alwayseric

We are going to have like 7 nights holiday in Paris. I booked the rooms with three different hotels tonight. One of them is Accor, the other one is a boutique hotel with very good review on expedia and the last one is an apartment-like hotel.

I received an email from the last hotel and it requested me to fill in an ID check form. Here is their reason for asking me to do this:

"Due to the increase of credit card fraud on Internet and to prove your identity, we kindly ask you to complete and sign the enclosed credit card authorization form and return it to us by email or fax with a copy of a passport, an ID-card or a driving license within 24H, otherwise we will proceed to the cancellation of your reservation."

On the form, i have to fill in my address (i am from Australia) and phone number. They already had my credit card details including the security number.

I did fill the form and send it back, but i have not send a copy of my passport or any ID-card to them.

I have travelled to different countries and booked with all sorts of hotels (from 5-stars to motels). This is the first time I am asked to fill such a document. I think it is really ridiculous. More importantly, I feel uncomfortable to disclose so much personal details to a stranger on the other side of the world.

I would like to hear your opinions if what i have been asked to do is quite common in Europe? Should I do as they request? Thank you.

bilboburgler

Unusual in France, but then I'm a Brit. Italy; certainly possible here, and they would need to take a photocopy at some point to fill the offices of italian government with stuff to do. Germany; never. Spain; not yet. So certainly worth thinking about.

DebitNM

Better question might be, why 3 hotels for 7 nights?

When I don't feel comfortable with a similar request ion, I provide them with some info and indicate I will provide them with full ID upon check in.

I have had similar requests at apartment rentals.

DebitNM

Oh, do you mean you triple booked for the 7 nights and will decide later which you'll stay in?

alwayseric

three hotels of three different styles in three different suburbs of Paris, but it is NOT relevant to my question.

I already regret that i sent the form back to them.

traveller1959

It is meant primarily to protect YOU, not the hotel. The hotel probably once had an incident and has gotten over-cautious. If you feel uncomfortable do not mail your details (NEVER mail a credit card number!!!!) but send them by good old fax.

alwayseric

they put the credit numbers as well as expiry date and security number on the form, but thank god, they didnt disclose the full number.

Christina

I haven't had that but haven't booked an Accor recently, but have in the past, and I like them. I gather they aren't the ones doing this.

Not sure what the question is, you know it's a legitimate hotel where you booked, and I presume they are asking for the reasons they stated. No way the hotel had one incident and then started doing this IMO. No hotel does something based on one incident, as this now involves labor on their part to get and file all the info.

kerouac

They are just tiring themselves out, not you.

pariswat

Hotel de l'horloge did ask me for the same, nearly the same wording (but in french for me).
That is ONE hotel out the 118 that I've booked in the last 3 years.

I answered that they were protecting themselves, and that I protected myself by never giving this information, and certainly not by mail.
They got upset, and I slept elsewhere. Enough hotels in Paris.

Enjoy Paris.

tomboy

Sounds like a hangover practice from long ago.

Back in the '70s, German law (and assumedly that of other Euro countries) apparently required passport info in order to book a hotel. Maybe a throwback to the "show me your papers" day. It was rigidly, but amusedly, complied with by innkeepers.

tomboy

I tender this info in view of your youth, showcased by your casual use of the word "like", as a modifier of the 7 ? or perhaps the word night? or perhaps a verbal punctuation akin to an underline?

Dukey1

Don't feel badly. For our hotel in Sydney which we will occupy for 6 nights over the coming New Years Eve period I had to fill out and send in an authorization form along with a copy of a government-issued ID AND I had to pay the entire amount up front and that amount was not cheap. Be happy.

pariswat

Tomboy
I hope you consider me as young too.
'cos I am like er, young in my head, like.

ribeirasacra

Sending ID information is not required in France. Even when checking in at the front desk. In Spain ID is required at front desk.
If you had used a website like booking you would have never had any of this trouble.
If you are booking an apartment then maybe they will ask you for ID.

AJPeabody

They are asking because some inconsiderate travelers book multiple hotels and then cancel the excess at the last minute, leaving all but one hotel on the hook with an empty room. This hotel is trying to scare away such inconsiderate travelers.

sandralist

I would call the hotel to make sure it is not a scam before sending any more info.

pariswat

'If you had used a website like booking you would have never had any of this trouble.'

I did book via booking when the hotel asked me for ID.
I told booking of it and got no answer.
'
Maybe it was hotel.com instead of booking.com.

Some hotels just have plain stupid rules.

sandralist

I just read pariswat's reply. I too would cancel the reservation -- deliberately cancel it -- and book elsewhere.

kerouac

French hotels stopped asking for ID in the 1970's. That's why there a lots of roadside motels with no staff at night that allow you to check in and get a code to your room with a payment card, no questions asked.

It is illegal for any hotel to request proof of your identity, but some of them will try. Generally, it is the more expensive hotels that will do this. More to lose.