Borgata ridiculous hotel policy

I arrived in AC for a ten night stay. Primarily this was because the Borgata comped me three nights a week so I got the first three free, was paying for the second three (higher than usual for the July 4th weekend) and then was supposed to get the last three nights comped again.

No problem. Until I arrived. They needed a $150 deposit per day for the room. After they swiped my credit card, they told me it was declined.

"What are you talking about? I definitely have more than $150 credit on my card."

"It's $150 per night and you're staying for ten nights so you have to leave a $1,500 deposit."

I was incredulous. I asked if I could leave a cash deposit even though I didn't like digging into my gambling bankroll.

"Yes, however, we do not give back cash deposits in cash. Our policy is you will be issued a check within thirty days which will be mailed to you."

What? Whoever heard of a hotel that can't you give back your own cash. Sounded to me like they wanted to make thirty days of interest off my money and I envisioned having to fight to get it back (scenario: "Sir, your check was mailed two weeks ago but that is not my department, will transfer you to accounting, buzz click, thank you for contacting the accounting department, no one is available to assist you, please call back, click buzz)

I called the Golden Nugget where I also have rooms comped although a few less per week. They were happy to have me on short notice (surprised they had rooms available over the holiday but I guess that was why they were so quick to book) and took my business over there.

$100 security deposit for the entire trip.

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$1,500 is not that bad to have pending on a credit card were you that maxed out. Were you trying to use a debt card?

The card wasn't maxed out but I don't have a lot of credit. I'm doing very well financially right now, but a few years ago I was not and am still building up my credit.

The point isn't my credit. The point is I have never been to any hotel that demanded an individual deposit for every single day of my visit. None of the other casinos in AC do that. I certainly had no plans to do $150 damage per day to their room. There is no need for a deposit equal to my monthly rent.

I agree its garbage. I had a similar thing happen when I used a debit by mistake.

I agree with you that it is crazy. When you booked it did they not tell you that there would be a deposit?

Quote: GWAE

I agree with you that it is crazy. When you booked it did they not tell you that there would be a deposit?

"Yes, they did but I took "per day" to mean every day I was there they would hold $150 until I left. Not FOR every day I stood there I had to leave a separate deposit added up for the total of days I stood there.

Ridiculous policy yes. Common one. Also yes.

Cash is accepted but not returned on check out only by a check from corporate in thirty days. Many franchisee hotels have this policy.
And local mucky mucks can't do a thing about it.

Quote: FleaStiff

Ridiculous policy yes. Common one. Also yes.

Cash is accepted but not returned on check out only by a check from corporate in thirty days. Many franchisee hotels have this policy.
And local mucky mucks can't do a thing about it.

Well, it was the first time I came across this. Like I said, the Golden Nugget doesn't do that.

Quote: darkoz

Well, it was the first time I came across this. Like I said, the Golden Nugget doesn't do that.

You have been very fortunate then. Now you know where it might be better to show your appreciation.

Are the hotels owned by the casinos? Or is it simply a corporate fiscal relationship of some hotel company runs things and the casino simply buys rooms from them?

I know that zillions of hotels not related to casinos have this stupid policy of "If you pay cash, you get a check from our corporate headquarters in thirty days". I don't know if its anti money laundering or just a way of saying "we don't trust our hotel managers or audit them that carefully". I just know its a policy that I've run into so many times I'd be mildly amused to find a hotel that did not follow it.

Quote: FleaStiff

You have been very fortunate then. Now you know where it might be better to show your appreciation.

Are the hotels owned by the casinos? Or is it simply a corporate fiscal relationship of some hotel company runs things and the casino simply buys rooms from them?

I know that zillions of hotels not related to casinos have this stupid policy of "If you pay cash, you get a check from our corporate headquarters in thirty days". I don't know if its anti money laundering or just a way of saying "we don't trust our hotel managers or audit them that carefully".

I have always reasoned this as, most people pay with credit card and the hotel may not have cash on hand.

I have also stayed at places where they take your deposit and stick it in an envelope and place it in their safe. When you check out you get the envelope back with your cash.

I agree the $150/day deposit regardless of visit length is ridiculous. I've asked about it and they have told me the reasoning is that it allows guests to sign charges to the room.

Borgata is a high-end hotel and typically caters to older guests who do not have a problem pre-authorizing $500 or $1000 on a credit card. But this policy is ridiculous for guests who don't have high credit limits or don't want to pre-auth that much for a room deposit.

It should just be $150, period, regardless of the number of nights. Who charges $1,500 to a room, even on a 10-day trip?

Quote: GWAE

I have always reasoned this as, most people pay with credit card and the hotel may not have cash on hand.

It might be also that the main office does not want their various franchisees to ever have cash on hand. Big difference between some fool coming in with a gun and demanding all your credit card receipts versus demanding all those envelopes of cash in the safe. If you keep 'cash transactions' to a minimum and make them 'deposit cash in bank promptly, do refunds via corporate headquarters" then thieves will have no viable target to attack.

Quote: sodawater

It should just be $150, period, regardless of the number of nights. Who charges $1,500 to a room, even on a 10-day trip?

Are you serious? I think quite a few people charge $150 a day to the room. For a couple that eats three meals a day at the casino, that doesn't seem like much at all. Heck, if the couple eats only dinner at the steakhouse they would be spending about that much without having alcohol.

Hotels and car rentals are the big reason everybody should strive to have good enough credit to handle the pre-authorzations.

Quote: DRich

Are you serious? I think quite a few people charge $150 a day to the room. For a couple that eats three meals a day at the casino, that doesn't seem like much at all. Heck, if the couple eats only dinner at the steakhouse they would be spending about that much without having alcohol.

I consistently broke 200$/day while on RFB at Sam's Town. And that's not an expensive place... One of my dinners alone hit 180$, even. Having said that... if I was paying directly, I would've been around 20$/day for 2.

Quote: DRich

Are you serious? I think quite a few people charge $150 a day to the room. For a couple that eats three meals a day at the casino, that doesn't seem like much at all. Heck, if the couple eats only dinner at the steakhouse they would be spending about that much without having alcohol.

Hotels and car rentals are the big reason everybody should strive to have good enough credit to handle the pre-authorzations.

But this is 2014. There's no need to charge everything to your room. You could just as easily pay for your steakhouse meal with your credit card at the table.

Quote: FleaStiff

You have been very fortunate then. Now you know where it might be better to show your appreciation.

Are the hotels owned by the casinos? Or is it simply a corporate fiscal relationship of some hotel company runs things and the casino simply buys rooms from them?

For those that aren't familiar with Atlantic City, Borgata and all the casino hotels are owned by the casino. If I remember correctly, I read that NJ made it mandatory for a casino to have at least 30 or something floor hotels for each casino as an attempt to thwart the mafia (the expense of the hotels being the primary obstacle to mafia investing).

At any rate, the hotel lobby is in the casino and I doubt security or cash are major obstacles.

Quote: sodawater

But this is 2014. There's no need to charge everything to your room. You could just as easily pay for your steakhouse meal with your credit card at the table.

You have to charge it all if you're planning on asking a host to look at your play and comp it at checkout.

But even so, doing a deposit per day as described is nuts.

Quote: sodawater

But this is 2014. There's no need to charge everything to your room. You could just as easily pay for your steakhouse meal with your credit card at the table.

Of course they could, but I find it much easier to have everything consolidated so you are only handling one financial transaction. Just like Paypal, it offers a way to pay multiple people without having to give out personal financial information to each vendor. Plus by charging to the room lots of us are hoping to have some charges comped off at the end of our trip.

I don't disagree with you that it sucks for those that don't have credit cards, I was just arguing that $150 a day isn't a lot for hotel incidentals.

Borgata has this policy like the Wynncore in Vegas is because the rooms get trashed on many occasions.

Quote: sodawater

I agree the $150/day deposit regardless of visit length is ridiculous. I've asked about it and they have told me the reasoning is that it allows guests to sign charges to the room.

Borgata is a high-end hotel and typically caters to older guests who do not have a problem pre-authorizing $500 or $1000 on a credit card. But this policy is ridiculous for guests who don't have high credit limits or don't want to pre-auth that much for a room deposit.

It should just be $150, period, regardless of the number of nights. Who charges $1,500 to a room, even on a 10-day trip?

When I stay at CET's properties, as a mid-range roller, they comp my room, and then tell me to charge all food and bev's (and all spa/gift shop/etc) to the room rather than using reward points. Then they review my play and charges at checkout and write off pretty much all of it. When I was there in September with 2 other people, we broke 1K in 5 days. It was easy, almost unavoidable. I also broke 1K in 11 days by myself in April (was joined by 1 person last 4 days). So, unless you're full RFB in advance, I can see any casino/chain requiring that kind of deposit against your play.

Or not, if you don't let them rate you.

as i read this I was just dealing with the same issue, I am headed to cosmopolitan tomm and last trip I had a major issue - they hold 200 a night however evefrytime you charge dinner or food they increase it even though everything is comped , I learned this the hard way- i was there for 7 nights a few months back and I want to use my credit card and it got declined I was in shock since I only use it for travel I called and there was a 5300 dollar hold on there- 3500 from a booth at marquis that was comped but they comp at end of trip so until host comps it off they keep increasing the hold- so cosmo is awful for that- in reverse mirage will take a 200 cash deposit for the whole trip and venetian will take 150 cash - so much better and they refund it at checkout

Quote: sodawater

I agree the $150/day deposit regardless of visit length is ridiculous. I've asked about it and they have told me the reasoning is that it allows guests to sign charges to the room.

Borgata is a high-end hotel and typically caters to older guests who do not have a problem pre-authorizing $500 or $1000 on a credit card. But this policy is ridiculous for guests who don't have high credit limits or don't want to pre-auth that much for a room deposit.

It should just be $150, period, regardless of the number of nights. Who charges $1,500 to a room, even on a 10-day trip?

lol!!! I'll send you the receipt of my last hotel stay if you promise to keep it confidential. Let's just say that I wasn't there for 10 days and I left $1500 in the dust by a wide margin.

Edit: I have single charges for more than $1500.

Quote: sodawater

But this is 2014. There's no need to charge everything to your room. You could just as easily pay for your steakhouse meal with your credit card at the table.

Why?

Charging it to your room has advantages. It may get comped. If it doesn't, you may get points. Eg, at m-life hotels, you get tier credits for all your uncomped room charges (25 TC per $1) AND you also get Hyatt points if you link up your Hyatt account. Tier credits are pretty useless unless you are close to a threshold for the year, but Hyatt points translate into free rooms at pretty nice hotels.

AC hotels do this and it seems to be a barrier for some people. Keeps the poor out, but keeps the poor out that want to play too. You need money you don't intend on spending, just to stay and play. Also keeps people from staying longer swapping casinos out from hotel to hotel. Think about it, if someone stays 6 nights, they need $750 just to gamble nothing. If you want to spend $750, you need $1500, plus travel. On the other hand, some hotels there claim to need $100-$150 a night, but only charge for one night's deposit. Perhaps not a policy, but a judgment call by the desk clerk.