Credit cards compromised at Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs NY

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I was at a conference at Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs last weekend. Today I started getting e-mails about people's credit cards showing up with lots of unauthorized credit card charges, some as much as $8,000. The only common thread was that the people were asked to give a card "for incidentals" at check-in. I had given my credit card number when I reserved over the phone. At check-in I was asked if that was the same card I would use for incidentals. I said yes, so no one ever saw my actual card at the hotel.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Lucky you to be spared this inconvenience.

You'd think this would be an easy one for the police to break given that all claimants stayed at the same hotel.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I actually am starting to resent having to give my credit card at check-in, for this very reason. I'd much rather they just charge me as I go along, should I choose to spend money at the resort.

A number of years ago, Marriott charged my credit card 100 a night, equaling $700, 3 times....$2,100. Took forever to get it straightened out.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

One of my cards was compromised on my recent trip to Cape Cod at one of the 4 locations I used it at (mostly used cash this trip). The credit card company quickly spotted it and refused all questionable transactions and after contacting me (my phone was out for 10 days) cancelled the card and issued a new one. Much better than a previous experience.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I probably have this happen once every 18 months or so. My experience is similar to Tony's---the card company spots it before I do, and takes care of everything. It is a minor hassle to re-establish recurring charges, but not so difficult, all in all. But, I have to wonder how much the various card issuers are losing to fraud, because you know we all eventually pay for it at the end of the day. Even though chip-and-pin is not perfect, I wonder how much longer it will be before the US switches to it.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

During one of our last trips, someone tried to use our credit card but the bank called us so the charge didn't go through but it messed up our automatic billing for the second time this year because they close the account immediately.

We now use one card for automatic billing and another one for shopping and traveling, etc. I would rather use the Alaska card but this is so much easier and I don't have to worry about it anymore.