"Lost" my Poly room key...now I have charges on my credit card I didn't make

[TDERadulski]

While at the Poly at the end of July, I "lost" my room key, one with my charge card on it. I say "lost" because I know I had it when we left the concierge lounge after breakfast, but couldn't find it in my bag a few hours later at the pool. I don't know if it was stolen, or if it fell out, or what happened. I reported it missing and they printed me out a new room key. I made sure to check my room charges when we checked out of the Poly to be certain no one made any "extra" purchases at my expense. There were no problems when we checked out.
However, today I checked my credit card statement online and saw that it was VERY close to my credit limit. I knew I hadn't made that many purchases, so I looked at it in detail. There were 6 separate charges posted the day after we checked out of WDW. The charges were non-Disney related (a clothing catalog, several to SprintPCS and BellSouth to be exact). I called the credit card company today to report it and they are starting the paperwork to get the charges removed from my account. I am going to call the companies involved tomorrow once they open for business.
I never thought that if someone got a hold my Disney room key that they could get the credit card number off it and make non-Disney purchases from it.
Be careful out there! I never thougth it would happen to me, espicially not poolside at the Poly!!

- Tara

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

OH MY!!!! I am SOOOOO sorry this happened to you! That is awful!
I wonder how they got the credit card # off the room key. It is not like it is written on it. That is very scarey. I could understand someone charging things at WDW itself, but to other places? Wouldn't they have to have access to a special machine that gives all the info from the card?
Does anyone know if you ask not to have charging priviledges on the room key, if they really do not put the card # on it? I will not have my credit card put on the room key! Thank You for the warning!!!

 

[Acklander]

But from what I understand on how room keys work (at least at other hotels, so I always assumed Disney was the same) is it doesn't actually have your credit card information on it - just the ability to either charge to your room or not charge to your room. Its not a number, but a yes/no type function. It's your room folio itself that has the credit card info, not the room key.

 

[Palendat]

I'm no expert, but I very much doubt that your lost key was the cause of the unauthorized charges. WDW simply has your CC number on file to pay for the charges, the number wouldn't be encoded on your room key. At least I would HOPE that that was not the case, given the number of room keys lost at WDW daily. The unauthorized charges could have been from any number of sources, from an unscrupulous gas station attendant, etc. (Didn't mean to single out gas jockeys, as I used to be one!!!) Your CC company will probably be able to provide you with more details of where the charges took place, etc.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

Our credit card number was stolen and we still had possession of the credit cards! My Dh was pretty embarrassed when he went to pay for Ds's birthday cake and the card was declined! Not 10 minutes later, the cc company is calling us asking about all these charges made in the Phillipines!! Uh, nope, not us! The cc company said that some of these theives have computer programs that generate random groups of numbers and then try them out to see if they work. Apparently, our number came up and was used! The charges were taken off the bill, we got a new card, and all is well! I would have to say it is just a coincidence that you lost your room card and you cc number was stolen!

 

[Sammie]

There are many places someone could have gotten access to your credit card number, including the person at the Front Desk when you used the card for room charges.

However it is not possible for someone to pick up a lost Disney Resort ID and get your credit card number from it. The most anyone could do prior to your reporting it missing is to charge something at Disney World back to your room.

 

[noahsmom]

I travel quite often for my job. Our corporate policy is to never leave room cards at the hotel. We are told to take them with us and destroy them once home. Credit card numbers can be accessed on some of them. At least that is what we've been told. So I now never leave my room card unless absolutely necessary, then I make sure to leave it at the front desk, never in the room.

 

[kesha]

I doubt if the charges came from your room card because unless I'm mistaken the card expires the day you check out. You said your charges occured after you checked out. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Sammie]

I doubt if the charges came from your room card because unless I'm mistaken the card expires the day you check out. You said your charges occured after you checked out. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

You are correct. You can use your room charge until midnight the day you check out.

 

[Sammie]

I travel quite often for my job. Our corporate policy is to never leave room cards at the hotel. We are told to take them with us and destroy them once home. Credit card numbers can be accessed on some of them. At least that is what we've been told. So I now never leave my room card unless absolutely necessary, then I make sure to leave it at the front desk, never in the room.

I believe only staff would be able to get info from them. Not another guest.

I mean basically we all know that anytime you use a CC, anywhere, you take a risk of it being lifted. Whether it is by hotel staff, the local gas station, the Pizza restaurant. If you use them, they can be stolen. The only protection is to check your account often and report stolen or lost cards immediately and only have cards with a reputable company or bank that will notice unusual activity even before you do.

 

[catbertdave99]

I also doubt it came off your room key. People are pretty amazing at stealing numbers if they want to. I found a charge on my Disney Visa online a few days ago for over $3,500! Worst part, it was with the Disney Travel Company for Disney World Resort!! No - the worst part was that it wasn't for ME!

Anyway, I called Disney World, and no reservation for me. I called the Visa company, and apparently the charge was made on-site, so they are removing the charge, closing that account for fraud, and issuing me a new card. Very helpful -- my kids thought I should be on one of those identity-theft tv commercials though, with someone vacationing at Disney World under my name!

Ugh.

 

[NCombs]

I agree it is not connected to losing your room key but probably has to do with somewhere else you used it.

For instance, we frequent a restaurant that does not mask your credit card number on the receipt you sign for their records. Your credit card number is in full view for anyone to see. I black it out with a pen every time we make a charge there. They have already ran the credit card through the system so there is no need for my number to be on that piece of paper.

The room keys do not have cc numbers stored on them. It simply connects you to a record in the Disney system.

I'm very sorry you are going through such a hassle.

 

[Kimmielee]

It sucks when this happens!! What a pain to have to go through...

I take cash/travelers checks to give the front desk to activate my key card. It helps me "limit" myself a little better because I know there is an "end" $ amount that I can get to!

 

[jordansdad]

I an certain that the charges were not related to your lost key. The only information that your room keys contain is the reservation ID numbers that link its use back to your room reservation. You also don't have to worry about a Disney cast member stealing your CC number off of your reservation because the system only displays your credit card number as a series of asteriscs with the last four digits of the card at the end of it (***************4567). The system is even smart enough to recognize a credit card number in the comments section and mask it the same way! WDW takes your safety and privacy very seriously and it shows in the safeguards built into the resort reservation systems.

 

[OntFamily]

Check out snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp

It is rare for a CC to be on the room key.

 

[TDERadulski]

All that makes me feel better about giving my credit card at check in for room charges on a room key. But I think I may explore the option of putting down cash or travelers checks the next time we travel.
I have to say the credit card company (the folks at Disney Visa) were wonderful. They cancelled my card, are sending out a new one, and have removed the charges from my bill. I ran a credit report as well, and everything else looks to be in check. I will run another one in about 6 months to be certain.
Thanks for all the input!

- Tara

 

[WDWBetsy]

Check out snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp

It is rare for a CC to be on the room key.

I love the snopes website. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Feralpeg]

When I had charge priviledges on my room key, I occassionaly asked for a printout. All I had to do was show them my room key. I don't remember, but is the credit card info printed out on the sheet when you do this?

 

[vfb2girls]

So is your charge card automatically put on your room key or is this an option?

 

[scanne]

I lost my entire wallet at Epcot when we were there 2 weeks ago. We cancelled all of our cc's and was able to replace my Dreams Reward Card at Downtown Disney.

However, after a trip to WDW in 2001, I noticed suspicious activity on my American Express card. All the charges were made in Orlando at gas stations for convenience items - gum, snacks, cigarette, etc. AMEX removed the charges and closed the account. Of course I was suspicious of who might have been using my CC number, and I wasn't past blaming a CM. We had stayed at the Polynesian...go figure. No problems this trip - yet. Hopefully it will stay that way.