<i><font color=#555555>"If the vendor does not, in fact, deal with CC payments at all, they should not be implying otherwise with a "guarantee with CC" demand. Either they deal with CC or they don't, and if they do, it should be up to the consumer to choose whether to settle in cash at a discount or with a CC."</font></i>

Many times the "guarantee reservation with a CC" is a mirror procedure commonly used by many small boutique or B&B hotels. It protects a small business against customers who forget to cancel a reservation. The penalty fee will be charged to your credit card. Large hotels do this, too, but the penalties tend to be less.

Some apartment owners use this tactic ostensibly for the same protection, but often it's just used to create an illusion of customer commitment and keep the customer on his or her toes with attention. Perhaps "they should not be implying otherwise," but we don't live in a perfect world.

While most boutique hotels and B&Bs do accept CC payments, many will offer a discount if you pay your bill in cash. The only difference: you don't have to pay your bill in-full until you're about to depart. Apartment owners typically want full payment the day you receive the keys. It's a necessary evil to protect owners, especially the many owners who no longer require a security deposit.

Does any customer know what any service business is doing with their cash payments? Perhaps not every small service business wants to declare every penny of their cash income. Is it my duty to judge without knowing the facts? Or maybe having cash on hand is a huge convenience for running the business, which of course is not illegal.

I have no idea how long it takes Visa to pay a hotel in Europe or when the owner's bills are due. Whatever an owner decides to do with my payment, it's none of my business. If I pay in cash and receive a discount as I enjoy my stay, why should I care about the owner's reasons for desiring cash? Why should I assume he's doing something that might be considered illegal? If my beauty salon offers a discount for cash, would I stop going because I assumed they were doing so to avoid taxes? I don't think so.

Vacation apartments have been operating in the shade for as long as I can remember. Laws are changing in some places and some owners are coming out from the shade. If your rental owner or agency accepts credit card payments, I can see why a customer might assume it's a safer transaction, but there's rarely a guarantee. Accepting CCs would be more convenient for the customer, and it would be fun to accrue those miles, but apart from that, it's difficult to see much benefit for the apartment owner.

The bottom line is: If you want a specific apartment badly enough, you'll pay according to the owner's terms. Everyone must do what feels most comfortable. Risk exists. Most people embracing adventure tend to deal with it quite well.

<i> Accepting CCs would be more convenient for the customer, and it would be fun to accrue those miles, but apart from that, it's difficult to see much benefit for the apartment owner. </i>

NYC

I've no problem with business owners seeking protection for their bookings - if the customer defaults on their side of the agreement, businesses small and large have every right to assess a penalty because otherwise it is NOT merely an inconvenience to them - they are at risk of being out of pocket due to lost potential business as a result of the customer's default.

However, they cannot have it both ways - as you say, we don't live in a perfect world - and having it both ways in effect IS a demand for a perfect world -- for the business. In my view, a business cannot fairly seek to use my credit card to establish only a benefit for them (maximize the security of their being paid or compensated in event of default) but then, having realized this benefit, deny me the consumer any benefit or convenience from the self same credit card. I'm the one that is paying that card's costs, not them, and I pay it as part of every single transaction I make on it, not just the transaction I have with them.

My point is, that business is a two way transaction. A hotel or apartment owner isn't in the business of providing charity ...and neither am I.

<i><font color=#555555>"they cannot have it both ways"</font></i>

Of course they can. They just can't have it both ways with you.

<i><font color=#555555>"a business cannot fairly seek to use my credit card"</font></i>

You're missing the point. You're clearly not the customer I'm talking about.

As I said earlier, many apartment owners who request a CC to hold a reservation are employing a ruse. They don't possess the means to actually "use" your credit card. They only possess the means to create a perception. The CC equipment costs money, an account set-up is required, there's a paper trail and procedures to follow. Many apt owners don't want any part of this. But customers will never know whether owners can or can't. The number of people who fail to cancel an apt reservation is miniscule. And if a customer did default, the ruse-employing-apt-owner would not have the ability to charge your card.

<i><font color=#555555>"My point is, that business is a two way transaction."</font></i>

It's only a two-way transaction with those who wish to transact. Folks like you will not seek to reserve vacation apartments that don't accept credit cards. There are plenty of agencies that accept credit cards, and if something goes wrong, they will work on your behalf to get things right. Hence, less risk, but you'll tend to pay more.

As I said earlier, if you want a specific apartment badly enough, you'll pay according to the owner's terms. There are quite a few fabulous places out there, with great reviews, offering terrific experiences, that are owner-managed. These transactions will be cash-only deals (for whatever reason). If you can't handle that, you'll move on to the next offering. The market is fuller than ever, customer demand is growing, and hotel rooms keep rising in cost.