Hotel saying they missed charging us - is it a scam?

Hi all.

Just wanted a bit of advice.  We go to spain quite often,we have a property over there.

As our property is iin a busy but rural town we tend to spend a few days in a commercial hotel -for the kids.

We visited the said hotel 3 times last year april aug and oct.  Booking on line with credit card, sometimes paying by cash, sometimes by card when we got there but always giving our credit card  and passports on arrival and signing out properly when we leave.

We received a phone call a few days before christmas saying we did not pay our bill in Aug as there was a new system and they forgot to take it and could we give them our credit card over the phone.  We said no and that we would have to look into it as we have changed credit card and we would need to ask for our online credit cards also we may have paid cash as we take alot out over there. It was a long time ago and only for a few days on our holiday and we really can't remember. It all seems a bit odd.

We have had a couple of missed calls from them, but no message left.  Surely if this was genuine they would email or write to us? We had to give all our details each time at booking.  Has this happened to anyone else?  This is a big chain I am talking about.

Not sure what to do. Has anyone got advice with how to deal with this?

Thanks.

 Even if you paid cash you would have still received a receipt. Unless the cashier did not complete booking you out and pocketed the money. 

If they are genuine, they will have your address and can write to you with copies of the bill in question. It is possible their epos system failed but that is there responsibilty. Non payment would have shown up within few days not 4 months later.

Are you able to email the hotel direct or its head office for clarity on the position?

Thanks for your reply.

They may have given me a receipt.  It is that long ago, I dont keep cash receipts for that type of thing. Especially as we have stayed there since then and had no problems.  Problem is proof, would hate to pay twice.

I think what I will do is wait for another phonecall and ask them to put it in writing to us. I may contact the manager or head office would rather deal with them than someone on the phone asking for my credit card.   They are normally great  but this is odd. Dont want it problems when we go over next.

I would not give my credit card detail's out to someone that had phoned you!  Get them to put it in writing .  Which really they should have done in  the first place. That is if it is the hotel.probably another scam

Patricia

And if they call again, dial 1471 straight afterwards to see if and what the phone no: is they are calling from.  Karen

Being you said you have stayed there since this period they are now mentioning I would point out to them if they ring again that you have stayed there several times some of which you have paid in cash of which this occasion in August could have been one and therefore you cant really help further ( unless you want to )

At the least get them to confirm all in writing and suggest you can discuss it next time you visit.

Thanks for your replies and advice.

I agree with your suggestions and will refuse to give card details and ask them to write to me.  If I get a letter, I will then contact them by email or visit when I am over in April.

Nicky x