deal - just a little confusing.

Usually buried away somewhere, they will say that the deposit on Advance Purchase is equal to the cost of the full stay. It's usually sometime between booking and arriving at the hotel. Whenever their reservations people get to it really.

 

[mannej]

Usually buried away somewhere, they will say that the deposit on Advance Purchase is equal to the cost of the full stay. It's usually sometime between booking and arriving at the hotel. Whenever their reservations people get to it really.

If you are booking it using the IHG page, it's right under the words Advance purchase as per the image in my post above.