Hilton - Paying in Cash?

[kookiekween99]

We were thinking of paying completely in cash to avoid having a hold put on the card used to check in. Is there any extra fees we should know about besides the estimation in the email confirmation and parking?

[ewu]

if you pay in cash, you will probably need to pay a cash deposit of one night in addition to the costs of the room.

[Avairrianna]

Regardless of you paying in cash you will still need to put a credit card on file in case of damages to the room.

[kookiekween99]

if you pay in cash, you will probably need to pay a cash deposit of one night in addition to the costs of the room.

Will this be paid back?

Regardless of you paying in cash you will still need to put a credit card on file in case of damages to the room.

Will they still put a hold on the card like they did last year?


I'm asking mostly for my mom, because she was upset that they put an unexpected hold on her card last year and she couldn't use it until Tuesday.

[Avairrianna]

if you pay in cash, you will probably need to pay a cash deposit of one night in addition to the costs of the room.

Will this be paid back?

Regardless of you paying in cash you will still need to put a credit card on file in case of damages to the room.

Will they still put a hold on the card like they did last year?


I'm asking mostly for my mom, because she was upset that they put an unexpected hold on her card last year and she couldn't use it until Tuesday.

What I did last year was pay all the charges up front in cash. Then they put my credit card on file. And then before I left I made sure I didn't incur any other charges and I believe I did not have a hold on my card.

[kookiekween99]

Is there any difference if it's a debit card used instead of a credit card?

[Kyra_Maverick]

You might be able to do a check deposit instead. Not sure if hotels still do that anymore, but you can call and confirm.

[Avairrianna]

They treat debit the same as credit with regards to hotels.

And you can do a check deposit (at least at the Marriott I just read) and that could solve all the problems.

[PyronIkari]

There's no reason your card would be put on hold by the hotel, it would be your credit card company that places your card on hold. It would also have nothing to do with the hotel itself.

At first I thought it meant that they didn't charge her right away, but then you stated that she couldn't use the card which would infer otherwise.

You don't need to pay up front if you're using cash, you pay upon check out. What I do according to roommates is... put the room under my card. Collect cash from roommates. When I check out, I pay with cash. The End.

I've never had a hotel (or a card company rather) place a hold on my card after staying in a hotel. I've also discussed this with my friend who travels at least twice a month on business trips. He has never had something like this happen to him either. So unless her card was over limit, or there was suspect charges on the card, it probably had nothing to do with staying at a hotel.

[M]

There's no reason your card would be put on hold by the hotel, it would be your credit card company that places your card on hold. It would also have nothing to do with the hotel itself.

At first I thought it meant that they didn't charge her right away, but then you stated that she couldn't use the card which would infer otherwise.

You don't need to pay up front if you're using cash, you pay upon check out. What I do according to roommates is... put the room under my card. Collect cash from roommates. When I check out, I pay with cash. The End.

I've never had a hotel (or a card company rather) place a hold on my card after staying in a hotel. I've also discussed this with my friend who travels at least twice a month on business trips. He has never had something like this happen to him either. So unless her card was over limit, or there was suspect charges on the card, it probably had nothing to do with staying at a hotel.

It really depends on the bank. Some banks will wait a day or so after to release the hold.

If you use a debit card, holds will most likely stay longer due to the differences between debit and credit cards.

[SpiritOfKairi]

Is there any difference if it's a debit card used instead of a credit card?

They treat debit the same as credit with regards to hotels.

Actually that's not true.  Here's the difference between using credit and debit cards at hotels: if you use a credit card you don't pay the fee until your bill comes with the stay on it.  This is because your credit is being authorized at the time of check-in, and the money won't actually come out of your pocket until paying the monthly bill.  But now, debit cards are an entirely different creature.  Upon check-in when they take your card they're actually authorizing the money to be taken out of your account.  Why?  Because with debit cards money is almost instantly deducted from your account whereas with credit cards you don't truly fork over the cash until your credit card bill comes.  Also, debit cards are a bit stickier since when you check in to a hotel, they also charge extra fees to offset potential damages/charges you might wrack up, such as the mini-bar.  Keep your nose clean and you'll get the money refunded.  But, with a debit card, that extra money is still in a kind of financial limbo - the hotel doesn't technically have it, nor do you.  Now with a credit card, while the same thing happens, it isn't as bad because unless you're towards the end of your credit limit, you'll still be able to make purchases no sweat.  With a debit, you'll want to make sure you have penty of money in your checking account so you can still use it after checking in.  If you don't believe me or want to know where I got that information, here's the link http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2007/09/19/6345953-debit-or-credit-heres-the-answer

[kookiekween99]

So the best thing to do would be to check in with a credit card, then pay in cash at check out?

[Himeno]

It depends what you mean by "debit" card. There are debit cards issued by banks, generally as part of your account. Then there are debit cards issued by a credit company and linked to your normal bank account (eg, visa debit). Visa/Mastercard debit cards can be used as credit cards, but the only "credit" you have on them is what you have in your normal bank account.
Credit cards use the credit network, debit cards use the various EFTPOS networks. Both networks work differently. The transactions through each network are processed differently. A credit debit card can use either network.

When your card is swiped, the hotel is requesting a transfer of x amount. Depending on the card and/or network used, that request either goes to the credit company noted on the card or the bank that issued the card. The amount then needs to be authorized. Only after it has been authorized will the money be sent to the hotel. Credit transactions have an option to request now and authorize later (eg, check in - request funds (see they are actually there), funds are held pending authorization, check out - authorize transaction), debit transactions generally don't. Holds generally last about a week. If the transaction hasn't been completed by the time the hold is released, it can still be taken out later, even without the hold in effect.

[PyronIkari]

So the best thing to do would be to check in with a credit card, then pay in cash at check out?

Ignoring the argument of semantics (yes you guys are totally talking pass each other as what is being meant) for now...

Yes, this would be my advice to you in what you should do.

NOW ON TO THE SEMANTICS.

What they mean by "it's treated like a credit card" is that the money is NOT instantaneously removed from your account compared to say using your debit card at a 7-11 or CVS Pharmacy. There is a period of time between when your card is swiped and when the action takes place. This period varies, and it happens pretty much every where(restaurants bars etc) where there is not an Debit specific terminal. Even with debit specific terminals you can request your card be swiped as a credit card and not an ATM card, in which it will process differently (day end charge instead of instananeous charge).

THIS IS WHAT IS BEING REFERRED TO WHEN PEOPLE ARE STATING IT IS TREATED LIKE A CREDIT CARD. Not that it works like a credit card and you pay back your credit company during your monthly bill.