Resort Rounding Up Charges?

[Lowillian]

Hello! I can't believe I am finally posting something. I have been reading these boards for some time now during lunch at work. We have such an old computer at home that we're rarely on it. I felt very compelled to get on the boards tonight and ask if anyone else has noticed this before.

We have been to WDW 8 times and are planning another trip in October, having just gone in April. We usually stay at the Polynesian. I was looking at our confirmation letter (we booked hotel only because we have an AP) and trying to figure out our budget, when I noticed if you take our nightly rate, including tax, and multiply it times 6 nights, it comes out to something different than what they have for our total. They had rounded up to the nearest dollar. Grant it, it was only .34, but I checked our old letters and they were all whole numbers, being rounded up. That is also what we were charged when I looked at our hotel charge bill. Is this legal?

I was so curious that I called CRO tonight. I talked to an agent and he seemed flustered and I asked if I could talk to someone else or if he could give me a "billing number" to call. He said "yeah, I think I have that information right here..." CLICK. I'm almost positive he hung up on me.

Is there something I'm missing. My husband and I tried all kinds of different numbers and it never worked out. Have anyone else noticed this?

Thanks in advance and I'm glad to finally post!

Lowilian

 

[cobbler]

My resort for Dec with AAA discount is rounded down. It should be 61.60 a night but the bill shows a flat 61/night.

 

[Lowillian]

Hello again,
I still think I'm missing something. I know this sounds silly. The nightly rate is a whole number, right? When you add the tax, you obviously have cents now. When I take that rate and multiply it times the number of nights I'm staying, it is not a whole number. On my confirmation letter from Disney, the rounded it up to the whole dollar, which again in only .34, but I checked all my previous letters and they rounded up on all, some being rounded up quiet a bit. I also have the hotel receipts and we are charged the bigger number. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but if I went to the store and purchased something for $14.50, including tax and the store said I owed them $15.00, is that right? Again, I know this sounds silly, but am I missing something?

thanks for listening,
Lowillian

 

[dcgrumpy]

Are you saying your total was rounded up or the nightly rate? Neither one of mine were rounded up on my confirmation.

 

[cobbler]

Ok, here is my two reservation confirmations.
AP rate for value season at a moderate. 89/night (flat dollar amount off) x 11.5% = 99.24/night x 7 nights = 694.68. My package total is 695, so they did round up 32cents for the entire trip.

AAA rate for value season at value resort 20% off. 61.60/night x 13% = 69.61/night x 5 nights = 348.05. My package total was 345 so they did round down 3.05 for the entire trip. Its because they rounded down my per night to 61 instead of 61.60. But if you do the math at the 61/night x 13% = 68.93/night x 5 nights = 344.65. Again my package total was 345 so they did round that up 35 cents.

Geeze, I hope that made sense

 

[AlexandNessa]

I noticed this too, but didn't think too much of it since it was only $0.14.

BWI CL w/ 10% AAA for 4 nights = $490 * 90% * 11.5% tax * 4 nights = $1966.86, but our resevervation shows we owe $1967.

Wasn't there a banking programmer a few years ago who rounded everyone's interest down to the nearest penny and then transferred all the fractional pennies into his account and amassed a small fortune? Maybe it's a big conspiracy.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I noticed this too, but didn't think too much of it since it was only $0.14.

BWI CL w/ 10% AAA for 4 nights = $490 * 90% * 11.5% tax * 4 nights = $1966.86, but our resevervation shows we owe $1967.

Wasn't there a banking programmer a few years ago who rounded everyone's interest down to the nearest penny and then transferred all the fractional pennies into his account and amassed a small fortune? Maybe it's a big conspiracy.

Like office space
lol

 

[DisneyRocks!]

I have seen Disney round up and round down, so statistically it will all balance, no one is making millions over penny rounding in this case.

 

[leanne11]

my room w/aaa discount i think was $88.33 and while i was on the phone the cm said i have to round up because that is how they take the ressie she said we will charge your cc for $89. and that is what they did.
she said it will not take the real amount, i assume it means the computer...

 

[Julia M]

I have the same confusion.

I have 2 nights at Port Orleans, with AAA discount. The room is $134, with 15% off AAA discount of $26.80, which makes it $107.20. Tax is 11.5%, for a total of $119.53 for one night and $239.06 for two nights. I've been charged $239 for both nights. That makes sense.

Now, at the Polynesian, the room charge is $404, with an AAA discount of 15%, which makes it $343.40 and $382.89 with tax ($39.49).
Eight nights is $3063.13. I've been charged $3104. My TA says that our room rate is $388 (including tax) Does anyone have any idea why I am off? This isn't about rounding up.....I'm being charged an additional $5 per night. I know it's only $40, but I'm trying to figure out WHY.

I am assuming a 15% AAA discount and 11.5% tax at the Poly.

Does anybody know?

julia

 

[seashoreCM]

I'll have to double check my last few ressies (they were room only) but I think they rounded the rate for the first night deposit and when I paid the balance upon check in the amount due reflected a correction for the few cents of rounding.

>>> This isn't about rounding up.....I'm being charged an additional $5 per night. I know it's only $40, but I'm trying to figure out WHY.

Ask. Maybe the AAA discount was not exactly 15%. Maybe your travel agent charges you a commission.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dcgrumpy]

I have $109 a night, one nights deposit was $121.54 and the total was $729.24 for 6 nights

 

[CTdiznymom]

They rounded down for me! I better not spend it all in one place!

 

[jcsbama]

I had the same problem on my reservation. I guess Disney thinks its easier for guests to have whole numbers. I don't like it all and think it's dishonest. Disney totals never match mine when it comes to room rate multiplied by the tax. How does Disney account for this each month when they submit their taxes? I work in accounting and it's always easier to me to work from actual figures instead of assumptions and generalizations. I want to know where a figure came from.

I don't buy the theory that it's ok because some totals are rounded down. It still does not make it right. How has there not been a class action lawsuit about this already?

 

[Lowillian]

jcsbama,
I totally agree. It's the small amount that they're rounding up or down, it's the practice that hothers me. We spend thousands of dollars on our trips and it's not the few cents I'm worried about, it's the fact that we should just pay what we owe. If I owe $1442.61, then that's what I should pay, not 1443. Not sure why, but this just hit a nerve with me. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I've never heard of such a thing before.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent!

Lowillian

 

[dandee00]

I had the same problem on my reservation. I guess Disney thinks its easier for guests to have whole numbers. I don't like it all and think it's dishonest. Disney totals never match mine when it comes to room rate multiplied by the tax. How does Disney account for this each month when they submit their taxes? I work in accounting and it's always easier to me to work from actual figures instead of assumptions and generalizations. I want to know where a figure came from.

I don't buy the theory that it's ok because some totals are rounded down. It still does not make it right. How has there not been a class action lawsuit about this already?

For whatever it's worth I agree with you. Rounding numbers is not right to do to the customer. When you think of all the customers WDW does this to, that's a lot of rounding. Those .14, .35 start to add up. I wonder how much Disney has made off this.
I, too, would like to know how Disney accounts for this extra ? Maybe they put it in their charity fund. And then use it as a write-off.
Does anyone out there have an answer for this rounding?

 

[calie_j]

I noticed this also on my DU ressie that the amount due is rounded to a dollar amount without change.

Calie

 

[Pinderella]

Hi!
I'm new here. Are their calculators set on floating instead of 2 decimals? This can account for a small difference.
Karen

 

[grimgrningghost]

I have two room only reservations in december, one at Pop for 263.20 and one at WL for 863.04. So neither of mine are rounded up or down.

 

[Lowillian]

I guess I'll never know why Disney does this. I've just never heard of any companies or businesses doing this. Has anyone else?

thanks again