8 ms·

I recently won a credit card dispute over a hotel resort fee. The hotel claimed they had high-speed Internet. The speed was only 2-3 mbps. I was able to use the

I recently won a credit card dispute over a hotel resort fee. The hotel claimed they had high-speed Internet. The speed was only 2-3 mbps. I was able to use the current FCC definition of high-speed to claim a refund.

avarun 3y ago
Was the wifi access part of the resort fee? Curious how you went about explaining the monetary value of the wifi portion of your stay to the credit card company.
- danielfoster 3y ago
  Yes, it was advertised as part of the fee.
xnx 3y ago
That is awesome. Can you say more about your process?
- google234123 3y ago
  I feel like you almost always win credit card disputes - could have just said it felt slow and won.
- joecool1029 3y ago
  probably just called the card issuer. It's a valid chargeback reason, here's Visa's guidance (probably under section 13.3): https://usa.visa.com/content/dam/VCOM/global/support-legal/documents/merchants-dispute-management-guidelines.pdf https://usa.visa.com/content/dam/VCOM/global/support-legal/d... "You inaccurately described the merchandise or services at the time of purchase." (billed as high-speed, it wasn't)
- danielfoster 3y ago
  I took screenshots of text from the hotel’s website claiming what was included, then sent them to Amex when I filed my dispute online. Of course I tried to work with the hotel before going this route, but they refused to refund anything.
hipadev23 3y ago
Credit cards almost always side with the consumer if you have meaningful spend and very few issues/chargebacks/claims. If you never use the card, and then chargeback, they'll just deny your claim and drop your ass. It's not about the money of the individual charge (for small stuff like this anyway), it's about keeping you happy and spending on the card. I highly doubt the argument itself was relevant whatsoever.
- freedomben 3y ago
  Hasn't worked for me. Chargebacks are pretty much non-existent. The bank will just contact the vendor, ask them if they delivered "the product" and if they just say "yes" (no proof needed, and they always say yes) they deny my claim. I barely even got it back when my kid stole my credit card and gave it to a scammer selling "minecraft accounts." Maybe I need to find a different bank?
  - bawolff 3y ago
    > I barely even got it back when my kid stole my credit card and gave it to a scammer selling "minecraft accounts." Nor should you quite frankly. Kids buying stupid things is not the same as fraud.
    - Yiin 3y ago
      I'd assume in this case the fraud is not getting the minecraft account for advertised price and/or abusing the credit card info afterwards.
      - freedomben 3y ago
        Exactly. If I had run the card myself in this case, it would not have changed. The dude took the money and ran, never delivered anything
    - freedomben 3y ago
      Perhaps you missed the word "scammer" in my comment? I'm glad you weren't the person deciding on my case. It has nothing to do with the fact that my kid stole my card. The scammer who made the charge was committing text book fraud[1] [1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraud http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraud

avarun 3y ago

Was the wifi access part of the resort fee? Curious how you went about explaining the monetary value of the wifi portion of your stay to the credit card company.

danielfoster 3y ago
Yes, it was advertised as part of the fee.

xnx 3y ago

That is awesome. Can you say more about your process?

google234123 3y ago
I feel like you almost always win credit card disputes - could have just said it felt slow and won.
joecool1029 3y ago
probably just called the card issuer. It's a valid chargeback reason, here's Visa's guidance (probably under section 13.3): https://usa.visa.com/content/dam/VCOM/global/support-legal/documents/merchants-dispute-management-guidelines.pdf https://usa.visa.com/content/dam/VCOM/global/support-legal/d... "You inaccurately described the merchandise or services at the time of purchase." (billed as high-speed, it wasn't)
danielfoster 3y ago
I took screenshots of text from the hotel’s website claiming what was included, then sent them to Amex when I filed my dispute online. Of course I tried to work with the hotel before going this route, but they refused to refund anything.

hipadev23 3y ago

Credit cards almost always side with the consumer if you have meaningful spend and very few issues/chargebacks/claims. If you never use the card, and then chargeback, they'll just deny your claim and drop your ass. It's not about the money of the individual charge (for small stuff like this anyway), it's about keeping you happy and spending on the card. I highly doubt the argument itself was relevant whatsoever.

freedomben 3y ago
Hasn't worked for me. Chargebacks are pretty much non-existent. The bank will just contact the vendor, ask them if they delivered "the product" and if they just say "yes" (no proof needed, and they always say yes) they deny my claim. I barely even got it back when my kid stole my credit card and gave it to a scammer selling "minecraft accounts." Maybe I need to find a different bank?
- bawolff 3y ago
  > I barely even got it back when my kid stole my credit card and gave it to a scammer selling "minecraft accounts." Nor should you quite frankly. Kids buying stupid things is not the same as fraud.
  - Yiin 3y ago
    I'd assume in this case the fraud is not getting the minecraft account for advertised price and/or abusing the credit card info afterwards.
    - freedomben 3y ago
      Exactly. If I had run the card myself in this case, it would not have changed. The dude took the money and ran, never delivered anything
  - freedomben 3y ago
    Perhaps you missed the word "scammer" in my comment? I'm glad you weren't the person deciding on my case. It has nothing to do with the fact that my kid stole my card. The scammer who made the charge was committing text book fraud[1] [1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraud http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraud