At the hotel where I worked, the block was put on the card given to us at check-in for incidentals. I don't remember how much.

Ask when you check in how much is blocked on the card. Also, if you prepaid, ask if it's necessary to leave a cc if you don't plan to charge to your room. Of course, then your phone might not be able to be used during your stay.

Thank you, Carrybean.

I have what may appear to be a naive question.

Are we all traveling to europe so strapped for cash that our finances are in a mess if a hotel blocks $100 for a couple of extra days?

If they never unblock it - naturally it needs to be addressed - but - as a group - do we travel on such tight budgets that this is an issue for us? (I would be very uncomfortable going on a trip knowing my credit cards would be maxed out when I got home.)

It may not be an issue for you or for me, but it can be for some people who don't maintain cards with high limits and/or multiple cards. The block can be a lot more then $100 for a few days. With multiple properties and car rental on a trip, it can add up to thousands. If the individual didn't intend to spend resources in that fashion, the impact is to unfairly limit access to what would otherwise have been fully available funds. I can see where it could present an issue in certain cases.

Is it possible to pay by travelers checks any more; they are beginning to look better and better between accounts being blocked and card companies deciding your card must be stolen because you are using it 2500 miles from your home. I am seriously considering not using my cards when I travel unless I absolutely have to.

Lena, are you suggesting buying Traveler's Cheques is easier than picking up a telephone and telling your credit card company where you're traveling? That's a necessity on my pretravel check list. It must take me the better part of a minute to do it. And I'm not even going to start on the problems of TC's.

This whole deal about blocks on the credit card -- how many here have actually had their card blocked due to this? I'm not asking how many have had a hotel or car rental agency put a hold on a certain amount, but how many people have been unable to use their credit card because of it?

<<I'm not asking how many have had a hotel or car rental agency put a hold on a certain amount, but how many people have been unable to use their credit card because of it?>>

Well, based on my searches here and on the web, it was recommended I alert my CC companies that I would be out of the country. The ppl on the other end of the call center said that they had no clue why I would ask this since Visa/MC is accepted all over the world. I told them I thought it was for fraud protection, and that touching base with them was a good idea. I got the "um ok, whatever" reaction.

Now I have yet to be in Europe (6 days and counting!), but I never called to let the finacial companies know that I was going to Mexico or Canada, nor has any card or account been blocked by the companies/bank backing the cards.

I am guessing there would be alot more B&M'img by travelers here if this happened alot. I still think calling them up and checking is still a good idea, even if they think you are crazy!

As for hotels blocking a chunk of the availible funds, it has happened here in the USA many times to me. it usually drops off imiediatley at check out. On occasion it has taken up to 5 days (inc weekends). It hasn't been an issue for me, and hopefuly won't be. As long as they don't take a thousand bucks for a 2 and 3 star property in Europe, I think i will be OK.

Well, I do understand your frustration, CYNCIYYFAN, as I too have called and gotten someone who gave the "whatever" shrug. But I do it anyway. Usually I get someone who does understand, makes the notation on my account and thanks me for doing so.

And I did have a credit card blocked while we were in London. Just before going, I had done a $23,000 charge on the card (a business purchase) and sent a check immediately to Citibank to cover it (good way to get a lot of miles, I figured). The reason they put a hold on my account was because I had "an unauthorized payment" on the account. In other words, the charge hadn't gone through but the payment had, so I had a credit balance of $23,000. Now that seems like an illogical reason to refuse me to charge on the card. They removed the hold when I called them.

^ See, this bugs me when I hear this. I have called 2 times per card/account. I get the same reaction. There will be some serious hell to pay if I dont get my money while I am there (as if I could do anything about it - LOL).

"Unauthorized payment" - LOL, shame on you for being so quick AND responsible!

~Jay

Interesting, I had no idea. I guess the limits on my cards are high enough that I've never had an issue. I don't carry a balance, so I'm sure that helps.

neo...yes, i have had this problem several years ago. back then i didn't know anything about blocking/holding. the hold was for thousands and i had another large charge going through. the problem was that an old hold was never released. calling the cc company did no good at all. i asked about the process for disputing the hold, etc. they said there is no dispute process because it is not a charge. when calling the merchant, he was equally unhelpful..."we didn't charge you anything". he was disorganised so i was caught between the two. i cannot remember how it was resolved in the end but it was a real pain requiring many phone calls and several days. since the hold is not visible on any statements or the web, it is impossible to know if you have a problem until it is too late.

Neapolitan -

The reason they blocked it is this is one of the ways criminals used to launder money. Anything over $10,000 that is not payment of a charge they already have can get them in trouble with the Feds.

Interesting. Maybe I should have also mentioned that when I called them to tell them I was going to the UK and giving them dates is the same time I told them I was sending that large check. I really thought somehow it would be noted on my account. I had thoroughly explained the reason I was doing both those things was so that there wouldn't be a problem when traveling.