Last night on my midnight audit shift a man came to the desk looking for a room. I asked for ID and method of payment. He said he was paying cash so I let him know there would be a cash deposit we hold of $100. He took exception to this and said he only had 110 dollars on him for the room and tax. I let him know that I would be unable to check him in without a deposit. He swore and left.
He comes back in a few minutes later with a woman who gives me her credit card. She huffs audibly when I ask for ID. I start inputting her info and go to authorize the card and it comes back declined. When she is made aware of this she lets me know that there is only $80 on the card.
In any case they still want to pay cash but use the card for the deposit. They are under the mistaken impression we will only hold the card number but would not authorize it. (what is the point of giving us a card if we don't ensure we can charge it?) So, rather than try and authorize it for 100 I tell her I will only do 50 - but it would put a hold of that amount for at least two business days.
She gets mad. He gets mad. They state that no other hotel does that. (Really, every hotel I have worked at does that.) At this point since she is a local and is giving me a hassle over a deposit I let them know I am declining to check them in.
They both go off on me stating I had to. (not really, we can decline you for any reason) They want me to call a manager. They take the owner's card. They demand my name. They state they are giving us a bad review. (so? you are not technically a guest) They finally leave and she asks me how I could sleep at night? (I am thinking just fine really - just fine.)
He comes back in a few minutes later with a woman who gives me her credit card. She huffs audibly when I ask for ID. I start inputting her info and go to authorize the card and it comes back declined. When she is made aware of this she lets me know that there is only $80 on the card.
In any case they still want to pay cash but use the card for the deposit. They are under the mistaken impression we will only hold the card number but would not authorize it. (what is the point of giving us a card if we don't ensure we can charge it?) So, rather than try and authorize it for 100 I tell her I will only do 50 - but it would put a hold of that amount for at least two business days.
She gets mad. He gets mad. They state that no other hotel does that. (Really, every hotel I have worked at does that.) At this point since she is a local and is giving me a hassle over a deposit I let them know I am declining to check them in.
They both go off on me stating I had to. (not really, we can decline you for any reason) They want me to call a manager. They take the owner's card. They demand my name. They state they are giving us a bad review. (so? you are not technically a guest) They finally leave and she asks me how I could sleep at night? (I am thinking just fine really - just fine.)
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