If you are a tourist on vacation and plan to to book a suite at Whiskey Pete’s in Primm Valley (on the outskirts of Las Vegas) I have to caution you about using a credit card at the front desk to settle the obligation of a deposit to cover incidentals over the duration of your vacation stay.
When I breezed through in recent days, I couldn’t help but notice that an incompetent desk clerk was inclined to keep “swiping away” when she initially inputted incorrect credit card information into the terminal.
Just how stupid was this gal, anyway?
Wasn’t she keen to the fact that too many failed attempts on a credit card charge may result in an alert to the credit card carrier - and a potential freeze - being placed on the account?
Duh!
The ditzy broad obviously screwed up - and instead of fessing up - proceeded to give an accusatory look at the guest when other folks at the check-in counter gazed in her direction shaking their heads.
Actually, that was part of the problem, too.
The woman lacked any common sense - or sensitivity towards the hotel guest - in respect to the unexpected snafu which occurred through no fault of his own.
Instead of revealing the card was declined in a hushed confidential tone, she blurted it out loud, so all the other guest could hear!
Talk about rude.
The Hotel employee had all the discretion of an elephant charging through the lobby.
After gaining his composure, and recovering from the traumatic embarrassing moment, the guest proceeded to note that the young lady must have inputted the info wrong (after all, it appeared she was having difficulty reading the Mastercard account number, expiration date, etc.).
Get some eyeglasses, lady!
A popular Vegas web site - that books rooms at reasonable rates - processed the charges for the Hotel suite the night before online without any problems (according to the shaken guest).
So, the glich obviously occurred due to clerk error, or a faulty terminal system at Whiskey Pete's.
But, as it turned out, the tables turned in his favor.
In the alternative, the Hotel clerk noted that the guest could pay the deposit in cash.
OMG!
Had he known that, he would have rejected the request for his Mastercard, and proffered up the cash instead right off-the-bat when he checked in.
For good reason!
For starters, handing over cash, is a better way to go because there is no access to the credit card or the funds available on the account (nor is there any access to the individual’s bank account in the event the tourist uses a debit card).
And, when the hotel guest checks out, they get the cash back in hand right away.
When a deposit is placed on a credit card - in spite of the fact there may not have been any charges to the room - the traveller has to wait anywhere from five-to-ten days for the money to be credited back to their account.
When you're on vacation, deposit monies tied up here and there around the country, may prove disasterous to a family on a limited budget.
Of course, Hotel employees are too dumb to fathom that out on their own.
When a guest gives out their credit card number - and allows it to be copied by Hotel staff - there is also the risk that unathorized charges may be billed to the account down the road that were not approved.
Readers may recall that I have posted consumer alerts in the past on the issue of fraudulent charges being placed on Hotel guests accounts at Las Vegas Hotels without their knowledge or permission
So, in the final analysis, it’s a better idea to deny the request for a credit card, and pay cash upfront for the deposit instead.
Pass on the tip to your friends and business associates, eh?
Buffalo Bill's amusement park rides across highway!
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