Paying The Hotel

[klofan]

When I arrive for check-in at AS Music, can I pay with a check to pay for my hotel balance? (By the way, the checking account I'm paying with is the same debit card account I payed for the room deposit.)

Thanks.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Although I've never used a personal check, we've used business checks many times at the WDW resorts without a problem. Whenever my company has a industry trade show in Orlando, I always lobby to stay at one of the Disney resorts.

 

[TammiMcMan]

You may want to call and ask what their payment procedures are. Some hotels require a credit card which I assume they hold against your account until the check clears. It depends on their system I think. They could enter it as an electronic check, which comes out of your account almost immediately.

 

[KevGuy]

If the account is the same and you used a debit card for the deposit why in the world would you want to write a check?? Doesn't the debit card do the same thing without formally writing a check and the money comes from the same place. I know 6 of one, half dozen of another, but to me it makes no sense. Just give them the debit card and make it easy on you and them? Am I missing something?

 

[ZekeKelso]

I once tried to pay by check. Although the account was perfectly good, the verification company Disney uses couldn't verify the check for some reason. It wasn't the end of the world - I just put the charges on my credit card (not sure why I didn't do that in the first place.) But it did waste 15 minutes while the guy tried to get my check cleared, and freaked out a bit. I spent a while on the phone with my bank the next day making sure my account hadn't been emptied out somehow.

 

[TammiMcMan]

If the account is the same and you used a debit card for the deposit why in the world would you want to write a check?? Am I missing something?

I thought the same thing, but perhaps the OP is considering a check because it won't be cashed right away. For example, their payroll check is direct deposited into the account on Tuesday, but their resort check in is on Monday. The debit card will attempt to pull cash from the account right away, but the check may not be presented to his/her bank until Wednesday or Thursday. That's why I mentioned the electronic check though. Some companies now utilize this technology and the funds are drawn down on the same day. If they were hoping to "float" a check, that may not work.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

I thought you had to have them paid in full 45 days before you get there? How are you all paying at the motel?

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I thought you had to have them paid in full 45 days before you get there? How are you all paying at the motel?

Packages are due 45 days prior. Room only is a one night's deposit and the balance at check-in.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

Packages are due 45 days prior. Room only is a one night's deposit and the balance at check-in.

I never knew that, that is good information to have. Thanks.

 

[famsen]

I think I understand where the OP is coming from. I have posted about this before but last September shortly after I gave my bank account debit/credit card number to WDW CRO to put down my deposit, someone used my card number and fraudulently debited almost $800.00 from my checking account! I'm not blaming Disney as it could have been a coincidence but it ruined my life for about a month until it was proven to be fraudulent. I have not given that number out to anyone since that experience. I write checks or get money orders or use my regular Visa credit cards. The problem with bank debit cards is that if someone gets ahold of it and wants to empty out your entire bank account, they can. Then checks bounce and fees are charged and banks have different rules than credit card companies when it comes to getting you that money back. With a regular credit card you can put a dispute in immediately and get that charge at least temporarily taken off.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Yes, you can pay by personal check.
2) They will ask for a driver's license as ID.
3) Then they call it into the check verification company.
4) Takes a few minutes, but easy.

 

[girt25]

I think I understand where the OP is coming from. I have posted about this before but last September shortly after I gave my bank account debit/credit card number to WDW CRO to put down my deposit, someone used my card number and fraudulently debited almost $800.00 from my checking account! I'm not blaming Disney as it could have been a coincidence but it ruined my life for about a month until it was proven to be fraudulent. I have not given that number out to anyone since that experience. I write checks or get money orders or use my regular Visa credit cards. The problem with bank debit cards is that if someone gets ahold of it and wants to empty out your entire bank account, they can. Then checks bounce and fees are charged and banks have different rules than credit card companies when it comes to getting you that money back. With a regular credit card you can put a dispute in immediately and get that charge at least temporarily taken off.

umm, your bank routing number and checking account number are on your checks as well. In bold, printed, much easier to read for just about anyone then a debit card swipe. Which is why I never use checks, and destroyed my check book and all checks that came in it.

 

[bradk]

incidentally, unless i'm wrong, the Check 21 law allows means check funds can be withdrawn in as little as 24 hours as they will accept electronic forms of the check as valid as opposed to the old days when they had to mail the check between banks. that doesn't mean every check YOU deposit will have your funds available in a day though.

writing a check based on funds you don't currently have is called kiting or floating and actually is illegal (although you're bound to only get hit with overdraft fees if it happens).

but i can see the concern with not wanting to use the debit card at all, although i have used one once at WDW without issue, but once bitten, twice shy.

 

[famsen]

umm, your bank routing number and checking account number are on your checks as well. In bold, printed, much easier to read for just about anyone then a debit card swipe. Which is why I never use checks, and destroyed my check book and all checks that came in it.

It is too easy to give a debit/credit card number when making a purchase with no further ID check and if making an online purchase or phone purchase, you don't even have to present the card with your signature. At least when I write a check, there is a paper transaction and I am always asked for ID. I know that theives can get around every system but for me, I want hard copies of paper trails for everything now involving my bank accounts.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You can pay with a check. My only worry would be that Disney will run it through Equifax (or some other check authorization company) and that company will decline to authorize it. Sometimes they do this for a reason and other times, they give no reason. You may have $ in your account and have never bounced a check and still have it turned down. If it isn't authorized, they won't take it...because if it bounced, they'd be out the dough. If it bounces when it was authorized, the authorization company sends them the money.

In that case, you could give them a debit or credit card...or you don't check in.

Disney has many procedures other hotels don't have - and they follow them! - to make sure nobody stays there for free. They don't cut anyone - no matter how honest - any slack. It's good business.

 

[klofan]

Thanks for everyones responses.

I just feel safer with a check, I don't know. Cause one time I used my debit card and 99 dollars just vanished out of my account.

 

[TinkWink]

Cause one time I used my debit card and 99 dollars just vanished out of my account.

That happens to me ALL the time when I go to Target - amazing!

 

[klofan]

That happens to me ALL the time when I go to Target - amazing!

Haha.

 

[girt25]

It is too easy to give a debit/credit card number when making a purchase with no further ID check and if making an online purchase or phone purchase, you don't even have to present the card with your signature. At least when I write a check, there is a paper transaction and I am always asked for ID. I know that theives can get around every system but for me, I want hard copies of paper trails for everything now involving my bank accounts.

It's just as easy to make online or phone purchase with an electronic check, Your check has all the information they need. In fact, not only will they have the necessary information to make most purchases from your account, your check also has your address and zip code and check number.. essentially everything they'll need to verify themselves as being you, even if they run into someone diligent enough to take that extra step.

 

[timmac]

If the account is the same and you used a debit card for the deposit why in the world would you want to write a check?? Doesn't the debit card do the same thing without formally writing a check and the money comes from the same place. I know 6 of one, half dozen of another, but to me it makes no sense. Just give them the debit card and make it easy on you and them? Am I missing something?

A lot of banks impose daily limits on debit card usage (to limit their liability, as well as yours, I presume), so maybe that was an issue here as well?