Funny story; Started out about Hotel Room "Deposit for Incidentals"

So I was talking to a friend...
We're both diamond (or equivalent) at various casinos in Reno...
For this past weekend, I had my usual room at JANugget (1200sq suite with a jacuzzi tub)
However, I also had a "Deluxe" rom at Silver Legacy...now on their website, it only lists "Standard" / "Deluxe - Spa Suite". So I ASSUMED that what I had was a "Dexlue - Spa Suite" (However, I know better.)
Upon arrival, the clerk gave me her preprogrammed versage and so I asked "Exactly how deluxe is this room?", She replied with of course preprogrammed versage.
So I asked "Well then, it doesn't make it any more deluxe than a non-deluxe room"
She seemed confused by this, but went on and asked for my credit card for "incidentals"
I said that I didn't want to leave a credit card and she said it was hotel policy....I WAS going to get into a debate...but I simply said "No thank you. Please cancel my reservation" at which point she looked REALLY confused, and I turned and walked off, lol.
Recently, Peppermill (in Reno) did the same thing, however I was REALLY curious to see just how nice the "Tuscany Tower" was (It is nice!)
However, in order to stay there, they require $100 PER NIGHT deposit (that was $300 hold for 7 days on a COMPED room)
The point I guess I'm trying to make is...I am a higher-tier player at all these properties and they STILL require a CC to get a room...
BUT, JAnugget and GrandSierraResort DO NOT, and FWIW they have the largest rooms in Reno (While all the others have literally 200sqft rooms!)

I wanted to actually go up the chain (and I'd of probably had to have spoken to Mr. Carano) as to who knew what the $50 "hold" was REALLY for at SilverLegacy.
On another note...I know this admitting a crime..but one day, just for shits and grins, I'd like to get an exactly prepaid $50 (or maybe $60 just to be sure) card and use it for the "deposit" then absolutely SMASH the room to pieces...see how far that $50 goes, hahaha.

In the end, 99% of people are no better than livestock.

Quote: TIMSPEED

.....
In the end, 99% of people are no better than livestock.

People are livestock - because of how we are frequently treated.

TimSpeed, I don't understand the point of the story. All hotels ask for a refundable deposit on check-in. Apparently you've stayed at hotels before and I'm sure you gave them a credit card on those times so why were you making such a big deal about it this time? Just to bust the clerk's chops?

Quote: tsmith

All hotels ask for a refundable deposit on check-in.

No, they don't. Especially when the room is free/comped. For example, at my home casino in MN the room is comped by my host, and the "deposit" is comped by a coupon so that I literally don't have to extend any credit for the free room.

My guess would be that JA Nugget would require a deposit if ONLY the room were comped, so that the deposit could cover incidentals like food and movies that could be charged to the room. But, since Tim is RFB there, there's no need for the deposit since anything that's charged to the room will be free.

I get comped rooms in Miss., by both direct mail coupons and by my host, and I still have to give them my credit card for the deposit. I've never questioned it, but then I don't order movies or room service so nothing ever gets charged to the card anyway.

Every casino hotel I've been to in Las Vegas requires a credit card or cash deposit, except Circus Circus. (Your guess is as good as mine why.)

This should never be a problem if you have enough available credit and you are not planning to trash the room.

Quote: rdw4potus

No, they don't. Especially when the room is free/comped. For example, at my home casino in MN the room is comped by my host, and the "deposit" is comped by a coupon so that I literally don't have to extend any credit for the free room.

My guess would be that JA Nugget would require a deposit if ONLY the room were comped, so that the deposit could cover incidentals like food and movies that could be charged to the room. But, since Tim is RFB there, there's no need for the deposit since anything that's charged to the room will be free.

Correct. More than just JANugget actually..quite a few I've been to.
Hell, even when I stayed at Palazzo THEY only charged $100 TOTAL for three nights (which I found acceptable, since it's literally like top-10 hotels in the world) But it was funny, because they DIDN'T charge it (or even "authorize" it) they just made an "imprint" of my card (with an OOOLD machine)
It UUUUSED to be like that the last time I stayed at SilverLegacy (about 5 years ago)
If a room is comped that means it's comped.

Quote: teddys

Every casino hotel I've been to in Las Vegas requires a credit card or cash deposit, except Circus Circus. (Your guess is as good as mine why.)
This should never be a problem if you have enough available credit and you are not planning to trash the room.

I don't operate on credit what-so-ever.
If the casino wants to earn money OFF of my money (which believe me, that's why they charge you for rooms like that). Then by Gosh, I'll NOT play in the casino.
I actually had this exact scenario play out....
I checked in to The Siena (www.sienareno.com) and they REQUIRED a $100 CC deposit. I asked to speak to a host, and I informed the host that since they want $100 of my money up-front for a "complimentary" room, I would not be gambling, because that SAME $100 was the money I had set aside to gamble with.
All the host could say was "I'm sorry, that's company policy." I responded with "I'm also sorry, as it's my company policy that I only have $100 to gamble with."
FWIW, I took the room and did not gamble one dime there...but then again, lest we forget the place closed down, haha (since re-opened of course with other owners)

Rincon just changed their policy on this. They put up signs that said "Starting May 29th, the convenience of a credit card will be required at check in". I thought the policy was reasonable, but the signs that obscured what was going on and written in such a passive, BS way pissed me off.

Quote: tsmith

I get comped rooms in Miss., by both direct mail coupons and by my host, and I still have to give them my credit card for the deposit. I've never questioned it, but then I don't order movies or room service so nothing ever gets charged to the card anyway.

You should look at your bank more frequently...they charge that "deposit" and let it sit against your bank for a few days...
On Another Note...I think I'll look into the company that makes that "escrow/deposit"...see if I can start one...seems like good money to be made there.

Quote: TIMSPEED

I don't operate on credit what-so-ever.
If the casino wants to earn money OFF of my money (which believe me, that's why they charge you for rooms like that). Then by Gosh, I'll NOT play in the casino.
I actually had this exact scenario play out....
I checked in to The Siena (www.sienareno.com) and they REQUIRED a $100 CC deposit. I asked to speak to a host, and I informed the host that since they want $100 of my money up-front for a "complimentary" room, I would not be gambling, because that SAME $100 was the money I had set aside to gamble with.
All the host could say was "I'm sorry, that's company policy." I responded with "I'm also sorry, as it's my company policy that I only have $100 to gamble with."
FWIW, I took the room and did not gamble one dime there...but then again, lest we forget the place closed down, haha (since re-opened of course with other owners)

No offense, but why? Credit makes the world go round, and makes everyone's life easier. I couldn't live without credit. The only reason I could think to not get one is if you have terrible credit, want to hide assets, or have some otherwise non-voluntary reason not to get one.

Just get a card with say a $1500-$3000 credit limit and use it exclusively for hotels. Charge nothing else to it. You'll never have to pay interest or fees, since the hotels never actually charge the card; they just place a hold on it which is later reversed. Of course if you watch movies/raid the minibar/throw a couch out the window, obviously you'll have to pay something...

I am mildly disappointed in the story. Nothing "funny" that I can find, sorry.

Quote: teddys

No offense, but why? Credit makes the world go round, and makes everyone's life easier. I couldn't live without credit. The only reason I could think to not get one is if you have terrible credit, want to hide assets, or have some otherwise non-voluntary reason not to get one.
Just get a card with say a $1500-$3000 credit limit and use it exclusively for hotels. Charge nothing else to it. You'll never have to pay interest or fees, since the hotels never actually charge the card; they just place a hold on it which is later reversed. Of course if you watch movies/raid the minibar/throw a couch out the window, obviously you'll have to pay something...

Was always taught, if I can't pay for it, I can't have it.
I have a visa/debit card that most places could use just fine...but I'd rather not have $xxx amount "held" from me.
I got charged for a room once, when it was supposed to be comped, so since then I argue the point because inherently, people are stupid...so if they've already "got" my money, they can easily "keep" it.

Our comped rooms at Borgata require a credit card as well. It never seemed like a big deal to me. Nothing was ever charged that I didn't know about, and when we ate at restaurants I could sign and go. I really liked it, in fact.

Quote: TIMSPEED

You should look at your bank more frequently...they charge that "deposit" and let it sit against your bank for a few days..

No they don't. I check my credit card balance every few days online and I have never seen anything on it from a casino.

With a debit card the amount of the deposit will be held (floated) against your available balance and then credited back at check-out, and that you'll be able to see, but that's all.

Quote: teddys

No offense, but why? Credit makes the world go round, and makes everyone's life easier.

May I ask how it worked for you on your trip to Vegas? I stayed in 5 different hotels and rented 2 cars on my recent trip through NV and CA. With the continuation of my trip to MN, I'm up to 7 hotels and 3 cars in 2 weeks. None of the holds have been released, which means that about $2,000 of credit is unavailable to me as of this evening. That's...annoying.

Quote: rdw4potus

May I ask how it worked for you on your trip to Vegas? I stayed in 5 different hotels and rented 2 cars on my recent trip through NV and CA. With the continuation of my trip to MN, I'm up to 7 hotels and 3 cars in 2 weeks. None of the holds have been released, which means that about $2,000 of credit is unavailable to me as of this evening. That's...annoying.

It's also sweet when you pay your bills upon returning home and end up getting dinged $30-$60-$90 in overdraft fees because they haven't released it yet. #poorpeopleproblems.

Quote: teddys

No offense, but why? Credit makes the world go round, and makes everyone's life easier. I couldn't live without credit. The only reason I could think to not get one is if you have terrible credit, want to hide assets, or have some otherwise non-voluntary reason not to get one.

Just get a card with say a $1500-$3000 credit limit and use it exclusively for hotels. Charge nothing else to it. You'll never have to pay interest or fees, since the hotels never actually charge the card; they just place a hold on it which is later reversed. Of course if you watch movies/raid the minibar/throw a couch out the window, obviously you'll have to pay something...

Teddys, I rarely take issue with anything that you say, however, I must disagree with your view on this issue.

A fourth reason for not having a credit card, is well, just not wanting to have a credit card! I haven't had a credit card, a car loan, or any consumer debt for that matter, in over 20 years. As a matter of fact, I have a FICO score of zero. If I cannot pay cash, or use my debit card, then I will take my business elsewhere. When I stay at a hotel, they will either take cash, or my debit card, or I will stay at a different property. Sometimes I have to pay a little more, say for a rental car, by leaving a cash deposit. But that is OK. Credit does not make the world go round, credit is a huge problem.

I prefer to keep my greatest wealth building tool (my income) in my bank or my pocket, and not send it to banks or other lending institutions. The world was revolving long before there was "credit", and will continue to do so after all of the "leveraged-up-to-their-eyeballs" credit happy people are broke!

FWIW, Timspeed, I agree with you fully!

As one of my heroes, Dave Ramsey, says...If you play with (credit card) snakes, sooner or later, you will be bitten.

Quote: rdw4potus

May I ask how it worked for you on your trip to Vegas? I stayed in 5 different hotels and rented 2 cars on my recent trip through NV and CA. With the continuation of my trip to MN, I'm up to 7 hotels and 3 cars in 2 weeks. None of the holds have been released, which means that about $2,000 of credit is unavailable to me as of this evening. That's...annoying.

Indeed. Most hotels take $100+, and I think Red Rock took $300, which was excessive. They usually release it fairly quickly, though. I am up to my limit on one card, so I'm using another card which has plenty of credit just for the hotels now. Probably need at least a $1,000 cushion. (Or, in your (extreme) case, much more :) ))

Quote: avargov

Teddys, I rarely take issue with anything that you say, however, I must disagree with your view on this issue.

A fourth reason for not having a credit card, is well, just not wanting to have a credit card! I haven't had a credit card, a car loan, or any consumer debt for that matter, in over 20 years. As a matter of fact, I have a FICO score of zero. If I cannot pay cash, or use my debit card, then I will take my business elsewhere. When I stay at a hotel, they will either take cash, or my debit card, or I will stay at a different property. Sometimes I have to pay a little more, say for a rental car, by leaving a cash deposit. But that is OK. Credit does not make the world go round, credit is a huge problem.

I prefer to keep my greatest wealth building tool (my income) in my bank or my pocket, and not send it to banks or other lending institutions. The world was revolving long before there was "credit", and will continue to do so after all of the "leveraged-up-to-their-eyeballs" credit happy people are broke!

FWIW, Timspeed, I agree with you fully!

As one of my heroes, Dave Ramsey, says...If you play with (credit card) snakes, sooner or later, you will be bitten.

So we will agree to disagree. I see credit cards as similar to the casinos -- most people abuse them, but if you play the game right, you can benefit. I've gone on a bunch of free flights and trips to places like Turkey, got $100s in cashback bonuses, and now my favorite thing is CC companies giving me "free money" in the form of no interest for 12-18 months. I never have carried a balance subject to fees or interests (except when I miss a payment because of my own forgetfulness - damn!)

Consumer credit is a huge problem for some people, but the benefits (increased consumer spending benefits the economy) outweigh the negatives. Commercial credit is absolutely necessary and without it no business whatsoever would get done. Now, casino credit . . . make of that what you will :)

Quote: rdw4potus

No, they don't. Especially when the room is free/comped. For example, at my home casino in MN the room is comped by my host, and the "deposit" is comped by a coupon so that I literally don't have to extend any credit for the free room.

My guess would be that JA Nugget would require a deposit if ONLY the room were comped, so that the deposit could cover incidentals like food and movies that could be charged to the room. But, since Tim is RFB there, there's no need for the deposit since anything that's charged to the room will be free.

Don't you still need to pay for any tips that are charged to the room? If I go to a restaurant and charge it to the room, they will comp me the cost of the food and drinks but not the tip.

Quote: avargov

I haven't had a credit card, a car loan, or any consumer debt for that matter, in over 20 years. As a matter of fact, I have a FICO score of zero. If I cannot pay cash, or use my debit card, then I will take my business elsewhere. When I stay at a hotel, they will either take cash, or my debit card, or I will stay at a different property. Sometimes I have to pay a little more, say for a rental car, by leaving a cash deposit. But that is OK. Credit does not make the world go round, credit is a huge problem.

I gave up on trying to do without credit cards a long time ago. To take revenge, I get up to 6+ weeks to pay by careful tracking of closing dates. Never less than 4 weeks to pay.

How do you deal with getting hotel reservations, car rentals, etc., in advance, without showing up in person ready to take clerks to task? In our household, we have decided we can't live like that.

Quote: avargov

As one of my heroes, Dave Ramsey, says...If you play with (credit card) snakes, sooner or later, you will be bitten.

I do like this quote though! I am careful not to play too many games with these snakes.

But what happens if you forgot your credit cards or debit card? If you stayed there before will they take a cash deposit?

I too avoid "credit" cards and use visa debit for whatever I need a card for. The "holds" can be excessive. Last time I rented a car, about a yr ago...they held $300 for 10 freakin days. I called to complain and they released it right away...saying they usually only hold it 3 days. It was an error by the rental clerk they said. Funny thing about that... but I booked the reservation online and used a kiosk when I picked up the car, so never used a clerk. Enterprise...not using them again. The hotels I stay in (almost always comped)..usually require $50-100 per night "hold" as well. But they seem to release it immediately on check-out.

Quote: vendman1

The hotels I stay in (almost always comped)..usually require $50-100 per night "hold" as well. But they seem to release it immediately on check-out.

then they're probably only taking an "imprint" of the card, because no financial institution can make/reverse charges that quick without it being regular banking hours and someone higher in authority...
These are the type of hotels I stay in (I have a "dummy" atm card I use for those "imprints", it has no balance on it)

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

Don't you still need to pay for any tips that are charged to the room?

I suppose so. I tip in cash, so that the server has the option of not reporting it and losing some of the $ to the government.

Earlier this year I was comp'ed at the Aria in the sky suites. At check-in, they required a credit card pre-authorization for $1011. Not $1000, not $1100, but exactly $1011. I asked the girl why the odd amount and she had no clue. She said I was the first person to question it - which seems even stranger to me.

At checkout, they just charged me for tips and the only charge that ever showed up on my card statement was the exact amount I signed for at checkout. For Amex, there is no preset limit so there is no concern for any "hold" or lack of credit access to the $1011. You also gotta' pay the Amex bill in full every month so it's technically a "charge" card and not a "credit" card. Carrying that in your wallet is a lot easier than keeping enough cash for crazy check in deposit requirements, especially when you have no idea in advance what it is going to be.