"Los Angeles, CA: In addition to the "safe warranty fee," there are a number of other fees that hotels sometimes charge without their customers' knowledge:- Reservation processing fee -- At least one hotel charged a consumer $4.91 cents for making a reservation and did not tell the customer until she checked out.
Resort fee/Convenience Charge -- Charged to all customers at certain hotels to cover the costs of towels, gym access, pool access, free ice, daily newspapers, and other amenities regardless of whether or not the customer actually uses them. The resort fee is often not disclosed to customers and can range from $10 to $30 per day.
Energy/fuel surcharge -- Some hotels charged this saying it was required to cover rising costs caused by the energy crisis. However, some hotels have kept the energy surcharge for many years despite claiming it was only a temporary charge and despite the energy crisis being over.
Mini bar restocking fee -- Some mini bars are hooked up to sensors that bill customers if they move a product but then put it back. Some hotels also leave out a bottle of water on the hotel room desk that appears free but is actually considered "purchased" once it is opened, often at a high price.
Phone charges -- Some hotels charge high rates for using their phones, faxes, and email, and also charge guests for calling "toll-free" 800 numbers such as car rental companies. These fees generate a lot of revenue for hotels. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated that hotels collected around $1.4 billion in service fees on many services that were once free. Furthermore, it is estimated that hotels could make around two billion dollars in surcharges in 2007.
Officials and consumers in a number of states including California, Florida, and New York have filed class action lawsuits against hotels for charging undisclosed fees. A 2004 lawsuit against Station Casinos in Las Vegas resulted in a settlement for the plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleged hotels charged one dollar a day for room telephones even if they were not used, and $3.50 a day for energy surcharges. Also in 2003, Marriot paid $50,000 to the state of Missouri to settle claims related to its energy surcharges.
If you were charged an undisclosed "safe warranty fee" during your stay at a CHOICE Hotel, including Comfort Inns, Clarion, and Econo Lodge, contact a lawyer to discuss your options.
