Reserv question: why do small Paris hotels...?
 

...insist that you email them your credit card number? This is the second time this has happened to us. Emailing a credit card number is not secure. Both hotels absolutely refuse to accept it over the phone. Does anyone know why?<BR><BR>I guess my next move will be to ask them if they will accept a fax, since they do have a fax number. They didn't offer it as a solution, however, so I am not very hopeful.

Mare,<BR>I'm not sure that statistically emailing a credit card has resulted in more false charges than toll-free telephone numbers, or retail abuses, over the years.<BR>If that were so, billions of dollars of<BR>retail sales done over the internet every day would have come to a halt by now.<BR>The only false credit card charges I've ever had in my life were experienced years ago after an in-person purchase in a store, where an employee took my credit card slip and used the number all over the place.<BR>Besides, most credit cards limit your liability on false charges anyway, although I agree misuse could turn into a nightmare if it's unchecked.<BR>By the way, they don't need to offer the fax as a solution--just propose it and do it, if you prefer. I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't accept a signed fax. <BR>

Here's a solution:<BR><BR>E-mail the first eight numbers of your card in one e-mail and then the next eight numbers in the next e-mail!<BR><BR>I've done that several times.<BR><BR>Jennifer

Thanks for your replies. Jennifer, your idea is a very good one, and I will use it if they object to a fax.

This is what I do, too, several times, and had never a problem.<BR><BR>I split the info in three messages.<BR><BR>My personal data, address, phone number, card brand and validity in one, then I split the credit card number in two other messages. This shall be enough. Hardly someone, but the hotel itself, would get the track of the three of them.<BR><BR>Faxing the c. card info would work fine, too. All hotels accept a fax as a valid booking document.<BR><BR>Good luck,<BR><BR>S<BR><BR>

I email them saying that I will send my credit card information via fax and asking them to confirm via e-mail. I send the information via fax and I've always recieved confirmation via email.

The reason is because they probably need it in writing for legal reasons. Any place that accepts reservations by CC has always specified they will accept a FAX that I've dealt with. I am not so worried about stuff being intercepted in cyberspace somehow and email CC numbers without worrying. I've never heard of anyone have illegal CC charges from an email being intercepted with their number on it somehow, to me, there are many other things to worry about and I'll bet the odds of that are extremely small. Just FAX if you want. I don't think splitting the number up is a good idea or that they will be happy with that as it probably does not meet their requirements of the documentation they want. I think it's overkill. If anyone has experience or heard of charges from a CC number being intercepted in transmission when written in the text of an email, I'd be real interested in hearing of it. The only cases I've heard of have been hackers going into store, ISP, or other databases to retrieve CC numbers.

The only time I have ever had a problem with credit card fraud, was when someone got my Diners Club number from a hotel in Miami(? the likliest place as I didn't use it anywhere else that trip ?) and manufactured another card (this info came from Diners Club's Fraud Division). I have never had a problem with a card number that was emailed anywhere in the world.

Splitting up the CC number is a common solution. Many places ask you to do it that way - half the # in one e-mail and 1 half in a second e-mail.<BR><BR>(Fax is no more secure than e-mail)

Dear Mare:<BR>It's funny because a friend just tried to make reservations via phone with a small hotel in a tiny town in northern France. They did not want a credit card number, but wanted a written fax to reserve the room. We thought that this had to do with them actually having some sort of documentation in their hands. This seems the opposite problem from yours, but it made me think that sending a Fax might be the best way if you have concerns with sending your credit card number via the net.<BR>Michael

Mare, I am so glad you asked this question. I am reserving hotels now and was wondering about the same thing.<BR><BR>People underestimate the danger of sending sensitive information over the internet. When I shop over the internet, the credit card information is encripted. This is not so in e-mail. Many people have been the victims of identity theft because of information given over the internet.<BR>I plan to fax my information. Better safe than sorry.

I have a question that's a little off the main topic, but that has been bothering me. I have unsuccessfully tried to get information from a number of small hotels and their agencies about room availability. Why do they have the "ask us about availability" place to leave a message if they never get back to you? My reaponse rate has been no more than 30%. I have not sent them all of my information including credit card number because I do not want to book a room, I am just trying to check availability and need to make comparisons. Apparently I will just have to start phoning.

I, too, have sent my credit card number in two separate messages. That reduces the stastical chances of someone picking it off. I can understand the anxiety, but how do you know what a waiter in any restaurant does with your credit card when you pay the bill??<BR>He or she could do quite a bit with it while you are sitting there enjoying your after dinner coffee.<BR>

To Julie - I have had the same problem with emailing (or using the forms provided on the website) hotels in Italy. Sometimes they don't reply at all, sometimes only after I've emailed them 2 or 3 times. Maybe it's just the Italian way, I don't know but it makes the whole process time-consuming. Keep trying and email other places as well until you get a response you're happy with. <BR>Kay