Saying "no charging privileges doesn't always work...

[dcfromva]

I don't understand why they were asked for a credit card # for a points reservation. I don't recall ever being asked for that. The only time I ever gave DVC my credit card # was for my points purchase. Ironically, that was the biggest amount I've ever charged and I didn't have to sign (I did it over the phone)!

Every time I check in on points, I am asked if I want to leave a CC on file for room charges and any incidentals. (This is at check in and not when making the initial reservation...)


-DC

 

[Muushka]

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

I am so frustrated with this situation and it isn't even me!

I will NEVER give my cc info when checking in again (we don't usually but we definetly will not now). I will also make it a point to speak to someone about this situation and let it go on record with someone and hopefully on paper that we have to sign for any charges.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by LoveToDisney
They also admitted that the front desk has a loophole through which an unscrupulous CM could charge your account without permission even if you have said "no charging" and then take the cash, but they reassured me that, "they don't hire anyone that would do something like that."

Wow! did he snort some of Tinkerbelle's pixie dust? WDW has no employee theft - ZERO - and never has had any? Their hiring practices are so good that no one would ever slip through the cracks that might steal? I'm astounded. That is certainly incredible, given that businesses loose billions each year.

There is a more innocent explaination. You purchase tickets in cash. A few minutes later - or the next day or whenever, someone purchases tickets and says "put them on my room" They type in the wrong room number and voila, you've been charged twice for tickets, but there will be no overage in the drawer because you really paid for someone else's tickets.

(BTW, we charged a meal at Biergarten to the room that didn't show up on our checkout bill. Expected it to hit later. Never did. The system isn't perfect).

 

[Muushka]

Yes Crisi, you probably are right that it was an innocent mistake. But the system is flawed that you do not have to sign for something that you purchase using your room number.

I honestly do not remember (in the days when we used the room charging priv) anytime that we bought something that we did not have to sign for (other than the room charges for phone usage).

 

[manning]

LoveToDisney-- Did you challenge the charge with the credit card company ??


If you haven't, !!!!!!!!!DO IT NOW !!!!




I'm smelling rotten fish right now

 

[LoveToDisney]

Originally posted by manning
LoveToDisney-- Did you challenge the charge with the credit card company ??

Yes I did. I hope it goes better than speaking with Disney's front desk management and the Research & billing dept. I mailed in my letter describing the event along with a photocopy of our four room cards that have "no charging privileges" clearly marked on them. I'm not sure how long the process will take since I have never had this happen to me before.

 

[Cris]

that is strange they would not have record of an overage, though having more than a 10 dollar overage causes the cm to get a reprimand. And they supose to write every transaction down on a tracking sheet it could have easily been fixed by the cm during their bankout. I am sorry that the cm didn't do the right thing.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by LoveToDisney
Yes I did. I hope it goes better than speaking with Disney's front desk management and the Research & billing dept. I mailed in my letter describing the event along with a photocopy of our four room cards that have "no charging privileges" clearly marked on them. I'm not sure how long the process will take since I have never had this happen to me before.

I suspect the answer will not be in your favor. The no charging on the room keys is irrelevent. I sincerely doubt they mistakenly charged someone elses tickets to you. It seems more and more likely the CM pocketed the money and this was a purposefull act.

 

[kweaver]

Originally posted by LoveToDisney
"they don't hire anyone that would do something like that."

Yeah...right.

I'm sorry you have had to go through this, LoveToDisney. Thanks for posting about it here and warning all of us. Though we rarely pay cash for anything, we'll be sure to keep our cash receipts until we've had a chance to check over all charges (to the room and the CC).

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by erikthewise
Regarding credit limits, I have read in the past that WDW policy is that guests at Value resorts have a "limit" of $500, Moderate resort guests get $1000, and Deluxe resort guests get $1500.

Verrrrry interesting. We just got back from a week at BCV and a week at VWL. At BCV, our limit was 1500. At VWL, it was only 1000. It didn't matter because we weren't planning to charge that much to the room anyway, but isn't WL supposed to be a deluxe?????

Oh, and for the first time, our kids had charging privileges because we forgot to say, "no charging for the kids." DD13 and DS10 do NOT need charging privileges. I really think the BCV CM should have asked us instead of assuming we'd want our 10-year-old (the shopoholic ) to be able to charge things to the room.

 

[Chuck S]

At VWL, it was only 1000. It didn't matter because we weren't planning to charge that much to the room anyway, but isn't WL supposed to be a deluxe?????

Well, that is interesting. But wasn't WL, when it first opened, classified as a Moderate, then re-classified as a Deluxe? Maybe there are still some "Moderate" remnants in their computer system. I know when OKW changed to OKW from the DVC resort, all the computers are still showing DVC as the identifier as far as billing (at least on MY Credit Card statements, they still say DVC Front Desk)

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BrerMom
but isn't WL supposed to be a deluxe?????

Not really, LOL, right MG.

 

[skelooch]

If you don't give them a CC at check in, then make long distant phone calls,, use the re-fillable mugs etc. then leave and either purposely or accidently forget to go to the front desk to settle up, what do they do send a bill to your home and put a hold on your points. Or can they just take it from your checking or savings account from which they take their dues.

If you don't leave a CC do you still get your statement under the door the night before checkout?

I always use charging privileges and knock on wood haven't had a problem yet.

On our last trip we charged some food at one of the restaurants 2 days before checkout and it didn't show up on the statement at checkout and hasn't shown up on my last 2 CC statements since I've been home either. Think I will get a free meal? or should I call them and tell them they forgot to bill me. YEAH RIGHT!!!

 

[DebbieB]

If you don't leave a credit card or cash deposit at check-in, you wouldn't be able to charge the mugs or meals to your room. I don't know if they put a restriction on the number of phone calls if you don't have a cc on file. I'm not sure how they would handle room service where you usually just sign.

You would not get the bill under your door. I mentioned my April trip earlier where we did not have a cc on file. We went to the front desk before leaving and settled the bill for a few local calls with cash (internet dial up). I don't know what they do with people who just walk away. They could conceivably freeze your DVC account. I don't know what they do with non-members. I'm surprised they don't block the phone if you don't have a cc or cash deposit on file.

It's possible your meal turned up on someone else's bill or they lost it. I know I've asked for a run of my room charges when returning to the hotel in the evening and charges I made an hour earlier were already on there.

I've always used room charges (about 15 trips that were in my name) and only had a problem one time. That was at OKW last year when a purchase at MouseGears appeared twice. I didn't notice it until we got home, I called and it was credited to my account within a week.

 

[dcfromva]

I had charging priviledges on my last visit at my room at SSR, however, I didn't charge anything to the room. When I checked out of the studio and into a 1 BR, they did not give me a bill....
So, when I checked out of the 1 BR, I asked for the bill for both and they said since I was on points and I didn't charge anything, they was no bill to be given out. (I thought that was strange....)


-DC

 

[Cris]

Originally posted by dcfromva
I had charging priviledges on my last visit at my room at SSR, however, I didn't charge anything to the room. When I checked out of the studio and into a 1 BR, they did not give me a bill....
So, when I checked out of the 1 BR, I asked for the bill for both and they said since I was on points and I didn't charge anything, they was no bill to be given out. (I thought that was strange....)


-DC

if you didn't charge anything how could there be a bill??

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Chuck S
But wasn't WL, when it first opened, classified as a Moderate, then re-classified as a Deluxe?

To the best of my knowledge, WL has always been a deluxe.
While the majority of rooms have less square footage, they also have a deluxe room category similar to a mini-suite. Just the fact that they have full blown suites would lead me to believe it was never a moderate. Perhaps moderates do have full suites, but I have never bothered to look.
The location is not quite as popular as some others, so that contributes to the lower rack rates. Although some like the VWL/WL location better, we all know that the MOST popular locations will demand the higher bucks.
As far as constuction and theming, it is clearly more deluxe than most deluxes.
They also have an award winning restaurant, and other amenities that distinguish this resort from moderates.

MG

 

[LoveToDisney]

We stayed at WL shortly after it opened. It has always been considered a deluxe.

 

[manning]

Here is my wild prediction. If Disney cannot come up with the signed credit slip........... the charge will be removed.

Sit back and relaxe it will take a month or two.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Hi Everyone!

I promised to report back what happened. Bank One chose not to fight Disney and the charge of $51.12 will have to be paid since I could not produce a cash receipt to support my case (since I didn't know to ask for one--but I sure do NOW!). Disney was NOT required to produce a signed receipt.

Although I wish I had gotten my credit, I'm more concerned that Disney is ignoring the easy way that guests may be cheated. While investigating my problem it became very, very evident that ANY Disney employee that works at the FRONT DESK can charge against your cc WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR SIGNATURE and as long as they make sure to discretely remove the same amount from the cash till, you are made to look like a fool. Since you cannot have a cash receipt for what you do not know about, you will lose everytime if you try to fight it. It is my hope that Disney changes this policy because it is a very dangerous loophole that relies solely on the honesty of their employees. When I questioned the policy to the Disney Research and Billing dept, the rep from Disney said that "they don't hire anyone that would do such a thing..." but agreed to put the information into his report because he also could see the gaping loophole that existed regarding the front desk and miscellaneous charges for purchases such as E-Tickets, etc.