Authorization form for payments ?

[babesboo99]

I have 2 reservations at HRH and they sent me a email for an authorization form to make payments so we can pay the bill off before we arrive. I was wondering can they take payment any other way?

 

[sonofanarchy]

Been asking myself that same question for about 7 years. I like to pay my hotel reservations off (as many do) in advance. Many people will say "It's Loews", and that's all well and good, but Universal needs to make the process easier. Just in case you didn't know, here's what needs to be done:

1.Fill the form out.
2.Make photocopy of your drivers license.
3.Make photocopy of front of credit card and back.
4.Fax all 3 forms out to number on form.

Now, let's say an AP rate comes out at Portofino but you're booked at Royal Pacific and you want to switch, you would need to contact Loews accounting department, cancel the reservation, and wait for the refund. Then, you'd have to rebook the new reservation with a 1 night deposit on your credit card, and if you want to pay it off, go through the entire process above all over again.

No doubt, this is one area where Disney has Universal beat hands down.

 

[babesboo99]

It is ridiculous. when I get there I like to know it's paid off and I don't have to worry about bills or anything. this process should be more accommodating. thank you for the info it helps alot.

 

[tricky1]

I send my payments(checks) to Loews hotel accounting
6800 lakewood plaza dr.
Orlando ,Fl. 32819

I put my ressie # and hotel and the dates on the check.
I currently have the smsm rate for Oct., but if the aph rate
comes out and it is cheaper I call and change it.(done this before)
No need to cancel and rebook,If you booked a package thats a whole
different story.Not sure if this would work with the HRH, I thought they were not a part of Loews.

 

[damo]

Would it be possible to just put that payment on your credit card so it is paid for in advance instead? Then just put the final payment on your credit card instead? Or purchase a prepaid credit card in that amount? I imagine there are ways around it that are quite simple.

Disney owning their hotels makes the whole thing very different. With Loews running the Universal hotels, I don't think Universal has much say in the accounting practices.

 

[babesboo99]

I just booked the rooms. Thought it would be better to do everything separate from what everyone was saying.

 

[buckeev]

I put my deposit down using a CC...(pre paid or otherwise).
THEN...I purchase Universal Gift Cards, currently on the US web site, and carry those with me to Hard Rock, RPR, etc. At check in, I go ahead and pre pay the entire stay using the Universal gift cards that I bought months ahead of time. Used over $2000 like this during our Christmas stay with no issues at all. They will let you mix-n-match payment types.
This is how I roll.

 

[zbsigpi]

Been asking myself that same question for about 7 years. I like to pay my hotel reservations off (as many do) in advance. Many people will say "It's Loews", and that's all well and good, but Universal needs to make the process easier. Just in case you didn't know, here's what needs to be done:

1.Fill the form out.
2.Make photocopy of your drivers license.
3.Make photocopy of front of credit card and back.
4.Fax all 3 forms out to number on form.

Now, let's say an AP rate comes out at Portofino but you're booked at Royal Pacific and you want to switch, you would need to contact Loews accounting department, cancel the reservation, and wait for the refund. Then, you'd have to rebook the new reservation with a 1 night deposit on your credit card, and if you want to pay it off, go through the entire process above all over again.

No doubt, this is one area where Disney has Universal beat hands down.

Not sure how Disney does it, however I would wager that for most hotels this practice is the same. It all boils down to the hotels being able to prove authorization for the payments

 

[macraven]

I put my deposit down using a CC...(pre paid or otherwise).
THEN...I purchase Universal Gift Cards, currently on the US web site, and carry those with me to Hard Rock, RPR, etc. At check in, I go ahead and pre pay the entire stay using the Universal gift cards that I bought months ahead of time. Used over $2000 like this during our Christmas stay with no issues at all. They will let you mix-n-match payment types.
This is how I roll.

this is how i do it also.

the plus side to it is i recieve the points on my cc for the gc purchases.
weeks before my trips to the darkside, i cash in those points for a check.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Disney owning their hotels makes the whole thing very different. With Loews running the Universal hotels, I don't think Universal has much say in the accounting practices.

No doubt, but that's the problem. Universal needs to work with Loews to make this easier for guests.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Not sure how Disney does it, however I would wager that for most hotels this practice is the same. It all boils down to the hotels being able to prove authorization for the payments

Then why are they able to take the deposit?

Credit card information is easily attainable by any retailer. All they need is the number and they can call the bank and verify that it belongs to the person whose name is on the reservation.

 

[babesboo99]

I agree. I think they need to work on this to make it easier on both parts. How do you get points on your credit card for buying GC is it a universal card ?

 

[damo]

Then why are they able to take the deposit?

Credit card information is easily attainable by any retailer. All they need is the number and they can call the bank and verify that it belongs to the person whose name is on the reservation.

I had to prepay for a few nights stay at the Holiday Inn a couple of years ago for my son who didn't have a credit card and I had to do the same thing as what Loews does. I don't think it is only Loews who uses that policy. I'm not sure why.

 

[macraven]

I agree. I think they need to work on this to make it easier on both parts. How do you get points on your credit card for buying GC is it a universal card ?

i have a chase cc and i get bonus points for different types of charges in each quarter.

my points can be turned in for merch or a check to me.

 

[buckeev]

this is how i do it also.

the plus side to it is i recieve the points on my cc for the gc purchases.
weeks before my trips to the darkside, i cash in those points for a check.

THIS!
See there...great minds think alike...even those of us WITHOUT REDHAIR on top of that great mind!!!

 

[macraven]

THIS!
See there...great minds think alike...even those of us WITHOUT REDHAIR on top of that great mind!!!

youse need the proud redhead tag.......

 

[Bluer101]

Then why are they able to take the deposit?

Credit card information is easily attainable by any retailer. All they need is the number and they can call the bank and verify that it belongs to the person whose name is on the reservation.

The cc that you use for booking has to be shown at checkin if you are using that as a form of payment. They tell you that when booking. Even this past weekend I made about 3 reservations and the person made a comment that the computer said my CC was expiring before 2 of the ressies. She said make sure you bring the updated card at checkin.


We pay the balance a checkin with cash most times. We either put the cash into our separate fun bank account or use the check card to pay from that account. No need to pay before you go just save it yourself.