Why That Extra $60 Hotel Charge Isn’t a Scam—And Why Your Bank Is the Real Culprit
Picture this: you’ve just had a relaxing hotel stay (or maybe not so relaxing, if you’re “that guest”). You check out, glance at your bank account, and—wait, what’s that? An extra $60 charge from the hotel? Outrage! You dial the front desk, ready to unleash your inner Karen, convinced you’ve been duped. But before you start practicing your best “I want to speak to your manager” voice, let’s take a trip behind the scenes of hotel billing and bank authorizations.
This is the saga that played out for one front desk worker, who shared their tale on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk. What started as a simple question about a mysterious $60 charge quickly spiraled into a symphony of interruptions, accusations, and a battle of wills—over an “incidentals hold” that every hotel guest should expect (yet so many never do).
The $60 Mystery: Why Hotels Hold Your Money Hostage (But Not Really)
Let’s set the scene. The original poster, u/TheNiteOwl38, gets a call from a woman demanding to know why she was “charged” an extra $60 when her room was already paid for. Our front desk hero immediately recognizes the situation—it’s the standard incidentals authorization, a temporary hold placed on a credit or debit card to cover potential damages, minibar raids, or that late-night room service binge.
Here’s the kicker: the guest didn’t incur any incidentals. So why is the $60 still missing from her account? The answer is simple (but, as we’ll see, not easy to explain): the hotel released the hold at checkout, but the guest’s bank hasn’t returned the funds yet. As u/Steve_P1 succinctly noted, “I think it's actually an incidental ‘hold,’ not a ‘fee.’ There's a hold on the funds; you're not being charged (unless you do incur any incidental charges).”
Despite this, the guest interrupts the front desk agent at every turn, convinced she’s been robbed. After several rounds of shouting and attempted explanations, the agent finally gets a word in: “It’s not us—it’s your bank!”
Hotels, Holds, and Hysteria: Why Does This Keep Happening?
If you’re thinking, “How does anyone not know about incidentals holds in 2024?” you’re not alone. The Reddit thread is packed with front desk veterans and frequent travelers collectively shaking their heads. One popular comment from u/originalgenghismom describes how hotel staff repeat the incidental hold policy multiple times, only for guests to claim, “No one told me!”
It’s not just a U.S. thing, either. As u/LadyV21454 points out, even small, non-chain hotels do it. And u/Friendly-Key3158 jokes about guests acting like hotel staff “know nothing about other hotels out there in the wild.” The phenomenon is so universal, one commenter quipped, “If a $60 hold is an issue for your finances, maybe it’s time to rethink your travel plans.”
But misunderstanding isn’t the only issue. Several commenters, like u/jjmj21 and u/zamula, highlight a key difference: debit cards vs. credit cards. With a debit card, the funds are actually withdrawn—and can take up to 10 business days to return. Credit cards just show a pending charge. For the financially faint of heart, that pending $60 can feel like daylight robbery.
Why Incidentals Holds Exist (and Why No One Reads the Fine Print)
Let’s be honest—how many of us read the fine print at hotel check-in? Turns out, almost no one. As u/gdex86 dryly points out, “You are assuming this type of guest would read the fine print.” Even when guests sign an authorization form, many later protest, “Well, you can’t expect me to read all of that!”
Hotels try to make it clear—sometimes repeating themselves three times, putting up signs, or scripting their check-in spiel. Still, guests feign shock. As u/Intelligent-Dig2945 describes, “It used to make me feel really awkward asking them at first. But now I just tell them that the system will not check them in without it. They can't argue with a computer like they would a human being.” (Spoiler: some still try.)
And if you booked through a third-party site? Prepare for even more confusion. As u/JerbekaDlante warns, “Prepaid reservations were ALWAYS the worst because they thought prepayment covered everything.” Pro tip: Book directly with the hotel if you want fewer headaches and better customer service.
How to Survive (and Thrive) as a Hotel Guest—Or a Front Desk Agent
So, what’s the best way to avoid becoming “that guest”? First, expect an incidental hold—always. Second, use a credit card if you can; it’s less disruptive to your balance. Third, be patient: banks can take 5-10 business days (not counting weekends) to release your funds. As another commenter, u/2catswashington, explains with an easy analogy: “If the hotel has one hand on your hold and the bank has one hand on the hold. When you check out the hotel lets go. It is up to your bank go too.”
And for the unsung heroes at the front desk, the Reddit community has advice, too. Some recommend pausing and letting the guest finish their rant before calmly explaining (thanks, u/MissBehave_). Others just wish they could charge a “screaming fee” and hang up.
The truth is, hospitality workers deal with these misunderstandings daily. As u/Far_Okra_4107 says, “I feel like I have this conversation/argument every single shift.” Maybe it’s time for a mandatory “Hotel Holds 101” course at check-in.
Conclusion: Don’t Shoot the Messenger—Blame the Bank (and Read the Signs!)
In the end, that extra $60 isn’t a hotel scam—it’s a temporary security measure, released as soon as you check out. If it’s still missing, your bank is the culprit, not the front desk agent. So next time you see a pending charge, take a breath (and maybe thank your hotel staff for their patience).
Have you ever caught yourself mid-rant over a hotel “charge” only to discover it was just a hold? Or are you a hospitality worker with stories to share? Drop your tales, confessions, or survival tips in the comments below—because in the hotel world, everyone’s got a story, and we all learn a little more with each one.
Original Reddit Post: Lady, You're Problem is with Your Bank, Not the Hotel