I've never had this happen before. This is a cautionary tale...horror story with an OK ending. Here it is. <BR> <BR>1. Two days ago I inquired about a reservation in Nancy, France, with an online French-based booking outfit. I did not complete the transaction. I got an email saying, you didn't send your credit card info so please send so we can complete your reservation. <BR>2. Yesterday I emailed back and said, I was just checking to see if that hotel was open in late December. I was told it was. <BR>3. This morning, 20 minutes ago, to my horror, I checked my email to find A CONFIRMATION of my booking, with the details correct, and the words...YOUR CREDIT CARD HAS BEEN CHARGED $85. <BR>4. Well. Thank goodness I saw that fast. I sent an email and then I found a toll-free number to call. Got through to the woman who sent the email and made the booking. She had a credit card number, but it was not mine. <BR>She did not know how all this happened, was not apologetic but did cancel "the reservation." <BR>5. My presumption is that someone else's credit card had gotten mixed in with the booking I inquired about. I have made online reservations in Europe from Texas for three years now and have never had a problem. This has rattled me. <BR>So, I just guess the moral of this story is...be careful on line. Any other thoughts, other than someone who might want to call me an idiot, or something like that?

kk: <BR>Why were you concerned when you did not give them your credit card number? Just curious.

Presunambly, if they mistakenly charged someone else's card they could do the same with yours. And maybe this happens with other companies handling online credit card transactions.

John, my first concern was that somehow --with credit card numbers easy to get these days--they had been able to access it, somehow. <BR>Then my next concern, once that fear was laid to rest, was that I could have made a booking and someone else's credit card could have been hit....and third, someone has made a booking, used their own credit card, and how it has been messed up. <BR>All the way around, it is a big mess. <BR>I don't understand how it happened but just thought I should tell folks about it since mixups can happen. <BR>I always use my American Express card when buying on the web, BTW, because they guarantee (or so they say) that if somehow an error is made, you won't have to pay for it. So far I've never had to test that, and hope never to have to. <BR>Now I hope some other traveler's reservation is not messed up!

Thanks for the warning. How terrifying that WITHOUT having given your credit card number, a sneaky hotel charged someone ELSE'S credit card & sent an e-mail to you. Thank GOD you DIDN'T give your card number out, or who knows whether or not you'd be here now to tell the tale!! <BR> <BR>You know, it's likely that the other poor traveller involved in this "horror story" is probably also a Fodors forum regular. They may have been charged on their credit card and NOT EVEN KNOW IT!! Why don't you post a message with the victim's credit card number as the message, and then we can all check to see if it matches with ours. You could save someone's vacation, if not their life.

Great idea Welcome. Be sure to include exp. date so we'll all be sure if it's correct!

I would not do that and at this point cannot do that. Only the first four numbers stuck in my mind. <BR>Well, if you want those then here they are...4032. After that, I forget and did not write them down. <BR>Do you all want the company's web site....here it is too...to avoid perhaps or at least by wary of... <BR>they call themselves "trusted" in their email canceling my so-called "reservation!" <BR>www.FranceHotelReservation.com/

BTW, "Welcome," I think there is a better than 50-50 chance that your whole message is tongue-in-cheek. That did not pass me by...I recognize sarcasm when I see it.