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Newbie question about the Railcard rate. I have a one night stay booked at the Holiday Inn Express Kettering (living the dream 😆) on 22nd May. This is my first booking using the Railcard rate. I know I can cancel up to 48h in advance, and it says that a deposit of one night will be taken ‘on or before 19 May’. A charge has appeared on my credit card today for the one night i.e. two while months ahead of the stay.
Is it normal to have a deposit taken so far in advance on the RC rate? I presume I will then have to pay the one night at check-in and some time after the one night ‘deposit’ will be refunded?
I’m not thrilled about a charge sitting on the card for two months, perhaps longer!
Hi @tootsci, there’s been a bit of discussion about this previously. Some hotels take payment in advance on the rate – mainly U.K. ones from mine and other readers’ experience. It should be fully refundable under the Ts and Cs if you cancel but I’ve had to prove the original rate was flexible and it sounds like other people have had similar issues so make sure you keep your original booking confirmation email!
The charge will be deducted from your final bill – it’s not a deposit in the sense of security for any charges you might run up.
@NorthernLass Thanks for clarifying. I thought I might end up with two charges until the deposit one was refunded, and the card it’s on is my ltd company card which has a low limit. I’ll still keep a close eye on things though…
No worries! It is a useful rate but you do have to keep an eye out for charges and refunds (if applicable).
When you check in they will see that payment has already been taken and you won’t have to do anything else.
When you check in they will see that payment has already been taken and you won’t have to do anything else.
Thanks @John. Yes, the payment went from pending to cleared today, so will make sure I have confirmation handy at checkin just in case
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