Deposit request for room reservation

Perhaps they have had a lot of no-shows and are fed up of losing money on reservations that are not taken up and used? Those rooms could have been let to someone else who would have turned up and paid the full price. If they have the deposits, at least they have something for the rooms they have been kept for someone but stayed empty. It does discourage people from booking on impulse, changing their minds, and not letting the hotel know so that they have the room free for another visitor.

I don’t think it’s unusual. I was asked for a deposit when I booked a table at a restaurant. I was asked for a deposit when I booked a dental appointment, although I must admit, I have never been asked for a deposit for a dental appointment.

But it should be made clear at the time of booking.

It is becoming quite common, and for group bookings in restaurants. Those businesses have really struggled due to Covid, I think it is totally fair as so many people no show at last minute. But yes, should be clear at time of booking.

How far ahead were you booking? Even platforms like Booking.com take payments nearer the date, and you have to cancel by a certain date, or lose some or all your money.

Not in the least unusual. Good business practice but only £30? I assume it’s a fairly cheap hotel? When booking a decorator recently we paid a deposit of 30% of the quote - he can’t afford to have people cancelling at the last minute. Why are you quibbling about £30 - unless you might cancel?

Quite normal, IMO.

I was a bit suspicious of a booking I made through Booking.com a while ago, I always book on the offer of cancellation without charge that extends to a couple of days before the date of arrival without forefeit. Once arrived and booked in then the full charge applies. On this particular occasion, well before the cancellation charge expired, they emailed me with a request to take 25% of the overall cost as a deposit otherwise I was advised I would lose the reservation, this had never happened on previous bookings. I tried contacting Booking.com, without success In the end I cancelled and re -booked with the hotel direct.

We regularly use booking.com. Not experienced this yet, but last booking was November, currently booked for this November.
If it helps to keep a business afloat, I’ve no problem with it.

I’ve never been asked for a deposit in advance or seen this on any hotel chains or booking platforms?

Which businesses are doing this Norah and GS
i.e who do we need to avoid in future when searching?

I have given a hotel my card details for a large booking. They are holding this as a backup as I have negotiated a rate. They won't take it apparently till the day before.
I have checked with their finance team and my card company.
It was odd but obviously they didn't want a no-show for 11 rooms.

I use booking.com a lot and they take your card details and a deposit . It happens a lot in many businesses, hairdressers, beauty salons especially at Christmas take a deposit. Dental surgeries , restaurants, hotels. Unfortunately a lot of businesses get no shows and they lose money because of this . I don’t have a problem with deposits. I work in health care and the amount of no shows or dna s is shocking

I have never paid a deposit on Booking.com. I pay in full after the stay.

My recollection is that they take your card details and then if you don't show up they can charge you. I think that was Premier Inn. I don't really blame them as some people are inconsiderate and don't turn up.

Eloethan

My recollection is that they take your card details and then if you don't show up they can charge you. I think that was Premier Inn. I don't really blame them as some people are inconsiderate and don't turn up.

Same experience here Eloethan most hotels I have booked asked for card details.

Exactly.

I would say that it is unusual for a hotel not to want a deposit. theses days.

If you book with Premier Inn and the like they have a whole range of room rates and deposit requirements depending on whether you want a firm pay-up-front rate no return if cancelled rate (cheaper) to a cancel without charge up to the last minute rate(expensive)

A few years ago we booked a night away to celebrate our anniversary, we had to pay the full cost of the room up front, several hundred pounds. We were unable to go as DH took ill, we lost the entire amount.
Normal to have to pay a deposit.
No shows at hotels and restaurants are common, how long does it take to pick up phone and cancel ?

M0nica

I would say that it is unusual for a hotel not to want a deposit. theses days.

If you book with Premier Inn and the like they have a whole range of room rates and deposit requirements depending on whether you want a firm pay-up-front rate no return if cancelled rate (cheaper) to a cancel without charge up to the last minute rate(expensive)

Same with booking. You pay a higher price if you want to be able to cancel up to a certain date. The rate can be quite a bit lower if you make your booking non-cancellable.

Jaxjacky

We regularly use booking.com. Not experienced this yet, but last booking was November, currently booked for this November.
If it helps to keep a business afloat, I’ve no problem with it.

I think my concern when I received this email was wondering if it was genuine or a scam, simply because I'd never had anything like it before from Booking.com before, I've used them quite a lot, and it was somewhat contradictory to the terms of the original booking.

I booked with Premier Inn and Booking.com last week and neither had a deposit option.

Pay now for a cheaper non-cancellation rate, or provide card details in case of a- no show or late cancellation . No money taken in advance.

Posted too early. Meant to say that no money taken in advance as a ‘deposit’.

I had lunch at a popular and expensive hotel some time ago where they were expecting a group of seventeen people for a birthday lunch. No-one turned up; the contact numbers and address all proved to be false, as was the credit card number.
Why would people do that? It was obviously pre-planned.

That sounds like competitors trying to spike their guns.