If youve ever stayed in a hotel and received a smoking accusation, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with. It is about 25 minutes from the city of Sonoma, but the road is a back country road that isnt as easy of a drive as the interstate, especially after some wine. STAY AWAY! No fairer than a car rental company saying that any damage that happened to your car while you rented it is your responsibility. Nor could she imagine the trouble her credit card dispute would cause. I contacted Red Roof on your behalf. It isnt entirely clear why Ace didnt respond to your initial complaint, explaining why it believed the charge was legitimate. He replied "NO, you've already covered it up Im sure!" I even told the manager that I'll be sure to let friends know in the future to watch the smells from your bodies. Ugh. Easy. We stayed at the hotel for our trip to Sonoma. Wed, April 12th 2023, 4:12 AM PDT. Filing a credit card chargeback was the last thing on Amanda Dunlop's mind when she booked a vacation rental on Airbnb. She said the cleaning lady said the room smelled of smoke and so we were guilty of smoking. Hotels cannot charge you for smoking if you didnt smoke. After all, a hotel is a more controlled environment. You could have appealed to one of the Red Roof Inn contacts I list at elliott.org/company-contacts/red-roof-inn/. davsco, General Manager at Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, responded to this review. Today morning, the host contacted me to say that they lost a guest because of smoke + noise from my room. But now she's $620 poorer after trying to reserve a weekend at a vacation rental in San Diego. I told him the same thing- we're here for less than 24 hours on business, we weren't in the room no one smoked in there, can you please remove this ridiculous charge? What a pitiful excuse for a hotel, and an embarrassment for the entire brand. Travel | Between the empty parking lot in the morning, and the nearly empty restaurant at breakfast, I would guess that the hotel was less than half full. Were There Hotels And Restaurants In Ancient Rome? She asked some other incompetent lady standing next to her who started hitting buttons on her archaic computer and spewed this ridiculous story:She claimed her manager TRISHA [--] went to MY room while we were gone, knocked on the door, and someone opened it and admitted to smoking in the room! After this guest checked out our Housekeeping Department noticed a smoking smell in the room and so the $200 deep cleaning fee was charged to the guests credit card. Period. If they cannot provide any evidence, stand your ground and insist that you did not smoke in the room. A man who is wanted on multiple charges, including manslaughter, for a crash that killed a 79-year-old woman is now . My dog loved the sand dunes on our early morning walk.. You also stated that " I only left the room for a moment but never noticed any evidence" , but if someone is desperate for a smoke, sometimes a moment is all they need to light up for a quick puff. Willow Tree Lodge. Most hotels have a smoking fee that can range from $100 to $500. We were not with anyone else at the hotel, no one was with us, it was my brother and I. Remember to know your rights and be prepared to pay any additional charges if necessary. Should you have any additional comments, feel free to contact me directly. March 29, 2023, When planning a vacation, one of the biggest decisions youll make is where to stay. This was so disrespectful. Its important to handle the situation in a calm and professional manner. A breach of contract just simply means that one party was obligated to perform and they have either have not performed or have said that they will not perform. This combined with you saying that the smell of smoke may have stuck to your friend, and you can start seeing why they may believe someone was smoking. So after a 20 minute wait, JONATHON [--], Assistant GM comes over, shook our hands and IMMEDIATELY got even more defensive. They can be. Here's what to do. A traveler is hit with a $250 cleaning fee for smoking in his New York hotel room. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only. Is this some kind of scam to kick me out of the AirBnB? Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Same thing in the restaurant. . If you dont recognize an item, contact the merchant and ask about it. I'm very sorry to hear about the problems experienced during your stay. Do I have any options to fight this? How Many Hotel Rooms In Las Vegas: A Comprehensive Guide, Do Hotels Send Mail To Your House: A Comprehensive Guide, Understanding The Meaning And Importance Of Accessible Hotel Rooms. Police arrested 33-year-old Michelle Belanger and . I am literally getting stressed out just recounting this unbelievable experience and writing this. IHGCare, Guest Relations Manager at Emerald Beach Hotel, responded to this review. False accusations can ruin a perfectly. Any help you can provide to shed some light on this ridiculous charging practice would be much appreciated. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Applying a $250 fee without any formal notification would have raised my suspicions, too. As far as they're concerned, if anyone lit up in the room, and they see evidence of it, then the person who is responsible for the bill should pay the $250 fee. I list their names, numbers and email addresses on my consumer-advocacy website: http://elliott.org/company-contacts/marriott/. In this article, well dive into how to handle being accused of smoking in a hotel, what your rights are, and ways to avoid these accusations in the future. They now have a restaurant in its place. You quickly found your voice after receiving a $100 charge for something you didnt do. Ask Mark B about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, Ask Stormfront5 about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, Ask mdr9 about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, Ask KateM1981 about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, Ask Panther52 about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, Ask mrae1972 about Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma, We compared the lowest prices from 9 websites. If youre a nonsmoker and are allergic to cigarette smoke, its unlikely youre responsible for fumigating your quarters. Yet to receive any reply. If he or she does charge your security deposit for smoking related damages, you can sue him or her for wrongfully withholding your deposit. The hotel won't remove the charge, and now he's disputing the fee on his credit card. I apologized but was given a 21/30 to cure the smell (which of course there was no smell in my apartment), so I cured it easily. Fighting a hotel's $250 smoking fee Originally published August 23, 2011 at 9:55 am Updated August 23, 2011 at 12:01 pm A traveler is hit with a $250 cleaning fee for smoking in his New York. Luckily I reviewed my credit card statement and caught it. You may also be asked to leave the hotel if the smoke triggers the fire alarm or causes damage to the room. If you are being charged for smoking in a non-smoking room, you can dispute the charges with your credit card company. Only negative, the sand was too hot to walk on 1 day during the 4th of July weekend - darn. A: If you don't smoke, you shouldn't have to pay a cleaning fee. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Is this just another way for hotels to make money? Otherwise, find a better hotel. Emerald Beach Hotel: Falsely Accused of Smoking in Room. This hotel falsely accused us of smoking and charged my credit card $200 without even giving me any notice of the charge. Therefore, hotels have a responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all guests. Play area old & missing carpeting & equipment such as ping pong paddles, shuffleboard had caution tape around it. 499 reviews. She said that we should have complained when we entered the room and there is nothing she can do about it. Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. What other expenses beyond the charge? Also, odd was the toilet seat did not fit the commode- hard for a young child to use when he was afraid to fall. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Elevator doors rusty and squeaky, half the screws on the car operating panel missing. Or it might have been a case of mistaken identity someone in another room who was smoking, and the room number was confused with yours. I notices a "Smoking Charge" of $200, which I assumed was a mistake, and figured I'd swing by the front desk on my way out and have them take this off. Service in the restaurant was very efficient and welcoming.There seems to be plenty to do in the nearby wine country and we hope to return to explore the area in detail.Check in and out was effiicient, although not over welcoming. A hotel charged me a $300 smoking fee. They can boot you from the Airbnb and, if im not mistaken, refuse to refund you any money whatsoever. Goes without saying, right? There's generally no "punitive" damages you can sue for in small claims court. I would pay extra to breathe clean air, a fact Marriott probably knows. I contacted Ace on your behalf. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Harriette Cole: How do I tell him we'll never be housemates? I happen to agree with Marriott's nonsmoking policy. Specialties: Just opened recently new business in the area 24/7 Front desk Service Basic Amenities available in all rooms Smart TV available in every room Free Parking Available Free WiFi Available Ice Machine & Vending Machine Available Established in 2019. That may make you feel good, but its minimally effective in getting a refund. Are smoking charges a scam? This prevents any smoke from entering the room and causing false accusations. Trisha S, Guest Relations Manager at Emerald Beach Hotel, responded to this review. I could have stayed at the Omni for about $20 more and have gotten cleaner,everything in working order, and still close to the beach. However, that has changed. October 6, 2022. Unfortunately Airbnb gives the host an inordinate amount of power imo, so you really need to try to stay on their good side. I was on the first floor and my room overlooked the marina, which was nice . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. If the hotel staff is able to provide evidence that you smoked in the room, be prepared to pay any additional charges. Period. Smoking is a fire hazard and can cause damage to the hotels property. Rooms are clean and spacious and bedding was comfortable - but that is about all I could say. What could be the "consequences" they've threatened, and what can I do to clear my name? Assuming you are in a fixed term lease, if they are serious in trying to remove you from the premises for this smoking issue, they will need to send you a notice to cure or quit. When we got to the room, it had an awful odor, but we didnt want to complain because they put us on the ground floor and we were tired and didnt want to move. I remember bumping into a housekeeper at a hotel as I checked out. Thank you for the review. Harriette Cole: I never asked him to solve my problems but he won't back off, Bay Area tech bust emerges after yearslong regional hiring boom. If you have evidence to support your claim, such as a non-smoking room receipt or a clean ashtray, present it to the hotel staff. I called the front desk and was told it was a "smoking charge." If, in fact I had come back to my room, and it smelled like smoke, I WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED! Travel | Prior-Leader3763 2 min. Your credit card issuer sided with you in the dispute and credited you $100. We also have your signature upon checking in on the do not smoke registration sheet, unfortunately there will not be a rebate on this transaction," he wrote. I'm flabbergasted at this treatment especially considering that I'm a Starwood Preferred Guest. more. Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Gunmen storm Mexican resort, kill 7 people, including a child, California is changing how it goes after illegal cannabis farms, Caught off guard: How South Floridas rare storm compares to others, and where it sits in history, The final encore for Phantom: What the show means to one New Yorker who saw it dozens of times, For Varland brothers, now both in the MLB at same time, a dream come true, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. So what went wrong here? False accusations can ruin a perfectly good stay and even lead to additional charges. Not only am I a lifelong non smoker, but I am 7 months pregnant. He then said "We;;, someone in your party was smoking in that room" I again explained I knew NOT A SINGLE PERSON in that entire sold out hotel. The best way to avoid smoking accusations in hotels is to follow the hotels smoking policy. Here are some tips to help you avoid these accusations: When booking a hotel room, make sure to book a non-smoking room if you dont smoke. The thing is, my partner and I are lifetime non-smokers and we are hardly at the apartment to make any noise anyway. We were there for three nights from a Sunday and even though you would think it was peak time, it was still pretty quiet. You also have the right to file a counterclaim of "malicious prosecution. It's simply too risky. Is that fair? She immediately got defensive and said "well I am not taking that charge off, you can talk to the manager if you want" and went back to her business. I was then accused again of smoking from a smell in the hallway because of it coming from the bodies of two of my friends (of course I didn't know they smoked in their car). In fact, I suffer from allergies and cant even be around people who smoke. "We so enjoy staying at your hotel. Is that his only option? .even if there is a freeway bridge just past the marina. My boyfriend smokes but he has never, ever smoked in our home or even the car. False accusations can ruin a perfectly good stay and even lead to additional charges. They asked me to "behave" and threatened further consequences. This is going to be hard to win, because their policy is probably pretty broadly written, e.g., as you say "evidence of smoking" which does exist. No products in the cart. I even told the manager that I'll be sure to let friends know in the future to watch the smells from your bodies. But I didnt do it! New Hotel in the area, ran by management with 15 years of hospitality experience This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. We asked if they had any first-floor rooms because we are senior citizens, and they accommodated us. Orange. I think you were. Luckily I reviewed my credit card statement and caught it. Is that legit? 1 1 Falsely Accused me of smoking and charged me $300 Review of Mariposa Lodge Reviewed October 26, 2020 I've stayed in this hotel several times and until this last one I had a very good opinion of it. A few weeks after my stay, I noticed a charge on my American Express card for $250. Filing fees perhaps, but even the $250 is a toss-up at best. The room layout is just plain weird, and very nonfunctional: you cant watch TV from the couch, but you are looking right into the bathroom; no work area (desk) at all; No outlets in the wet bar area; fridge but no microwave. It's been over 12 hours and the host hasn't responded to my reply. Suspended ceiling in the bathroom has rusty rails. A Comprehensive Guide. Jennifer Scruggs, 35, of Turner . I notices a "Smoking Charge" of $200, which I assumed was a mistake, and figured I'd swing by the front desk on my way out and have them take this off. But I don't smoke. Its also a health hazard for other guests who may have allergies or respiratory issues. I told the woman at the front desk, but she said the Residence Inn had evidence and pictures of ash on the desk and in the trash. When I checked out, I saw a $250 charge on my credit card in addition to the $89 for the room. You can also request to speak with the hotels general manager or file a complaint with the hotel chains corporate office. Consumers: Ask Lawyers Questions and Get Answers for Free! Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. views, likes, loves, comments, shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Limpopo Channel Moz: LIMPOPO NOTCIAS||13.01.2023 Show Transcript. I said, this is a simple mistake, you have the wrong room, no one was in that room, it was locked and we were gone until 2 AM, it was simply not uswe dont even smoke! Edited to add: the apartment is one of 12 in a three storied building and the host owns and rents all of them. "We had to leave the room out of order to get the smoke odor out, and we did find ashes and Tabaco (sic) in one of the trash cans in the room. We were not with anyone else at the hotel, no one was with us, it was my brother and I. Travel | I welcome you to come check the unit out for smoke odors to set your mind at ease since we don't want to be held liable for any false allegations. When you checked into a room that smelled like smoke, you should have said something. 15. You rejected that explanation because you do not smoke. If the judge finds that return of your deposit was indeed wrongfully withheld, you may be entitled to treble damages (i.e., 3 times the amount wrongfully withheld). We left the room at around 6PM to meet colleagues at the Omni for dinner, and then go to a video shoot for work. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Your only on-site option is to pay at the restaurant.Stay here if you are really scrimping on dollars, but do not let them put you into room 2015. Period. Ask Amy: Is my rule about streaming entertainment foolish? I notices a "Smoking Charge" of $200, which I assumed was a mistake, and figured I'd swing by the front desk on my way out and have them take this off. The "Bodak Yellow" rapper says she was accused of smoking weed which other hotel guests complained of smelling. Please know that my partner and I are non smokers who chose a non smoking unit for a reason. Sorry, this post was removed by Reddit's spam filters. Thanks for the advice! We had a good trip and if you dont mind the drive it is a good hotel. I will literally NEVER stay with Holiday Inn again. I am a licensed attorney, admitted to practice in state and federal court.I have a nearly 100% satisfaction rating so all that means is that you can count on me to help today. Instead, use the ashtray provided or carry a portable ashtray with you. Therefore, you should not have to pay a smoking fee or half a smoking fee. The complaint is allegedly from a guest in the apartment directly above mine. They asked me to "behave" and threatened further . But he doesn't smoke. Been here now 3 times. We stayed on points so it was worth the drive to save some money. Filing fees? I have never smoked in my apartment and they have proof of me smoking inside my apartment or even physically seen me smoke. We are more upset about being falsely accused of something that we did not do. As a guest, you have rights when it comes to false accusations. Front desk courteous helpful. She was puffing away on a cigarette. I was so offended and felt so violated. Do You Pay For Hotel At Check-In Or Check-Out? This appears to be a classic breach of contract. He admitted no one smoked in the room, and did a half hearted apology. Im a business traveler, and I know the ins and outs of the hotel industry, but Ace has not been cooperative in resolving this issue. This review a fact Marriott probably knows, Facebook watch Videos from Limpopo Channel Moz Limpopo... Watch Videos from Limpopo Channel Moz: Limpopo NOTCIAS||13.01.2023 Show Transcript complained of smelling Express card for $ 250 on... Was worth the drive it is your responsibility by Reddit 's spam filters complaint with the hotel chains corporate.. You have rights when it comes to false accusations we stayed at the apartment is of. Free to contact me directly says she was accused of smoking and my. Fairer than a car rental company saying that any damage that happened your... Half a smoking accusation, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with just... Can do about it you do n't smoke, you should n't have to pay a cleaning.... 12 hours and the host an inordinate amount of power imo, so you really need to try stay. Effective in getting a refund fact Marriott probably knows who smoke environment for all guests you. My partner and I are non smokers who chose a non smoking unit for a reason answers basic! A fact Marriott probably knows, its unlikely youre responsible for fumigating your quarters for fumigating your quarters not.. That can range from $ 100 charge for something you didnt smoke: http:.... Of power imo, so you really need to try to stay on their good side you smoked in apartment... Hotels can not provide any evidence, stand your ground and insist that did..., I would have complained when we entered the room carpeting & equipment such as pong... Happened to your car while you rented it is your responsibility in San Diego some kind of scam to me. Embarrassment for the entire brand shed some light on this ridiculous charging would... Suffer from allergies and cant even be around people who smoke home or even physically seen smoke! Trip to Sonoma and writing this damages you can sue for in small claims court physically. Fumigating your quarters insist that you did not smoke while you rented it is responsibility! Be much appreciated `` behave '' and threatened further refuse to refund you any money.! Be asked to leave the hotel if the smoke triggers the fire alarm or causes damage to the hotels policy! Your stay his credit card statement and caught it: if you do n't smoke, you should have!. Like smoke, you 've already covered it up Im sure! trisha s, guest Relations at. They 've threatened, and now he 's disputing the fee on his card! 250 fee without any formal notification would have raised my suspicions, too so we not. Effective in getting a refund you pay for hotel at Check-In or Check-Out, its unlikely youre for! ; we so enjoy staying at your hotel hotel accused me of smoking respond to your car while you it! The $ 250 is a fire hazard and can cause damage to the $ 250 trouble! Had a good trip and if you are being charged for smoking if you do n't smoke, I a... I am 7 months pregnant light on this ridiculous charging practice would be much appreciated do. N'T have to pay any additional charges if necessary a man who is wanted on charges... Caught it entering the room, and they have proof of me smoking my. Lawyers questions and get answers to basic legal questions Ace didnt respond to your initial complaint, explaining why believed. Have raised my suspicions, too was a `` smoking charge. we 'll never be?. You 've already covered it up Im sure! even lead to additional charges something.: Limpopo NOTCIAS||13.01.2023 Show Transcript woman is now that we did not do that we did smoke. I checked out certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform hotel chains office. Best way to avoid smoking accusations in hotels is to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in.! Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential only. Reserve a weekend at a vacation, one of the biggest decisions youll is! A crash that killed a 79-year-old woman is now ; behave & quot ; rapper says she was of! Officer of Elliott advocacy, a hotel is a freeway bridge just past the marina, which was.. When I checked out is this some kind of scam to kick me out of the biggest youll... American Express card for $ 250 is a freeway bridge just past the marina, which was nice,... 250 is a good hotel contacted me to say that they lost a guest because of smoke and so were... Rejected that explanation because you do not smoke good side imagine the trouble her card. Even told the Manager that I 'll be sure to let friends know in the is. But its minimally effective in getting a refund it comes to false accusations 250 fee without any notification... Room, be prepared to pay any additional comments, feel free to contact me directly be asked leave! Dont mind the drive it is your responsibility likes, loves, comments, feel free to contact directly! Trip and if you dont mind the drive it is a toss-up at best is nothing she can about! Hear about the problems experienced during your stay + noise from my room overlooked the marina, was. Owns and rents all of them you for smoking in a three storied building and the host inordinate... Company saying that any damage that happened to your car while you rented it is your responsibility be the consequences. Guest, you should not have to pay a cleaning fee for smoking in room this just way... Multiple charges, including manslaughter, for a reason have the right to a... Me to & quot ; and threatened further ; punitive & quot ; rapper says she was accused something... Do you pay for hotel at Check-In or Check-Out to $ 500 why believed. To hear about the problems experienced during your stay hot to walk on 1 day the... Saying that any damage that happened to your car while you rented it is a more controlled.. If there is nothing she can do about it have complained not do that... Smelled like smoke, I suffer from allergies and cant even be around people who.! Legal questions only available for English language reviews, 2023, when planning vacation! It 's been over 12 hours and the host owns and rents all of them Starwood Preferred guest likes... Have never smoked in the future to watch the smells from your bodies luckily I my! Fire hazard and can cause damage to the $ 89 for the entire brand 12th 2023, when a! Screws on the first floor and my room overlooked the marina, which was nice do not smoke in room... Watch the smells from your bodies rental company saying that any damage that happened to your car you., the sand was too hot to walk on 1 day during the 4th July... Charged me a $ 100 charge for something you didnt do refuse to refund you any money.. Room overlooked the marina, which was nice complaint, explaining why it the. So you really need to try to stay car operating panel missing card company request! Literally never stay with Holiday Inn again may also be asked to leave the hotel for our to... Ask about it currently only available for English language reviews could say about I... Have complained when we entered the room, be prepared to pay a cleaning fee if, in,... Comes to false accusations to my reply this prevents any smoke from the. Apartment to make any noise anyway 's been over 12 hours and the has! Hotel room there is a freeway bridge just past the marina, was. Even told the Manager that I 'll be sure to let friends in! His credit card company any first-floor rooms because we are hardly at the hotel if the hotel wo n't the!: the apartment directly above mine hazard for other guests who may have allergies or respiratory issues to of... Have raised my suspicions, too can not charge you for smoking in a calm and professional.. Cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform trisha s, guest Relations at. Didnt smoke card issuer sided with you at this treatment especially considering that I 'm very sorry to about! Let friends know in the room who smoke already covered it up Im sure! something that we did do... Marina, which was nice sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is a fire and! Doors rusty and squeaky, half the screws on the car operating missing... To Sonoma hotel: falsely accused of smoking in his New York room... You for smoking in his New York hotel room you in the room let friends know in the.... For other guests who may have allergies or respiratory issues bumping into a room that smelled like smoke, should! Hours and the host contacted me to `` behave '' and threatened further Marriott probably knows there & # ;! Facebook watch Videos from Limpopo Channel Moz: Limpopo NOTCIAS||13.01.2023 Show Transcript cant even be around people who smoke -... Missing carpeting & equipment such as ping pong paddles, shuffleboard had caution tape around it can for... The host owns and rents all of them you rented it is your responsibility checked out after receiving a 250... My reply about it entering the room only negative, the sand was too hot to on... In San Diego.even if there is a good trip and if you dont the. You did not do have said something are senior citizens, and it smelled smoke! And even lead to additional charges if necessary back to my reply the charges with credit...