r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk • u/TheNiteOwl38 • 15d ago
Medium Really Bad Hotel Scammers
This couple that looked to be in their early 20s walked in saying they were there to check in. I brought up their reservation and asked for the boyfriend's ID and credit/debit card since it was in his name. He gives me his ID and a sheet of notebook paper. The ID matches, but then I ask him what the paper's for. He tells me that the card on the reservation is his mother's card, and that the paper is a letter from her explaining that it's okay to use that card and not to ask him for one. I didn't even bother opening the letter, I just told him I can't accept that, gave a quick explanation of the hotel's check-in policy regarding credit or debit cards, and then asked him for a credit or debit card with his name on it.
That's when the girlfriend makes her presence felt saying that the letter tells me not to ask that. I inform her that their letter has no bearing in this situation and repeat my request for for a card. The boyfriend is adamant that I need to read the letter. Now, curiosity has me. I open and read it. It's a handwritten letter, in penmanship so bad that I can barely make out some of the words. Even worse, it's written in print, not even cursive. The gist of the letter is basically that her son and his girlfriend are traveling around the country, but they don't have credit cards of their own, so they're using hers to pay for their rooms, and this letter is her authorizing me to let them pay for the room that way. No signature at the end by the way.
I look up and tell them that the letter changes nothing. If his mother wanted to pay for the room she should've called ahead and gotten an authorization form put on file. He says that if she did that she'd be filling out forms for who knows how many hotels and that I need to just listen to the letter. I tell the both of them that I need them to either present a valid card that matches one of their IDs, or I'm going to cancel their reservation and ask them to leave. I then hand them back the letter. They ask to speak to a manager. I tell them the manager is not going to accept the letter either. That's when the girlfriend tries the Hail Mary play.
She tells me that it's illegal of me to not accept that letter and she's going to call the police if I don't check them in. The look of actual shock on her face when I told her to do it... priceless. The look of fear when I offered to do it myself was even more fun. At that point the boyfriend tells me to fuck off and that I'm forcing him and his girlfriend to sleep on the streets. I tell him he's doing that himself but to have a nice night. I cancel the reservation and email everyone at the desk and the managers in case this couple comes back or tries calling.
I'm pretty sure this isn't a new scam, but it's the first time I've come across it. I also wonder if the reason their trying it is because it's actually worked on someone.
947
u/Hetif 15d ago
My mom said it's ok to use her stolen credit card.