Hilton Debit Card holds

[darlou_40]

Hi for me signing up to the plus card was a no brainer, I already had an 11 night stay booked and had lost my diamond status this year, therefore the £150 was made back with the $30 f&b credit, I also lucked out and received about $1000 worth of standby upgrades for free. That’s the good (which is still very good imo) the issues I have are as follows; when I checked into the signia hilton bonnet creek the original hold they placed on the card exceeded the hold limit and was declined. Sorted and switched to another payment. Help desk was good and all limits were increased within a few days, this also included an overall transaction limit which would have stopped me from paying for the entire stay at checkout. I then switched cards back to the Hilton debit for the rest of the stay. After 7 days they reissued two holds for a total of $2,500 this then left my bank account via direct debit a few days later (as expected) then the hotel charged another $4,800 the day before checkout and this was used to settle the final bill and a refund came back 7 days later for $1,500. The issue remains the holds, it’s been 43 days and they have not been returned, hotel are adamant all have been released and Hilton debit say it was a final transaction. No idea how it will resolve but very frustrating given the amount involved, my point is how could I have used another card for holds then paid the final bill with the debit card given they take payment the day before checkout out anyway, so literally what is the point in this card if it’s so difficult to pay for Hilton stays without the hold issue

[NorthernLass]

This post is very difficult to wade through, but if you browse the forum you will find threads about a) how useless the Hilton debit card is, and b) don’t use a debit card for any kind of “hold” transactions!

You can use different cards for the hold and the final bill, you just need to explain what you want to do at the hotel.

[davefl]

It’s not just the Hilton debit card, it’s any debit card. Always check in with a credit card for the hold and tell them you want to pay the bill with a different card. Unfortunately if you financial situation is that you don’t have a credit card with a high limit you’re stuffed either way.

There are people with strong opinions on the Hilton debit and I disagree. I think it’s a great way to get gold cheaply. We’re not all in a financial position to get or even want Amex plat (especially if you live outside London) etc. so it does have a place in the market.

Responses on this forum are typically skewed by a majority of posters being high earner/high net worth and living around the heathrow catchment area.

[John]

For an expensive, long, non-prepaid stay like this, always check in with a credit card.

To get around the transaction limits, just pay smaller amounts off the bill periodically e.g. after the 3rd and 7th night and then at the end.

Problem with Hilton is that when you pay with a debit card, the system may change the card on file to that card resulting in more preauthorisations (as happened to you), so you have to remember to ask them to change it back to the credit card

If it has been 43 days then it is time to raise a chargeback with Currensea

[Harrier25]

davefl wrote:

I think it’s a great way to get gold cheaply.

Agreed, but that’s all it’s useful for.

[Rob]

Hilton’s deal with Currensea is that Currensea funds the hold, not you, when staying at a Hilton property. It isn’t meant to touch your account at all.