Hotel mistake, wibu to tell them I'll correct it after Christmas?

[Sanshin]

Recently went to Vietnam on holiday. Stayed in a 3 star hotel for 3 days at a cost of £90. Lovely hotel, lovely staff.

Whilst there we booked a trip organised by the hotel at a cost of $100.

When we checked out they forgot to charge us for the trip and we never realised as we were rushing around so just settled the bill they presented to us.

A week later I receive a friend request on Facebook from a lady who worked at the hotel. I accepted and she sent a message saying that whilst we were at the hotel we booked a trip that they forgot to charge us for. She goes on to ask if we will now pay for it because if we don't, the staff have to pay for it themselves. It was very polite but almost pleading. I felt really guilty as I know $100 is a hell of a lot of money to these people so I replied straight away and said of course we will pay.

I spoke to DH on the night who wasn't happy because we will now how to pay a currency conversion fee but agreed we would pay. Then as we have been so busy since we got back we forgot.

So she sends another message asking if we can pay now and if we send her the card details we can pay like that. I meant to speak to DH about it again but he's working long hours at the minute and I keep meaning to mention it but when he's here I keep forgetting!

Anyway yesterday she sent another message. However now we can't really afford to pay it until after Christmas. We have £500 left to last us until after Christmas and that $100 will leave us skint. If they'd charged us at the time it wouldn't have been a problem!

As it was there mistake wibu to tell them I'll pay after Christmas?

[Roussette]

I doubt it's a scam. The woman messaging you is telling the truth, you did a runner from the hotel without paying for a trip. OK, it wasn't a runner, but I have to say, I don't believe you didn't know. It's not like missing off a couple of beers from the mini bar, it's more than the price of 3 nights stay! You couldn't avoid knowing!

The woman messaging you is probably in fear of losing her job. Having been to Vietnam and knowing how welcoming, kind, and hardworking for a pittance, the people are over there, I'm horrified you are not rushing to pay in whatever safe way you can. It's not that hard to do.

[TrinitySquirrel]

It's a con. The staff deliberately didnt charge so they can contact themselves after you have left. Only pay the hotel directly or the tour operator.

[WyfOfBathe]

And.. the OP’s question was can we delay payment and not is this a scam? The op knows it’s a genuine request, the specific details are too correct.

That doesn't make it a genuine request. The worker might work in billing or organising excursions, so she would know who had paid what.

If someone didn't pay for something at a hotel, you would expect the hotel to contact them officially, in the same way they communicated about the original booking (so email, probably). You wouldn't expect a random employee to ask for your CC details on Facebook. The fact that the employee isn't going through official channels suggests that she doesn't want the hotel to know for some reason - maybe it is just because she doesn't want to get into trouble, but maybe it is because she wants the $100 for herself. As people keep saying, $100 is a lot of money for hotel workers in Vietnam, so taking a risk with a scam might seem more worthwhile.

[MsWanaBanana]

SuburbanRhonda- I’m assuming this isn’t because of a big night out last night, OP, what with you being skint an’ all
What's it got to do with you why she has a headache. How is that even relevant to the thread? You know what they say about people who assume........

[CorbynsBumFlannel]

I would contact the hotel directly but you really need to pay asap as you can't have a poor member of staff paying for you on your conscience. If you think it will leave you skint it would be much worse for someone in poverty.
And can't see how you can't have the money to pay if you booked the trip and were planning on paying

[Ethylred]

You are making yourselves (you and DH) look like thieves.
And you are not "skint" by anybody's standards; you could afford
a holiday in SE Asia.

[greenapplesplatter]

Of course YBU to not pay it, you had the trip so owe them the money. Put it on your credit card & pay the minimum if you can't afford it but they shouldn't have to foot the cost.

Agree that it's a bizarre to go about it paying the woman directly though. Ask for PayPal details or similar so that you aren't handing your card details over.

[SandyDenny]

But Rousette it's absolutely the right thing to do to question any kind of online contact requesting money to be transferred.

The OP isn't making any kind of negative comment on the women of the people of Vietnam she's being very sensible.

How does she even know that the FB account is genuine? There could be any number of ways that fraudsters could know that she hasn't paid the $100 and might be trying to make a quick buck or steal her card details.

If she's paid without question then lost £0000s in fraudulent card transactions people would be telling her she'd been stupid too give over her details

[iBiscuit]

How would an individual be able to take a credit card payment?

With the card details, they can do all manner of dodgy stuff. But they can't take a payment directly. They would have to use the hotel's payment system, meaning the books wouldn't tally and the payment/billed item would be flagged up (unless they pocket the cash somehow).

They might as well have approached op through the correct channels basically, if this was legit.

Which begs the question, why is she so insistent on receiving op's card details?

[Acrosstheuniverse123]

I think its extremely unprofessional and dodgy to contact you through Facebook and ask for your card details. The hotel manager should have contacted you not a member of staff. I wonder if this is some kind of dodge/scam? You should pay it, but pay it directly to the hotel manager and pay by credit card.

[Kualabear]

OP didn't ask 'should she hand over card details' she asked could she hang it out until after Christmas

[VegasWithRadishes]

Doesn't sound like a scam to me? Why are people saying scam? Op asked for an invoice, the worker said she would have one sent. Op has asked via hotel management for an invoice as well. It wouldn't look dodgy to me unless they fail to provide one.
Op honestly I think you've been a huge dick about this.
She's had to ask you several times after you "failed to notice" (don't believe that tbh it's such a large amount it's not like missing a drink off a bill or something!) and now you say you can't afford it.

You've clearly known about this for a little while why didn't you budget for it???

[VegasWithRadishes]

How is op being cautious and sensible??! She didn't ask if it was a scam, just asked if she was being unreasonable to commit theft (because lets be honest forgetful old op would've just "forgotten" what with it being Christmas and all and the bill would never get paid).

[meditrina]

Do not pay a stranger who approached you via Facebook anything.

Yes, you know you owe this money.

Find a way to pay the hotel directly. As it was their mistake, and it is not the hotel (just a Fb randomly making claims) who is currently asking, I think waiting a until after Christmas is acceptable. Just as long as you do pay. And take proper steps to establish you are paying the right person.

[WooWooSister]

They'd put the card details through the hotel's card-reading system. Personally I'd arrange a bank transfer to the hotel instead. But if I were OP, I would have suggested this when they first contacted me and I'd have done it the same day. I wouldn't be trying to get them to wait till after Christmas

[Roussette]

But Rousette it's absolutely the right thing to do to question any kind of online contact requesting money to be transferred

Totally agree. I wouldn't be handing over my credit card details from a message on FB. However, there is no reason why the OP can't ask for bank details from the hotel and use a Currency Exchange to pay quickly.

I don't agree the OP is sensible at all, sensible people don't walk out of hotels in Asia (which are dirt cheap) without paying for a guided trip that costs more than 3 nights stay.

OP needs to pay this as soon as possible, as I said... in a safe way. I didn't suggest she gives out her bank details on FB.

[LittleMissCantbebothered]

Do not give your card details over Facebook !!!!

The only way to pay is to ring the hotel and pay over the phone.

You are risking having your account emptied if you do it any other way.

[VikingVolva]

"So, she's replied and said she'll send an invoice tomorrow but again if I give her the credit card details they can charge it online"

Scammy McScam

This is an absolute classic.

Sod management finding out. Contact the hotel directly by a method your know will reach the real management and sort it out with them and them only.

Not someone who could be anyone with some random connection to the hotel (neeed. It be employee, might be criminal friend of employee) who will be doing everything they can to get yon to pay them and nit ask too many questions. The promise of an invoice for this person is worthless. It will either never appear, or it will be something they knocked up themselves.

[ptumbi]

Scam. Def scam.

Can't believe the number of gullibles on here who would just send over card details, to 'clear their consciences'.

If you believe you have left a bill unpaid, you need to contact the hotel - not by FB! Other than that, yes, you need to pay.

But FGS be aware of what you re paying for. And how much!

[HuskyMcClusky]

I don’t believe that you’re stalling because your worried it’s a scam. You’ve already said that you just don’t want to pay until after Christmas, which is totally unfair.

Stop making transparent excuses. Choose a payment method you’re comfortable with and pay what you owe, ASAP.

[Roussette]

Incidentally, I would like to know when you were first contacted about this unpaid bill? It sounds like weeks and I think YABVVVU. I would've sorted this on the day I heard from them. (not by giving details out over FB, but by establishing a safe way to pay.)

I presume you were hoping it would all go away...

[Roussette]

I don't think anyone is saying give out your bank details over FB!

Find a safe way to pay and pay it today. I've just had to pay a woman in Brazil something, it's not difficult.

[PersianCatLady]

I would recommend using a pre-paid credit card to pay this bill even if you phone the hotel.

[iBiscuit]

Op, have you double checked that you haven't actually paid for the trip already? Scam FB lady could be trying it on; target enough people and some gullible will fall for it.

[notangelinajolie]

So someone on Facebook has asked you to send them your card details? Er no don't do it! You should pay the hotel the money not some random individual. Its got scam written all over it. Find a different method.