Securing reservation for hotel via e-mail safe?
#1
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Securing reservation for hotel via e-mail safe?
My husband and I are planning to stay at the Hotel in Parione in Rome for about 6 days in August, the hotel has stated that they have availability, but their website does not have a place to make reservations(and hold it with a credit card.) The hotel wants us to send our credit card info in an e-mail to reserve the room. Is this a common practice and is this safe? Also-reviews from Trip Advisor are good for this hotel-any other opinions would be helpful! Thanks!
#2
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Hi,
For at least 3 or 4 years now I have been doing my reservations via e-mail in hotels in Europe. Sometimes I do it in their website but a lot of times, especially if I have other questions about the room I do it via e-mail. I have never had a problem.
I don't see it as any different than giving the same information via the phone or fax.
For at least 3 or 4 years now I have been doing my reservations via e-mail in hotels in Europe. Sometimes I do it in their website but a lot of times, especially if I have other questions about the room I do it via e-mail. I have never had a problem.
I don't see it as any different than giving the same information via the phone or fax.
#3
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I've been sending this kind of info ever since I had a computer and it was asked for. I send the first part of the number in 1 email and the rest plus the expiration date in a follow up. I don;t know Whether this helps or not but I've never had a problem, either with the hotel or with the CC. It seems just as reliable as a fax to me.
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I always send my credit card info by fax or phone. I realize George Bush is furiously copying it down, but I still prefer it to putting it into an e-mail.
Also, my general experience of Italians is that they themselves take more notice of faxes than e-mails, but no doubt that is gradually changing.
Also, my general experience of Italians is that they themselves take more notice of faxes than e-mails, but no doubt that is gradually changing.
#6
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When I send credit card numbers by e-mail, I always divide them into two messages. I think that method is very secure.
I recently booked at a hotel in Italy using their secure web site, which makes the transmission even more secure. However, when they sent back an e-mail confirmation of the reservation, all the information I had sent over the secure link was included, with my entire credit card number and expiration date.
When I got to the hotel, I pointed out to the manager that this defeated the purpose of using a secure web site in the first place. He agreed, and said that the confirmation had been done by an employee who had not followed the correct procedure - he should have deleted the credit card information from the confirmation message.
No harm seems to have resulted from the credit card number being included in this message.
- Larry
I recently booked at a hotel in Italy using their secure web site, which makes the transmission even more secure. However, when they sent back an e-mail confirmation of the reservation, all the information I had sent over the secure link was included, with my entire credit card number and expiration date.
When I got to the hotel, I pointed out to the manager that this defeated the purpose of using a secure web site in the first place. He agreed, and said that the confirmation had been done by an employee who had not followed the correct procedure - he should have deleted the credit card information from the confirmation message.
No harm seems to have resulted from the credit card number being included in this message.
- Larry
#7
I honestly don't understand taking these sorts of super-precautions. You are just as likely (more so actually) to have you credit card information stolen by a waiter in your home town ot a hotel clerk in Peoria.
It is no more or less safe to send a cc number to a hotel in Rome than to use your cc at Starbucks down the street from your officce . . . . . .
It is no more or less safe to send a cc number to a hotel in Rome than to use your cc at Starbucks down the street from your officce . . . . . .
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#8
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As some posters have said the risk of being ripped off for a small amount over e-mail is negligable, however e-mail is regarded as NOT as secure means of communication and can be hacked in several ways. The risk you face is not your $50 deposit being stolen, but someone having access to your card details and then using to run up bills or sell to criminals. So I would not send your card info via e-mail either whole or split, if the hotel doesn't have a secure site, call or fax them. OK a dishonest employee may take the data, but at least its traceable. And don't let any waiters take your card out of your site, I always go to the counter and pay where I can see the card. Paranoid? no just sensible.
#9
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Hi t,
As noted, send the info in two emails.
Let the hotel know in the first that there will be a second one.
Also as noted, the probability that someone will intercept your email and steal your CC info is vanishingly small.
As noted, send the info in two emails.
Let the hotel know in the first that there will be a second one.
Also as noted, the probability that someone will intercept your email and steal your CC info is vanishingly small.
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#10
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E-mail has the same amount of security as a postcard; if you feel okay about sending credit-card info in a postcard, then you need not worry about sending it in e-mail. And conversely, if you wouldn't write it on a postcard, you shouldn't send it via e-mail.
Sending two separate messages is a way to slightly improve security, although it won't help if someone is systematically intercepting your e-mail (or the hotel's e-mail). Your information may sit indefinitely on the hotel's computer, too. But in some respects that's also true for credit cards used in person, anyway.
In my own case, I don't send credit-card info unless I can use encrypted e-mail.
Sending two separate messages is a way to slightly improve security, although it won't help if someone is systematically intercepting your e-mail (or the hotel's e-mail). Your information may sit indefinitely on the hotel's computer, too. But in some respects that's also true for credit cards used in person, anyway.
In my own case, I don't send credit-card info unless I can use encrypted e-mail.
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