Wingate Hotel Pre-Charging Credit Card?

That's SOP now in the Commonwealth for anyone from Jersey.

--Greg

Nope, never have heard of such a practice.  Our staff stays at that same hotel (Wingate) and we haven't been billed in advance.  I've also never stayed at any hotel that required a deposit.  I do, of course, provide credit card info when I make reservations, but that's about it.

You should give the hotel a call to see what happened.

I'm staying there and have been charged as well.

Gilly

I'd call & ask.

I think I prepay for the hotel I stay at because its a non-refundable package with the airline tickets etc

I did call the hotel, or the national HQ number, can't recall at the moment.  And they said this was no mistake, it's standard practice.  Since when??  

Just for you Mike! <GRIN>

Interesting!  Never heard of that kind of thing before...charging for the full stay months in advance of the actual stay.  I sure know what I would do if it happened to me.

I always confirm my reservations--hotel, air, etc.--with my American Express card.  Don't know if that makes any difference (it shouldn't).  But I do know that AMEX has taken very good care of me on the few occasions when I have had some difficulty with a merchant or service.

Must be tough times in the hospitality industry!

quote:

Interesting!  Never heard of that kind of thing before...charging for the full stay months in advance of the actual stay.  I sure know what I would do if it happened to me.

Back in the eighties, I thought there were a few hotels requiring full payment six months in advance. The hotel I used accepted reservations six months in advance, but did not charge.
The number of available rooms certainly has grown since then, one would think that such practices are no longer necessary. Still, several of the places where I would prefer to stay do fill up.
IMHO, the Wingate is a decent place to stay.

That's the difference between a crappy hotel and a good one. I have never paid anything until I checked out.

If anything, the hotel should have put a "hold" on the quoted room charge to your card which just reserves the amount for payment from your card's credit limit.  The same credit line hold is used when you swipe your card at a pay at the pump gas station.  The actual charge to the room so far in advance seems to be an example of excessive pre-billing by that particular Wyngate location.  Also, the hotel may actually be a franchise and not owned by Wyngate Corp.  I would suggest talking to the manager and your credit card company.

FWIW, there appears to be plenty of hotel space available in the greater York/Harrisburg area with the numerous newly constructed facilities over the past 6 years.  It seemed that the past several Yorks (fall/spring) had a number of hotel vacancy options available.

Very decent!  Probably one of the newer/better hotels in the immediate area.

These days, unlike earlier years, you can pretty much select from a decent assortment of hotels in the York area.  They have basically overbuilt on hotels in recent years, and the past several times I've been to York there was no shortage of available rooms.  Add to that the slowly declining York Meet attendance, and you can see the direction things are going.

I'm still very surprised that the Wingate or any hotel would actually charge you well in advance of your actual stay.  Never heard of such a thing.  Since I use AMEX, I've also never had a "hold" placed on funds in advance because there is no pre-determined credit limit with certain AMEX cards.

I suggest finding other accommodations if you don't get a satisfactory resolution from the Wingate.  You should NOT be paying for a service you haven't yet used.

In years past, we had a standing reservation at the Comfort Inn for every York.  The policy was to charge our card the full amont in February for April York, and in August for October.  Now that there are rooms available up to the last minute for York, they no longer charge our card in advance.  FWIW, they also don't have the standing reservation program so I just reserve the room on line for the next York right after we get home from the current one.

Best Western in York has that type of deal also.  They say it's a pre-pay and non-refundable when you book but they have never pre-charged me yet.  I stay there in Sept and March for the G scale show at York. 

Rick

I stayed there in the spring, I didn't pre-pay.  If they want it for this meet, I'll stay elsewhere.

I'm with Allan, I don't believe I should pay several months in advance for a room!

Don't know if this is applicable to the current situation, but some hotel chains make you pay one night's charge when the deal is made to "lock-in" your room rate.  Of course, I only book with those that also charge no cancellation fee as long as I cancel some reasonable time before arrival.

Thus, the prepay gets me a good room rate and the cancellation policy gets me that money back as long as I cancel timely.

Chuck

As someone who works in the industry, I can tell you the practice is quite common. It is usually associated with either a package, involving tickets or other amenities that others have mentioned, or it is a requirement to get a certain discount off the posted rate. All the 'majors' do it, and it is a perfectly legitimate business practice as long as the terms are disclosed up front, which is usually always the case in my experience.

Normal 'pay after you stay' rates are typically available as well, but the price is usually a bit higher for the convenience of being able to cancel your reservation up to near the arrival date. The only time this might not be true is during expected periods of very high demand for rooms, in which case the hotel might opt to accept 'pay in advance' reservations only, such as might be the case in and around York.

Enjoy, y'all! I wish I could make the trip.

If I made a reservation…say, tonight…for a room that I planned to occupy in October, I would not be the least bit happy to see that charge show up on my credit card statement for August.

For one thing, plans may change, and I may have to cancel or cut the stay short by a day.  Most hotels have a 24-hour cancellation policy (or some such) and that I fully understand.  But if I have already paid--months ahead--for a five-day stay and then find that I can only stay four days, I can just imagine how much of a hassle it might be to get the already-made payment (perhaps even with interest on your credit card) straightened-out/refunded.

No thanks!  Just glad I haven't ever run into that kind of thing myself.  My most recent hotel stay was last month when I stayed several days in Cleveland.  No such "pay in advance" arrangement existed when I made the reservations back in March, and my check-in, check-out, and billing was just the same as it has always been at the many hotels I have stayed in over many years.

Yes destination hotels such as the Peabody, and Rally week at Sturgis are into that. You can still cancel for a refund per their policy, some are 30 days or more.  A lot of them double or tripple their rates during an event too.  Try Omaha during the college world series close to the park!

Well the good news is usually both types of rates are available - pay early and receive certain benefits, such as a lower rate, or pay after you stay and get the benefit of delaying the charge. Everybody wins! 

And...not much different than paying for a subscription years in advance to receive a per issue discount.

At the end of the day, business nowadays act like we're in the Wild Wild West.    And it's strictly buyer-beware.

I think Len B is certainly accurate that the "pay up front" practice is usually part of a package deal that may involve discounting plus other services within the package (i.e., transportation, room, dining, tours, etc...).  After all, everybody wants to insure they're not losing out on their portion of the package. 

But folks, let's be honest here... we're talking about a hotel reservation for a simple train show, i.e. York.  Unless I'm getting a super, discounted room rate to the tune of 50% off the published rate (or something along that line), then there's no way I'm paying TODAY for a 4-7 days worth of overnight accommodations a few MONTHS from now at or near the regular, published rate.  Ain't gonna happen.    There are enough hotels that don't require full payment up front for the entire stay.  One night's deposit for smaller businesses (i.e., B&B's) is one thing.  But not the entire stay.  Even B&B's don't do that for gosh sakes!  At least not the ones on my short list. 

David

No, only the hotel really wins in the pay-in-advance scenario.  The consumer doesn't win anything but having had his/her money tied-up in advance of the service being rendered and possibly paying interest on that charge (which could easily outweigh any "discount") well in advance of any actual stay at the place.  Then there's always the matter of getting your money (plus any possible credit card interest paid in the interim) refunded in the event plans must be changed for one reason or another.

People today are like lemmings…they tend to go along with anything that they are led to believe is "just the way it's done."  Awesome!  

If it is  no huge deal, why all the fuss?

Because down deep, a little voice inside is saying, "Something's not right here."  Which is the conclusion that most folks should be drawing as well.  People have to learn to push back in these dealings, especially if they knew the party on the other end of the phone conversation is grinning ear-to-ear when they tell you "It's standard operating procedure."  Not when I'm paying the bill. 

David

Allan,

I am not personally affiliated with this chain and am not defending their decision. As an industry insider with a lot of experience in the revenue management field, I was merely trying to lend insight to what might have been behind their actions. Despite what many on here may think, most hotel operators are not out to rip off the public with advance purchase programs. They design discounting programs to benefit both themselves and the consumer. Like any other business that is how they stay in business. My apologies if you were offended by my comments.

Now, back to trains and enjoying your magazine.

Len

Not offended in the least, Len.  Just stating my personal view of a practice I had not heard of before (must be a fairly recent "innovation"), and which I personally would avoid if at all possible.  Others are certainly free to do as they like, and what suits their circumstances.

Hey..on a more positive note.  Those of you that are staying at the Wingate, how about a get together some evening downstairs...or...??  Sure would like to meet more of you all....  Any ideas??

Alan

If I were staying more than one night I would certainly join you, Alan.  But I'm only there Thursday night, which of course is "Thursday at Tuesday's" or "Wednesdays" or whatever it's turned into!  

- Mike

Hi Guys

Dina and i are staying at the Wingate, Alan a downstairs get together sounds nice.

Mike, Dina told me if you booked it on line they had a special rate, but you had to prepay  She booked it  by calling up and made a reservation, so no payment was due up front.

Alex

I'm looking forward to seeing you both there!

My stay at York will be a bit of an abbreviated one due to requirements imposed by our publishing schedule, but I'm determined to spend at least a couple of days at the meet.

I think that's what I did, but I couldn't tell you the rate off the top of my head.  I'd have to check  my records.  (I HOPE that's what happened    )

Since I'm traveling solo this trip, I opted for the "shack in the woods" instead of a fancy hotel and they charged me full fare weeks before I get there.  Maybe they remember me form last time.  

Iam staying there and would be interested its just the how when where? Maybe breakfast early Thursday or ...?

FWIW, I reserved at the Wingate and I didn't get pre-charged, I just checked, no charges on my credit card.

I just made my reservation for the East Coast All Scale Train Show for SEPT at the Holiday Inn.  I got a reduced rate of $103 if they pre-charged my card.  Rate was higher if they did not pre-charge.  BTW, I also checked the Best Western and they pre-charge also.  Pre-charge rate there was $85.  No pre-charge was also higher.

I guess this is something they are all going to do.  Anything to get your money sooner.

Rick

In the same vein don't forget to check your final bill at checkout to avoid the surprise fees many hotels are adding these days. I believe the practice is termed "slamming" and may include "hidden" fees for many things/amenities you did not even use such as room safe, "free" newspaper, resort fees, etc.   One list can be found here:  

http://www.smartertravel.com/b...pay.html?id=11832360. Or http://hotels.about.com/od/hot.../a/avoid_charges.htm

Where & when is the East Coast all scale train show???????