Hotel Confirmation with Credit Card

Recently I got screwed by a Harrah's property. I was unable to cancel my reservation in the 72 hour time frame. (I decided not to go when I saw the weather report.) So they charged my credit card that I had given them over the phone to reserve it. The room was original comped.

My question is do they check to make sure whether the credit card is valid over the phone to reserve the reservation? It didnt sound like they did. Do other casinos? Otherwise I could give them a phony number (just accidentally change last number) & not have to worry about them doing this to me next time. This three day cancellation crap has got to be making them a fortune. As well as losing them a fortune by pissing off comped players.

"My question is do they check to make sure whether the credit card is valid over the phone to reserve the reservation? It didnt sound like they did. Do other casinos? Otherwise I could give them a phony number (just accidentally change last number) & not have to worry about them doing this to me next time. This three day cancellation crap has got to be making them a fortune. As well as losing them a fortune by pissing off comped players."

I used to work at a hotel (non casino) and we did NOT verify the credit card until the person was a no show. Only then did we bill the card. However... we did input the card on reservation and it had to be a valid number to accept. Usually only the correct first four digits. So changing the last digit probably would have worked to secure you... UNLESS you showed up late, say after midnight, and the room was not held for you.

Also... I would call the hotel to dispute the charge. Most hotels don't want to run off good customers and will usually give you credit OR at least offer you another night stay free. That may not help you though, since you were comped.

>>Most hotels don't want to run off good customers and will usually give you credit <<

Not Harrah's. That would make too much business sense.

Thanks for the help! I guess I might consider just changing the last couple digits if I think I will not be able to make it (snow storm weather). It would'nt be so bad if Harrah's didn't have that damn 72 hour cancellation policy.

Here's my one experience along these lines:

I once cancelled a particular credit card, and completely forgot that I had reserved a hotel room (in this case it did happen to be a casino hotel) under that card several weeks prior. When I showed up at the hotel they told me that my reservation had been cancelled because my credit card had been cancelled some time after I made the reservation. I had a free room coupon and a confirmation number, but the confirmation number was no longer any good. Fortunately in this instance they had some vacant rooms available so everything turned out OK, but I could easily have been stuck with no room if they had been full. Based on this one experience, I would be cautious about giving a motel a bad or expired CC number for a reservation.

EE

Do you surf? Also, you can call your credit card company and tell them you want to dispute the charge. They might hold payment or at least challenge the payment which gives the hotel a hassle. But, they may not challenge Harah's policies. I would call the hotel first and see where that takes you. You may say "I didn't call my credit card company to file a dispute because I just want to work it out with you. I love your hotel and casino, blah blah blah.". If it doesn't work, you can try the old "the "lady" I spoke to originally said this wouldn't be a problem etc..." If you surf, this works when you're trying to get the fee waived for checking your stick to Costa or wherever. Good luck.

I need a room for one night. I'm concerned about safety downtown and off the strip or south strip. I'm not too familiar with vegas. Been about 10 years. Any suggestions where I could find a room under $100 for one Friday night stay? I'll post this on the main board as well. Mahalo.