Credit Card when Booking Universal hotels

[MizzPrincezz]

Hi there can someone confirm wether Universal Hotels charge your credit card at the time of booking? I have booked a room (over three weeks ago)and they still haven't charged my card yet , does anyone have any info, thanks. Staying at the Royal Pacific Resort.



Karon

 

[disneyfreakk]

i have booked 4 rooms in the last 2 years and they havent ever charged my CC until the night before we leave. ( i always use my debit card for a CC, just incase you were wondering if that makes a difference. )

 

[rlduvall]

I have found it to be kind of a hit and miss thing. Sometimes I am charged for one night; and other times I am not. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my recent reservation of which they did charge me the one night and they haven't credited it back to me. I'll give 'em thirty days, then call back and say "Hey, what's the deal?"

 

[d4est]

Hmmm, I just made ressies for this coming Feb (19-26th) on July 2nd calling the loews hotels #. At the time I made the ressie, I asked the very nice guy when I would be charged so that I would know (using debit card as credit card). He told me Feb 7th I would be charged one night plus taxes. WELL, low and behold, I happened to check my online banker and I was charged $266.49 by Royal Pacific on July 6th...4 days after making my ressie.

I was a little upset because he gave me a specific date to expect the withdrawal from my account. I called loews back and told someone about my ressie and what the guy had told me. She pulled up my ressie and said she could see why he told me that, but he shouldn't have as it was incorrect. I calmly explained that if I had known that I would be charged immediately, I wouldn't have booked so early--still have 7 months to go, and I couldn't afford the charge right now. She transferred me to guest services where a gentleman looked at my ressie again and agreed that he could see why the mistake was made, but that the withdrawal was made by universal resorts, not them. He said he would call, explain the situation, & see what he could do about getting my $ back. A few hrs later he called and sent me an email---HE GOT MY MONEY BACK FOR ME!!

Sorry this is so long, I just wanted to share because, for one, you could be charged any time, AND...

I just think it is so great that the Loews people are so willing to go out of their way to make sure their customers are satisfied!!:thewave:

Just had to share!

 

[MizzPrincezz]

Hi there thanks for sharing that with us sounds like they were VERY understanding think I made the right choice now

Seems they charge your card whenever they feel like it
I was curious as I assumed they would charge it immediately upon booking & they haven't.

Thanks for all the responses folks

Karon

 

[d4est]

Wanted to add that the money was returned to my account on July 12th. Also, the guy at guest services (loews) assured me that I wouldn't be charged the deposit until Feb 7th 2005!

 

[disneyfreakk]

i got to thinking about why they would charge some a deposit and not others. and i wonder if it has to do with HOW you book?? I always book at www.loewshotel.com. d4est said they called.

how about everyone else?

 

[Antonia]

It has been my experience that if you book cirectly on the Loews website, you do not get charged until you arrive. However, if you book by calling 1-800-BE A STAR, you get charged in about 2-3 days.

 

[Planogirl]

I called the '800' number to use the Entertainment rate. I was told that I would be charged immediately for one night and I was.

 

[mrspaha]

If you do get charged the deposit (with ENT rate), and later cancel, do you get the whole deposit back, or is there a cancellation fee? Anyone know?

 

[MizzPrincezz]

I actually booked via the Universal website..don't know if that makes any diffrence? I just know my card hasn't been charged yet & I was curious why not.


Karon

 

[rlduvall]

If you cancel within five days prior to arrival, you will get your full deposit back. Sometimes it just takes a while.

 

[Mercy]

I just had this experience... I booked my ressie (3 nights) back in Nov for our Aug. trip. I thought they charged me the first nights deposit at that time. Just last week I faxed over authorization to have my cc (actually a debit card) charged with the balance owed. I was expecting to be charged with 2 nights, but was charged with 3. They never did take the first nights deposit back in Nov..

When I called about this, they said they should have taken the deposit but didn't. So I think this is a hit or miss situation. I'm just glad I had enough in my account to cover it.

 

[d4est]

FYI, I did call for my ressie and I called the Loews # (800-23Loews?)

 

[antmaril]

I called 1-800-23-loews about two weeks ago to make reservations for February, 2005. I just received my Mastercard bill and there is a $400.29 charge from the PBH Front Desk.

 

[antmaril]

I called 1-800-23-loews about two weeks ago and made reservations at Portofino Bay for February, 2005. I just received my Mastercard bill and there is a charge for $400.29 from the "PBH Front Desk." I have to call them because my rate is $294 - I don't know why I was charged $400!!!

Anyway, the deposit did hit the charge almost immediately.