Going Too Far?

[MoreSaltThanPepper]

Good Afternoon:

I will preface this by stating one thing up front:

1) I am NOT opening up a thread arguing about climate change. I am not interested in page and pages about whether or not it is legitimate and trust the mods will lock or delete the thread if it starts down that path; the point of this thread follows below and should be rather obvious.

While examining a hotel bill I was settling this morning, I ran across an item called "eco charge". When I asked about it, the clerk (rather primly) said " did you use the shower and the heat?" I said, "sure, otherwise I would have slept in my car." He said "well, that is what that charge is for".

I think I will stop here and see what you folks think.

Regards,

- John

 

[gaseousclay]

sounds iffy to me. if I saw an 'eco charge' on my bill i'd demand an explanation that warranted such a charge.

 

[jkh]

While examining a hotel bill I was settling this morning, I ran across an item called "eco charge". When I asked about it, the clerk (rather primly) said " did you use the shower and the heat?" I said, "sure, otherwise I would have slept in my car." He said "well, that is what that charge is for".

I'd would try asking another clerk the same question and when you get the "did you use the shower and the heat?" line respond with a resounding, "absolutely not!" ... then see where the conversation goes.

Also, how in the world would they be able to prove you used either without monitoring usage, which would probably cost more than the eco charge.

 

[JPM]

I think it is just another way to rip you off. I suspect they thought people would use the shower and the heat when the built the hotel and set the room rates.

I agree, it would have been interesting to answer no about using the amenities and see where the discussion went.

 

[JoeH]

He said "well, that is what that charge is for".

Huh, wuh?

Seems to me that if a hotel really wanted to be eco-friendly, they'd figure out ways to save energy/resources. You know, like installing high efficiency washing machines. That way they save on their utility bills and make more profit.

Making you pay an "eco-charge" for clean towels and sheets and hot water is a money grab. It drives away future customers and gives being green a bad name.

So who were these eco-rangers?

 

[jkh]

Ya know, these clowns should at least have the common courtesy to lie about you renting an adult pay-per-view movie if they are going to steal from you.

 

[Uncle Erik]

You should have flatly refused to pay it.

That's simple bill padding. I've run into the same garbage with "resort fees" and similar. Ask if it is a federal, state, county, or city tax. The answer will be no. Then ask why it was not quoted in the room rate. They will equivocate or BS.

Then tell them that the contract you entered into - and orally asking for a room is a contract - did not include that fee and that you refuse to pay. Dig in and make them take it off the bill. If they do not immediately comply, raise your voice enough for other customers to hear and use words like "scam," "rip off," "padding the bill," etc. No clerk or manager wants other customers to hear that kind of language. To get the moral high ground, say that if they want to raise their rates, then that's OK. But if they raise rates in an underhanded manner, that is completely dishonest.

You can also threaten to dispute the amount with your credit card and, further, file a complaint with your issuer about bill padding.

 

[luvmysuper]

Please let me know the Hotel Group so that I may avoid staying there in the future.
I travel a LOT and don't want to deal with this kind of padding, so your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TimmyBoston]

Please let me know the Hotel Group so that I may avoid staying there in the future.
I travel a LOT and don't want to deal with this kind of padding, so your input would be greatly appreciated.

My feelings exactly.

What hotel?

 

[kwk285]

I stay in hotels at least once a week for work. I pay normally around $20 to $30 a night in taxes.

The rage right now in communities is to have large taxes on the items that guests of the community would use. Items like rental cars, hotels, restaraunts etc.

If I did most of the traveling for pleasure, this would effect which items that I would use. Since it is for work it doesn't bother me as much.

 

[mrscottishman]

An old departed friend of mine loved to argue about his bills. Sometimes they refunded the amount he complained about, but he always get his money's worth. He said if they overcharged him $20 they would have to take up $20 of their time dealing with me. He had the hospital billing office on speed dial.

have a great shave,
mrscottishman

 

[professorchaos]

Rip off!

 

[mdunn]

Rip off!

i'll say!

 

[rm71]

Sounds dodgy to me.
In a similar vein, I get charged ( from memory) about $3 extra for the cost of dispoosing of my used motor oil when I get my care serviced by my mechanic.

 

[RBE17]

He had the hospital billing office on speed dial.

I found that rather amusing.

 

[cricky101]

I stayed at a resort along a lake one summer for a week and was charged a "lake fee." The owner said it was used to keep the lake pristine.

Funny, though, no other resorts on the lake charged the fee, and the local Chamber of Commerce and zoning official at City Hall had never heard about it.

 

[*King G*]

that's a tax. it's a rip off. and I'd demand a refund.

 

[_JP_]

This thread is really hotels adding fees to their bills. They are getting more and more creative about what to call them, but they still remain mostly a way for them to offer a low price then charge you for what they really want you to pay. As far as I'm concerned the fees should be included as part of the room rate if the hotel makes them mandatory. More honest that way.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34935287/ns/travel-tips/

 

[castlecraver]

Yup. It's not about eco- anything, it's about bill padding. They're getting awfully creative. Presumably you'd need to be appraised of all applicable fees when you check-in, but it's probably in the super fine print and who wants to go shopping around for another hotel room once you've arrived? Airlines have laws that require them to disclose only some fees in their advertised fares, but at least you do get the final bottom-line price (that is, if you're not checking any bags) before you commit yourself. It all seems very shady to me when you only really find out how much something is going to cost you after you've got no choice but to pay.

 

[ouch]

I would have said "okay", walked back to my room, then returned to the front desk, where I would explain that since I was charged for the shower I decided to get my money's worth and washed their mattress for them. It should be dry in a month.

Any other charges I should know about?