OK - Now I'm TICKED OFF ROYALLY!

[Missy]

When I checked in at the hotel Wednesday I had to give my CC for my incidentals (room service, phone, etc.) I confirmed at that time that they had me set up for my employer to pay for the room and they said yes - this was JUST incidentals. OK fine - I gave my Visa check card b/c we don't have cc's. At 4:30 am today when I checked out my bill said $577.31. I talked to the guy at the desk and he fixed it supposedly making my incidentals $16.73 (heck yeah I ordered room service in a 5 star hotel without my DH and kids!!). That's what he processed on my card, that's what the receipt says.

Well, tonight I looged on to my bank account and they charged $16.73 at 4:36 am and then $577.31 at 6:30 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I called the hotel and they said that there was nothing they could do about it without authorization from my corporate office. Well - it's Saturday! I called my boss and left her a message as well.

Here's the kicker - I know from experience that it takes seconds for your account to get charged when you use a visa check card - but it takes at least 3 business days for your account to receive a credit! So -when corporate oks it Monday I still won't get it back until after Thanksgiving. If I choose to expense it, it won't get reimbursed until my next pay date which isn't until the 30th.

SO - #1 - we can't go back to Indiana for Thanksgiving now and #2 - I can't even really do a good grocery shopping trip to have a decent Thanksgiving here! To a family of 6 - that's a heck of a lot of $$ that I'm out for the time being!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

[nurscindi]

sounds like the screw over i got from enterprise and insurance agency...givem hell woman...

[Admin megansmama]

Michelle - that is just sooooo wrong! Did you go up the chain of command at the hotel? I would if you didn't already!

I hope that your company can do something to help you out if you still can't get anywhere with the hotel management!!!

Hang in there!

[Missy]

It's Saturday night - no one is at corporate and no one other than the manager I talked to is at the hotel. Our company uses American Express Travel. Even though I was there with about 15 other Program Directors and theirs all get taken care of correctly - supposedly AE Travel didn't set me up through Rehabcare - so I'm stuck until Monday to get it resolved. They better fix it quick! I can't go without that $$!

[WorkinMyQs]

Michelle....is it possible for you to put your travel expenses to IN on a credit card until you get reimbursed for your debit card stuff? You should be able to pay that off before any interest occurs...it's a thought...

[Missy]

I don't use credit cards - don't even have one. We've been CC debt free for a few years now. I wish!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me - my DH and I have been brainstorming for the last 30 minutes on how to get home for the holiday now!

[Admin megansmama]

Michelle - anyway you can stop by your bank on Monday to see about applying for a credit card just to get you by? Perhaps they can quickly process one for you because you bank with them.

[WorkinMyQs]

That same thing happened to one of my bosses once on a trip to NYC. After that (since the company we worked for wouldn't issue a corp. credit card to us) we had them give us cash up front to pay for everything. We'd fill our expense reports out and turn in any unused moolah when we got back.

We make sure we keep a few cards just because it's long standing credit for our credit rating and also for the comfort of knowing it's there 'just in case'. Just coz you have one doesn't mean you have to use it - something to think about anyway! Hope you find a way to get home !!!

[Sharon]

Try talking to your boss or corp on Monday. I had something similar happen once. When I explained how this transaction would impact me, they cut me a check out of petty cash. I still had to file an expense report, the reimbursement went back to petty cash, but I was paid right away. Maybe your company could work something out, it's worth a shot.

[Brenda]

If you used your bank card and have your receipt or paperwork showing you only authorized the $16.xx charge, can't you talk to your bank and let them know that was not an authorized charge? They should be able to put the funds back in your account a lot sooner than waiting for the next payday I would think. Just a thought, I don't know if it would help or not.

[CBella]

If you have Bank of America or another big bank you can call anytime 24 hrs and dispute the charge. Even if it is debit they ran it as credit so it falls under the 24 hr dispute rule. This way the bank will put the money back in your account in a day and the details can be worked out later.

When you dispute be sure to tell them these were unauthorized charges.

You could probably call right now!!

Good Luck!

[MidWestDena]

I agree with everyone else; if nothing can be done before Thanksgiving your company should at least cut you a check so that your plans aren't ruined. I know it might be embarrasing to explain that you don't have money for food--but you weren't planning on cooking and most people don't generally have an entire thanksgiving meal laying around the house--a lot of that type of thing is stuff a lot of people don't generally stock up on. I consider holiday meals a hassle because they mean buying a bunch of extra stuff that I don't generally keep around the house. Either way, your gonna need the money for one or the other (travel or buying a big meal).

[nurscindi]

Another thing that you need to track is if you get any Insuff Funds charges on your account because of this mistake. You will need to have those reversed, or the hotel or your employer be responsible for those also. I had this happen to me once where someone overcharged like that by several hundred dollars and I had paid other bills, bought groceries etc. The charge went thru before my others and I had close to $200 in fees because of it!! I got it reversed, but it took like a week to do it.

[WorkinMyQs]

Michelle, if you don't end up getting reimbursed in time and have to end up cooking your holiday meal at home (or need things to tide you over until the money is reimbursed), PM me. I'd be more than happy to share part of my stockpile with you.

[The Princess]

I would try and dispute the charge. I have done this with my debit card and the charges were reversed. Good luck!

[KCinFLA]

Here in Fla we have a million Check and Go places where you can get an advance on a payday if you have your paystubs to prove you have a paycheck coming in. I have never used one so I am not sure about the details, but maybe that could be an option if all else fails.

[JCHoyle]

Hugs!!!!! To You

[jimandbeth1]

Check in go type places charge fees, thats how they make their money. Personally I would rather be stuck at home with no big dinner than pay money out. That totally sucks, definatly disputing the charges is a good suggestion, and get the ball rolling the other direction for refund. Also, if the hotel decides to refund to you card and rebill to the company, have them call your visa check card first. I have done this before. They can call and get a special authorization that puts them money back immediatly, but they have to call before they process the refund.

[MommaBean]

Hey Michelle just wondering if you were able to figure anything out

Huge hugs I hope you get to go home to Indiana...if you were near here id help ya get there if you would just take me with you ;) ..