Hotel requesting information

[MrsWembley]

Never booked a hotel outside Europe before. This one is requesting a copy of my credit card, front and back, and a copy of my passport? Is this standard?

I'm not paying by credit card, it's straight from my bank account, so do they need anything or should I just phone them and give them the numbers over the phone?

I know this is effectively the same thing as sending them a photo of my card, but it feels less easy for anyone to steal ID like that. It's coupled with the request for my passport that got my hackles up, really, but I don't know, this could be normal practice!

Help!

Upon arrival they may request to see your ID, but I certainly wouldn't be sending all of that in advance. Email isn't secure, and that is before they even get it. I wouldn't be paying by bank transfer either.

No: not normal and I wouldn’t agree to it. They might well need to see your passport on arrival and might want a credit card to cover bar bills/mini bar etc. All can be sorted at check in. What country?

No way would I send them that. My DH had his identity stolen, it was a complete nightmare. It has made me very aware how much damage someone can do with info like that.

I've never been asked for this. Passport number and sometimes passport photocopy on arrival. Small, or sometimes slightly larger reserve charge on credit card on arrival also not unusual.

It would worry me that first of all is the method you'd be sending your documents completely secure, would they be stored in a completely secure manner etc. When you use your credit card somewhere they don't have record of all your card and account details, home address, passport number.

What country is the hotel?
I've been to 76 countries and hundreds of hotels and never been asked for either before checking in, in person.

No no no. They have your address so may use your credit card as they want front and back details. Why would they want the back where your security code is? Avoid

How have they asked? Via Email?

Thank-you, all! I did wonder and didn't want to ask DH, as if it wasn't normal then he'd go spare and it's been a bloody pain finding a hotel he liked the look of - I really don't want to go looking again!

I'll email them with some excuse about the passport and explain that I'm not paying by cc and see what they say.

Thanks again!

Where is the hotel? Can you not book it through booking.com or similar? Don’t send your credit card details by email.

Here in France it is a legal requirement to keep names, addresses and passport numbers for none French guests, but it doesn't have to be a copy of the passport! I agree with advice not to send your credit card details. Would be interested to hear why they say they want it!

Just tell them you don’t have a credit card. Not everyone has. Say that’s why you’re paying via your bank.
However, I’d be very suspicious about the whole set up. Are you sure this hotel actually exists and is not simply an online scam? Check it out on Tripadvisor and post a question to ask if previous guests had to give card details in advance.

scam scam scam
passport no, yes. possibly a copy at check in at hotel.

It's one of the top hotels in the area on Trip Advisor!

I've family nearby, I'll ask them to check it out.

Why don’t they have a secure online booking system that you can use? The hotel may be good, but how do you know it is them you are communicating with?

I've been emailing their reservations, asking about different rooms available, and just carried on with the request to book. They emailed an invoice and form to fill in with details. It's at the top of that form that it asks for copies.

My sister has just pointed me in the direction of this...

www.pcicomplianceguide.org/are-hotels-supposed-to-be-making-front-and-back-copies-of-my-card/

Apparently, in many countries it's normal, or at least so common that people don't think about it!

If I book via their website it'll be another £80!

Is the hotel in the EU?

I don't know if it's relevant, but that article was written in 2014, & the spelling would indicate it's American.
I'm quite well-travelled, & have never been asked for that info prior to check-in.

I too have travelled a great deal outside of Europe and never been asked for this BEFORE the trip. On arrival, yes its common to photocopy the passports, but not ask for them beforehand! Do they take paypal? I'd use that over a direct bank transfer. If things go wrong, they have the money and you have no recourse at all!

Surely it rings alarm bells if booking through a legit booking site costs that much more? If you have relatives nearby, couldnt they put down a small deposit to secure the booking the difference in paid on your arrival? As others have said, which country is it in? Sounds dodgy to me.

Another thought, ask others that have spayed at this hotel on tripadvisor. In the Q&A section for the specific hotel, just put the query there. The hotel themselves may/may not reply, but others guests that have stayed there can also respond about the process they followed.

I would not do this at all and this is not common practice even outside of Europe. Passport information is asked for in some countries when guests check into hotels; that is normal practice.

Sending such information also makes it far easier for criminals to commit identity fraud.

Which country OP? And are they requesting you do it via bank transfer or are you wanting to do it that way?

Never been asked for this and would not do it. This year one hotel wanted me to e-mail over all my credit card details and I pulled out due to that - never been asked for passport other than at some hotels when you are there. I wouldn't risk it and not sure your bank would cover you for fraud if you've given all the details.

Definitely wouldn’t be sending the back of my card. Have travelled a lot and often have to provide passport or passport number on checkin some also take a copy but never sent one ahead.