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German hotels may require credit cards for security at check-in
Hotels are permitted to request a credit card for security purposes at check-in, even if the room has already been paid for, provided this requirement is clearly stated in the terms and conditions prior to booking. This practice is intended to protect hoteliers against unpaid costs for services like minibar usage or potential damage to room furnishings.
Legal expert Karolina Wojtal from the European Consumer Centre notes that hotels must clearly communicate the specific amount to be blocked and the duration of the hold. Furthermore, any pre-reserved funds should be released promptly, ideally within 14 days of the guest's departure. The amount held must remain in reasonable proportion to the potential costs incurred.
The German Hotel Association (IHA) supports this practice, with deputy managing director Stefan Dinnendahl stating that the association recommends securing bookings via credit card either during the initial booking process or at the latest during check-in.
Entities
European Consumer Centre · German Hotel Association · Karolina Wojtal · Stefan Dinnendahl
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Pre-reserved funds should be released by the hotel within 14 days after the stay. courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The German Hotel Association recommends using credit cards as security for bookings at the time of booking or during check-in. courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Hotels are permitted to request a credit card at check-in even if the room is already paid for, provided this is disclosed in the terms and conditions. courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Hotels must clearly communicate the amount and duration of any funds blocked on a guest's credit card. courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The amount blocked on a credit card must be in reasonable proportion to potential costs, such as minibar use or room damage. courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de