pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Ok so I stayed in the Crown Plaza near the NEC last night and this lovely letter was in my room.

Turns out they will automatically assume you want to donate to their charity unless you vocalise it at the desk. My guess, most people wont want to make a fuss or look bad by asking for it to be taken off the bill.

Out of order in my opinion, regardless of the charity.

Thoughts?

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

that's a bit of a ****ty way to do it
how many guests won't say anything, most will be too embarrassed to complain about £1, but it's more about principles than the money

It wouldn't be too bad if it was for a worthwhile charity

I wish every guest in a hotel gave me £1 each when they leave, nice little earner

PaulC72

I always thought you had to opt in for a donation not opt out, funny really.

Did you speak up?

Sarg400

iTrader: (1)

I would tell them where to stick it, can't stand **** like that

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Pretty certain that forced donation isn't exactly legal, or at very least bad practice...a email to their head office maybe called for.

Charity commission would probably know.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

"taking park"

Seriously...does anyone proof read what they print out anymore?

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I'm on a business account, it didn't appear on my bill.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Theft by stealth if you ask me, much like "service charge" at restaurants, give me good service and I'll tip accordingly, but **** off adding 10% to my bill automatically.

FlatoutDave

The thing is as well they are pulling the guilt trip card! Every time I watch Motors TV there's adverts for this and that charity or it's save this Tiger or that leopard. I sit there feeling guilty about my life it has got to the point where I've stopped watching the chanel. Does that make me a bad person?

Turbohot

Out of order on hotel's part, Pimmo. Giving to any charity should be optional. Automatic assumption that you want to, unless you opt out, is wrong imo.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well yeah, I did a bit of a Google and the best I can find that it is indeed bad practice and is not liked by charitable fundraising bodies.


The legality is another issue.

I think it stems to the way they added £1 to the bill.

If they charged £X amount for the stay at standard normal rates and then announced they'd give £1 from that of that to charity instead of adding it, it'd be a different issue as the rate is as advertised. And indeed that's normally the case (profits to charity etc.). So what they should have done is increased the room rate, service charge or whatever by £1 to everyone. Then giving the £1 to charity from those increased rates.

I probably could have typed that in a way that made more sense. LOL.

silver-sub

^^This^^

Turbohot

Sure.

As we know, just because someone can't challenge a bad practice legally, it doesn't mean that bad practice acceptable. Good practice involves not doing that 'unacceptable', and thus outshines the legally supported blind practices sometimes.

Charity should be voluntary, not imposed upon.

Sure. Many ways to bypass all sorts.

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

even if they left the room prices the same and donated £1 to charity, they would save more in tax than it would cost them to do

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

Pretty much sums it up for me.

I'm all for fundraising, but people should have the right to choose, not be basically forced into giving, or worry about looking/feeling bad for opting out. As Dave says, it's not the actual amount, it is the principle.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Hi Mark,

My mum works for a Crowne plaza hotel so I have forwarded your photo to her and I have asked her opinion on this and I'll give her a call tomorrow, as far as I can see "company policy" wouldn't allow this but we will see. I'll let you know.

Paul