paying for hotels in advance with credit cards/checks

agoraphobe · Oct 12th, 2004, 21:13

Hello,

Has anyone encountered any problems with putting hotels on the credit card over the phone/internet? Or paying with check?

I'm suspicious of everything

ace · Oct 13th, 2004, 03:20

hey you guys!!!!

this is a good question -- for those of us planning to go at peak season, some people on this forum have said they've had no problems getting hotels when they got there, while others have said to book in advance . . . and a number of people have pointed out scams . . .

so, can anyone tell us if they've had problems booking in advance? especially with credit cards? (there's a post somewhere or the other here on credit card scams that basically says you shouldn't let the card out of your sight . . .)

thanks for your help in advance!

Merchant · Oct 13th, 2004, 03:27

The security and liability features from Visa (and all the other cards) work against fraud in India as well as in your home country. Why assume that an Indian hotelier will scam you? Just because he's Indian?

ace · Oct 13th, 2004, 03:32

point well taken, Merchant! i guess it's just that when you read all the scams that go on there, and you've never been there, you get worried . . .

Merchant · Oct 13th, 2004, 03:35

You'll be fine. You can get scammed anywhere. But really, with credit cards it's the hotels who are at greater risk for fraud than you. VISA protects the card holder, not the proprietor.

But on this topic--you should not use a debit card with a Visa logo (which draws cash out of your bank account). If there is a problem, your account could be cleaned out. It might take a few days to get everything sorted out, but during that time you would be out of cash.

This is a real concern any time you travel, not just to India. You're perfectly safe with a credit card, though.

agoraphobe · Oct 13th, 2004, 12:52

Ouch!

Nothing against the proud class of Indian hoteliers. I'm just loathed to give out my credit card information via fax or email to anyone. I probably wouldn't be as concerned if the hotel were part of a larger chain, but when your sending your card number to the Shiva Laxmi Yogi Guesthouse, down the alley, round the bend, next to the temple, (not that temple, the other temple), then yeah, I'm apprehensive.

goangoangone · Oct 13th, 2004, 13:00

The only time I didn't follow a booking through was when I was asked for a copy of my passport. This was for Thailand.

sidoriva · Oct 13th, 2004, 14:52

Hello,

This truly occurs to me.
I was on business trips to Jakarta beginning of this year.
I bought some souvenirs and some clothes, since they are very cheap there.
I paid with credit card.
everything was ok.

2 months ago, i got call from my credit card provider, that he saw some strange transaction using my credit card.
Someone has tried to buy something with price more than 2000EUR. It was failed because the bank asked for authorization. He could not give it.
When the transaction value was small (less than 500EUR), usually they didn't ask for authorization. So there was a transaction 100EUR, which was authorized OK.
It was done in UK. He asked me if i was in UK.
I said not. He told me that my card was copied when i did transaction in Jakarta.
i could not believe it in the beginning.
He said the current card will be locked and i would get a new one.
The transaction was cancelled.

I just want to say that credit card fraud did occur.
So be careful.

goangoangone · Oct 13th, 2004, 15:31

The advice is not to let the card out of your sight.

goangoangone · Oct 13th, 2004, 16:04

I realise that, I'm just saying it's one of the first precautions you should take.

Oct 12th, 2004, 21:13	#1
agoraphobe Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Vancouger, BC Posts: 61	paying for hotels in advance with credit cards/checks Hello, Has anyone encountered any problems with putting hotels on the credit card over the phone/internet? Or paying with check? I'm suspicious of everything

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Oct 13th, 2004, 03:20	#2
ace Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 120	hey you guys!!!! this is a good question -- for those of us planning to go at peak season, some people on this forum have said they've had no problems getting hotels when they got there, while others have said to book in advance . . . and a number of people have pointed out scams . . . so, can anyone tell us if they've had problems booking in advance? especially with credit cards? (there's a post somewhere or the other here on credit card scams that basically says you shouldn't let the card out of your sight . . .) thanks for your help in advance!

Oct 13th, 2004, 03:27	#3
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	The security and liability features from Visa (and all the other cards) work against fraud in India as well as in your home country. Why assume that an Indian hotelier will scam you? Just because he's Indian?

Oct 13th, 2004, 03:32	#4
ace Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 120	point well taken, Merchant! i guess it's just that when you read all the scams that go on there, and you've never been there, you get worried . . .

Oct 13th, 2004, 03:35	#5
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	You'll be fine. You can get scammed anywhere. But really, with credit cards it's the hotels who are at greater risk for fraud than you. VISA protects the card holder, not the proprietor. But on this topic--you should not use a debit card with a Visa logo (which draws cash out of your bank account). If there is a problem, your account could be cleaned out. It might take a few days to get everything sorted out, but during that time you would be out of cash. This is a real concern any time you travel, not just to India. You're perfectly safe with a credit card, though.

Oct 13th, 2004, 12:52	#6
agoraphobe Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Vancouger, BC Posts: 61	Ouch! Nothing against the proud class of Indian hoteliers. I'm just loathed to give out my credit card information via fax or email to anyone. I probably wouldn't be as concerned if the hotel were part of a larger chain, but when your sending your card number to the Shiva Laxmi Yogi Guesthouse, down the alley, round the bend, next to the temple, (not that temple, the other temple), then yeah, I'm apprehensive.

Oct 13th, 2004, 13:00	#7
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,504	The only time I didn't follow a booking through was when I was asked for a copy of my passport. This was for Thailand.

Oct 13th, 2004, 14:52	#8
sidoriva Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 26	Hello, This truly occurs to me. I was on business trips to Jakarta beginning of this year. I bought some souvenirs and some clothes, since they are very cheap there. I paid with credit card. everything was ok. 2 months ago, i got call from my credit card provider, that he saw some strange transaction using my credit card. Someone has tried to buy something with price more than 2000EUR. It was failed because the bank asked for authorization. He could not give it. When the transaction value was small (less than 500EUR), usually they didn't ask for authorization. So there was a transaction 100EUR, which was authorized OK. It was done in UK. He asked me if i was in UK. I said not. He told me that my card was copied when i did transaction in Jakarta. i could not believe it in the beginning. He said the current card will be locked and i would get a new one. The transaction was cancelled. I just want to say that credit card fraud did occur. So be careful.

Oct 13th, 2004, 15:31	#9
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,504	The advice is not to let the card out of your sight.

Oct 13th, 2004, 16:04	#10
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,504	I realise that, I'm just saying it's one of the first precautions you should take.

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