Can a hotel charge you for smoking without proof?

Unauthorized smoking in hotel guest rooms causes a host of problems, including soft goods damage, poor guest reviews, and costly cleaning procedures. Many hotels charge $500 smoking fees to cover some of the costs. Without physical proof of smoking, hotels are vulnerable to losing these fees to credit card chargebacks.



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Another way hotels can tell if you smoked if by the damage. Nicotine from cigarettes stain surfaces yellow and brown. These stains will be especially visible on light-colored surfaces like walls, ceilings, counters, and floors. Housekeepers may also even notice the stains on the carpets or bedding.

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If your hotel room has a window that opens, you can try smoking out of it. Be sure to blow the smoke outside and away from the window to prevent it from drifting back into the room.

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The credit card issuer will contact the merchant (hotel) to investigate the disputed charge. The issuer will likely rule in your favor if the hotel cannot prove the charge was valid. Remain engaged throughout the investigation and provide any additional documentation needed.

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The bottom line
Businesses cannot charge your credit card without authorization. Hotels will typically get your authorization to place a hold on your card for your stay at the time you check in.

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Resolving hotel chargebacks Once you understand the reason code connected with a chargeback, you may determine the root cause of the dispute and send a response that includes the necessary compelling information to increase your chances of winning the case.

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