Rally Room Reservation Questions

[Merryband1]

I know the rooms are probably going fast, and I want to book mine ASAP. Here's the main question: if I reserve the room with a debit card, does the hotel charge for the room immediately? Is there a delay? When is the charge made? I have a debit card with an online payment service [name withheld] that currently has about 95 cents in it. It has a "pay in installments" option. If I reserve the room with this debit card, are they going to attempt to charge the card immediately, see how little money is in it, and then not reserve the room? I don't have a credit card since my mother's death, as it was always in her name. I don't want to use the debit card associated with my bank account, because I don't have enough money in it (and won't, if I try to attend the entire Rally, which I dearly want to do). I know my friends were taking up a collection for me, but I had Grace check it and there's about $120 in it, not nearly enough even for the plane ticket, let alone the room. I want to try to get a credit card, but I don't know if I can get one in time.

I need advice, TAXI family. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Merry/Merryband/Marion

[funsongs]

I need advice, TAXI family. Any ideas?
Merry/Merryband/Marion

For those kinds of questions - probably best to speak to a live person/rep at The Westin LAX Hotel;
call them directly and include info they give you with your confirmation number.

[AlanHall]

My card has not been charged. there will be no charge until the day before (?) I think. I hope to see you there, Marion!

[gitanosoy]

No charge when you fill out the online booking and if you change your mind you must cancel within 3 days before the date otherwise there is a charge. When you get there and check in they take an imprint of a Credit Card again( not sure why), it does not get charged until when you checkout. However I got charged twice and then I phoned and they refunded one transaction, not sure if it's their procedure or because the guy was new and ran my card twice.

Not sure how a debit card will work unless it's a different one than your regular debit card.

Banks love giving Credit Cards out. You can walk into a bank and get a credit card within a day unless you don't qualify for it for some reason.

[Merryband1]

Thank you, Peter, Alan, and Andre!

I'm working on getting things lined up. A good friend has put the reservation together for me, and now I have to get a credit card so I can switch it over before I get there! I'm investigating several options, and need to choose the right one.

I look forward to meeting you all in person in November!

Merry/Merryband/Marion

[Casey H]

My card has not been charged. there will be no charge until the day before (?) I think. I hope to see you there, Marion!

When you make the reservation, they only need the credit card as your guarantee since they are holding the room. If you don't cancel 48 hours before and don't show up, they would charge that credit card for one night. So, you do not get any charge on the credit card at time of reservation. When you check in, you have the option of keeping the room charges on that same credit card or changing to another one.

Hope to meet you, Marion!

Casey