How does Booking.com enforce cancellation fees when booking without a credit card?
Booking.com lets you book accommodation without a credit card in some cases:
But what happens if I cancel my reservation or simply don't show up on the day of the booking? Would they send me a bill to pay? Somehow connect my email to previous reservations made with a credit card?
Note that while most rooms do have a free cancellation grace period, there are usually fees for late cancellation or no-show (example from a random property):
Best Answer
Don't ever just not show up. In most cases if you contact the hotel directly (depending on the size) you can come to an agreement and a lot would waive the fees. I have a small hotel and when people book and not show up it really affects us. At least have the courtesy to let people know
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Can booking com charge me for cancellation?
We charge commission on confirmed stays, regardless of whether or not a guest stays at your property. You also pay commission when: You charge guests for non-refundable or partially refundable no-shows or cancellations. You charge guests who cancel after the free cancellation period ended.How do I cancel my reservation on booking com without paying?
REMEMBER THESE:Can guest make a booking without credit card on booking?
To book without a credit card, guests must be logged in to their Booking.com account. To avoid misuse of this feature, guests can't book without a credit card when they already have an upcoming reservation with Booking.com with the same check-in and check-out dates.How do I get out of booking cancellation fee?
Call the hotel to ask for a refund or ask to waive the fee. Explain why you were unable to keep your reservations. This is more effective if you have a valid excuse, such as illness or inclement weather that prevented travel.Reservation on Booking.com without a credit card
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Answer 2
The cancellation policy might simply be some boilerplate that does not really apply in this case or maybe something Booking.com adds to all property descriptions but that they make no effort to enforce (or leave the hotel to enforce).
After all, it's the way many hotels have been working for a long time. Before Internet booking (and therefore the possibility to collect credit card details easily) became ubiquitous, it was not uncommon that a room would be kept for you until a certain time (say 7) and could be sold to someone else if you hadn't showed up (or possibly phoned) in time.
Obviously, being able to hold onto credit card details and recover the money directly is easier than pursuing legal remedies but it does not really make a difference on whether or not you owe the hotel some money and a certain number of no-shows, theft, vandalism or non-payment is part of the costs of doing business.
Answer 3
Once, I have missed my trip but the hotel has strict cancelation policy. I thought I will be charged by Booking.com, but very strange situation happene. The Booking.com has given all my credit cards attached to the account to the hotel (not only one which was attached to the reservation). The hotel charged 100EUR for the room. The next day they tried to charge my card for 6000EUR. It hit the limit of my card. The Booking.com confirmed that it was hotel and they are very sorry. The lessons I have made:
- the Booking.com will give your credit card information to the property owner, which can not be fair enough. Moreover, the owner can work with Booking.com through third party partner and can not be validated properly.
- I will never give Booking.com the real credit card. I just confirm reservation with debit card with 5$ on it.
If you follow the last advice you can not afraid cancelation policy at all. The Booking.com do not force you to pay, just the hotel.
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