On Line Booking DIRS21

Posted by Gary Mc (Salt Lake City) on 04/02/10 12:03 AM

I recently booked rooms for two stops on an upcoming trip. They are hotels that we have previously visited and I am pretty sure that the are honest. Both hotels are now using a booking function called DIRS21. The terms were that I would provide a credit card number but that I would not be charged until we actually stayed or failed to show. I booked both for an 11AM arrival so there was no question of a late arrival guaranteed room.

Contrary to the terms on both websites, DIRS21 charged my credit card for both rooms. I am trying to resolve it.

I write as a warning to any others that may using DIRS21 to book a room. There may be a glitch of some kind.

I will post here when (if) I get it resolved.

Posted by Gary Mc OP

Salt Lake City

04/02/10 01:21 PM

1528 posts

I was using a credit card. I will watch for what you mentioned. I have contacted the hotels by email. It takes a day turn around.

Regards, Gary

Posted by Gary Mc OP

Salt Lake City

04/03/10 06:21 AM

1528 posts

Steve,

You are hopefully right. I checked with my credit card company and they said it was possible. They were uncertain as these account verifications are often of only a nominal amount.

I had already emailed both hotels. One said something pretty similar to what you did. The other was as surprised as I and is looking into it.

I am very sensitive of things going into my credit card. We got scammed once.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Regards, Gary

Posted by Niclas

Copenhagen, Denmark

04/23/12 10:25 PM

1 posts

I to made a reservation at a hotel I had stayed at previously and who now use the DIRS21 system as. In my case i noticed a pending charge for EUR 150 on my card and bank account, placing a hold on those funds. A hold which still, 4 weeks later, hasn't been lifted, and I even cancelled the reservation a few days later, well before the deadline for cancelling at no charge. This procedure of placing this hold is not mentioned anywhere in their terms or during the booking process.
The hotel has basicly denied that something like this actually happens and DIRS21 (or the company behind, Touronline AG) have not responded to my e-mails. I now warm others about using this system if they come across it, and I won't be staying at that hotel again after this. To do something like this and mit respond to e-mails or really providing any kind of contact details, since they actually use my credit card details, is a no-no in my book and mit someone you should hand over your credit card details to.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

04/23/12 10:47 PM

32353 posts

Gary Mc, Where were these Hotels located (I'm assuming Germany)? I hadn't heard of DIRS21, but will be especially cautious if I encounter them in future. I just booked a Hotel in Munich, and they applied a charge of $0.01 to "test" the credit card, which I don't mind. That's the only charge that has been made so far. Was there anything in the booking process that indicated they would be charging your cards immediately? I booked a Hotel in Brussels last year that offered a cheaper rate for pre-paying, but I knew that "up front". Good luck!

Posted by Andrea

Sacramento, California U.S.A.

04/24/12 05:07 AM

10605 posts

Check the date. This thread is two years old.

Posted by Gary Mc OP

Salt Lake City

04/24/12 08:56 AM

1528 posts

The thread is two years old. It turned out okay. The holds were reversed in time. I enjoyed my stay. Less than a month ago I stayed at the same two hotels; I stick with places that I like. They are both on HRS.com now. There was no credit card required to reserve the rooms.