The "safe warranty fee" is automatically added to a guest's bill, regardless of whether or not she has used the safe. The fee is designed to cover the use of the safe and up to $5,000 in insurance if items are stolen from the safe. However, customers are often not informed of the charge when they negotiate their hotel rate and the hotel charges the "safe warranty fee" unless the guest requests it be removed from the bill. This is known as negative option billing.Negative option billing essentially changes the billing process. Rather than the hotel having to obtain a customer's authorization to bill her for certain services and amenities, the hotel simply assumes it has her authorization and assumes she has used those services and amenities. It then becomes the customer's responsibility to ensure any unwanted charges do not appear on the hotel bill.
So, what can you do to avoid an unpleasant surprise, like the "safe warranty fee" when they check out of their hotel room?
- When booking the room ask if there are any extra charges not included in the advertised or negotiated price. Charges to ask about include hotel "safe warranty fees," resort and amenity fees, energy surcharges, and bellman and housekeeping gratuities. Some hotels will include any or all of those fees (and others) without notifying customers in advance. How high are those fees? One man, James Shulevitz, has filed a lawsuit against Starwood after The Phoenician resort added a $28 bellman gratuity and a $4-a-night housekeeper gratuity to his bill.
- Do not assume that something is free just because it appears to be so. A bottle of water sitting on your hotel room desk may cost money, even if there is no notice around that you can be charged for it. Likewise, using the gym at the hotel may cost extra so ask before you use the gym.
- If you plan on using the hotel phone, even for 800 numbers, find out what the rate is first. One man, as quoted on SFGate.com was charged over $20 for two one-minute phone calls. Also ask if there are charges for Internet access. Many hotels now include a charge even if you are using your own computer.
- Avoid room service, which can be quite costly. If you do use room service, read the fine print to check for any extra costs such as delivery charges and automatic gratuities.
- Also, bring your own snacks so you are not tempted by the mini-bar, which usually has extremely high prices, sometimes as high as $4 for a bottle of water. Some mini-bars are equipped with sensors so that even picking up and replacing an unused item results in a charge on your bill.
- Look over your hotel bill carefully before paying it. If you have any questions or see any charges you do not recognize, ask the front-desk attendant to explain all the charges. Make sure you agree with the charges before paying the bill. If your credit card is automatically charged for the bill without you looking it over, read it over as soon as possible and contact the hotel immediately with any questions or concerns.
- If you do wind up paying hotel surcharges for items or services you did not use you can request having the charges removed. However, success is not guaranteed. If you were not informed of the additional charges when you checked into the hotel, let the manager know and see if they can be removed from your bill.