I was staying at the Swissotel Merchant Court last week. When we arrived at the hotel and booked in they requested $300 dollars cash even though we had already paid for our accomodation. Since I had only just arrived and didn't have the cash I gave them my credit card thinking they would do like most other hotels and take an imprint on paper. To my horror next day when checking my bank account they had actually taken $300 out of my account without my pin number or signature. When we left they said they couldn't give me my $300 back as cash but would refund it against my credit card and this could take up to 10 days. Thay also said that all the hotels in Singapore were doing this. However my daughter stayed at the Furama the previous week and they didn't have to pay up front. Has anyone else had this problem?

Kingbonza,

I'm sorry we couldn't meet in Chiang Mai for New Year's even.

We stayed at the Swisshotel-The Stamford-the room was prepaid and they didn't ask for any additional money.

Actually, on departure, my husband used his Visa card to pay the incidentals . The hotel walkie=talkied the taxi driver while we were on route to the airport to let us know that my husband had left the credit card at the desk.

We didn't have time to return to the hotel so my husband asked them to cut up the card. When we returned home we cancelled the card anyway.

This is a seriously questionable business practice. It's quite common to take a credit card imprint, as a guarantee against any incidentals you may ring up during your stay. But they should never ever have charged or debited anything without your signature.
How did they get money out of an account, when they only had your credit card? Seems the most they should be able to do is charge against the card.

I would hold the credit card company liable and tell them you want that money replaced immediately! Then I would cancel my account with that bank and I would never stay at the Swissotel again!

I've never had that problem in Singapore. Happy Travels!

Often, when you check into a hotel and they take a credit card imprint, the credit card company "holds" a certain amount of your credit for that bill. It is then later released after you check out of the hotel. (You would only ever know about this if you were close to your credit limit.)

I'm wondering if you used a debit card (one that deducts money from your bank account). If so, that's a reminder of one more reason to not use a debit card.

Also, did they actually take the money out or did they just put a hold on it? In the US, many gas stations put a $100 hold on your debit card when you pump gas. Once your total is determined and subtracted, the hold is supposed to go away, but it often takes a day or two.

It may be that they followed the usual procedure, but because yours was a debit rather than a credit card, the results were different.

That's right, I was about to have a Debit Card run through in Singapore when I mentioned that I would pay cash on departure and they instantly 'stopped' saying that with a Debit Card once done it was 'done', so I used another card instead.

They need a deposit to cover phone calls, mini-bar, room service etc.

Without going off-topic one thing I cannot figure ( and maybe someone out there can enlighten us all ) is that those machines have a cancel 'button', and an 'error' ( e.g a charge ) can be cancelled on that machine simply by running it through, putting in the amount and pressing the ( red ? )cancel button. It is there simply to cancel a charge in case anyone using whether hotel, store or whatever makes an entry error,
So 'How come' people so often talk about having to wait weeks or months to get the money credited back to their cards ?
Anyone know ?

Thanks for all the replies. it was a debit card I used but I have used them for years and never had a problem. They actually did remove the money from my account as the current balance and available balance were the same. Fortunately it only took 3 days to credit the money back. I think what they did was treated it as a telephone transaction. They have the card No, name, expiry date and security No on the back. I won't be staying there again. Peacheysmokey were you in Chiang Mai for new years eve? What a blast. I am going back for new years eve again this year.

Like I said, a good reason not to use a debit card! (I have many more...)

You know it is necessary to be blunt at times. It is truly difficult to imagine travelers this stupid. Big hotels have costly toys - booze refrigs, rental movies, long dist. tel. AND they (esp in Sin) expect every guest to steal everything in the room. So, like every hotel in the world, they get a "hold" of some amount on your card. When you fail to buy toys or steal their ugly towels, pictures and booze, the hold comes off. Now tell me, how does the hotel do this with a DEBIT card? Tell us. Do people think that a hotel has to run a little seminar for ea. guest & teach them the 210 things they ought to figure out in travel & hotel use? "No sweetie, if you use a DC, it will really, really go thru honey." People this dumb should stay home - a lot.