GRRRRRRRRRRR

[asdr83]

So i have been the proud owner of my first credit card for about three months now, a few days ago my third bill arrived. Seeing as this is the gift-giving season I was expecting it to be bigger than usual, but it was much larger than I expected. I started to look at the list for my big purchases and noticed that I have a charge for $60.60 from a hotel in RI. I was in that hotel with laurion after Thanksgiving, but we booked through Orbitz and that bill was paid on my last statement. The charge is not the price of the room, but we didn't get anything but the room there (we had dinner, out we didn't even take the complimentary cocktails and crackers offered in the lounge). Also, the date of transaction is odd, we checked in on a Friday, the only time they had my card was that day, but the transaction date (not the processing date) was for the Saturday of our stay. I of course called my credit card company and they suggested I try working it out with the hotel first. I called the hotel last Tuesday, was told the accountant was out but they took my info and told me the accountant would certainly call me back by Friday. I just called them because I still have not received a call. The accountant is out again and will be working 11pm-7am tonight, or that's what they told me. I suppose I'll just have to call again tonight, but I am most annoyed. All I want is to clear this up so I know if I have to send more money to my credit card company (I already paid the rest of the bill). I can't imagine what the charge would be for but if it is a reasonable charge I don't mind paying I just want to know. I knew I should never have tried to become an adult and build credit and such..grrr.

Comments

[siderea]

The "try work it out with the hotel first" was a suggestion. You don't need to take it. After all, the quarrel is not between the you and the hotel, it's between you and the credit card company. They will, of course, try to slide out of the spot-light; they don't want to deal with it. But one can't prove a negative, and you can't prove you didn't buy something. The fact of the matter is that it's up to the credit card company to demand from the vendor one of those little receipts with your signature on it or other proof that you approved that charge. The vendor has to prove you did buy something (and approved the charge.) It is not up to you to prove you didn't.

Personally, the one time it's happened to me, I made the credit card company deal with it.

The vendor in question contacted me and asked for a copy of my credit card bill. I, of course, said "Certainly not; you have no business looking at my other purchases. I will happily *recite* to you over the phone the entire contents of any lines which pertain to your company." They were very unhappy about this, though I don't know why.

The issue was decided in my favor.

[snarkyman.livejournal.com]

Notify your credit card company that you are contesting the charges. You are not responsible for contested charges or interest there on. You may want to read your credit card agreement to be sure you understand the process.

Good Luck!

[jducoeur]

You are not responsible for contested charges or interest there on.

Not quite -- as I understand it, she is not responsible for erroneous charges or interest, and there is a presumption of error while the matter is being investigated. But IIRC, if the charge proves to be correct, she is responsible for charges, interest and potentially (although rarely) extra processing fees. So it makes sense to be sure of her facts first, which seems to be what she's doing. If the charge is actually spurious, and the hotel won't take it back, then contesting the charge is the right thing to do.

The latest issue of Consumer Reports has a fairly thorough discussion of these matters. asdr83, I recommend picking it up, given the situation: it's almost certainly more accurate than my recollections of it...