An otherwise decent experience sullied by an extremely rude staff member at check in.
The hotel had charged my card prior to arrival, which is normal and fine by me. But at check in, staff member “Ag” claimed that there was a state law that required my credit card to have printed numbers on it. I travel often, including in Washington state, and always using this credit card, and this is the first time I’m hearing of such a law. I’m happy for the property to point me to the law, but I suspect it just has antiquated processes.
The staff member refused to view the credit card number available on my bank app, which would have matched what she saw in her records. Instead, she insisted that she would refund the card and would need a payment card with the number printed.
Throughout this process, I was clarifying with her and asking about how my card would be refunded, and what alternative form of payment would be accepted. She was defensive and stated that we could “take our business elsewhere”. At one point she raised her voice and said loudly “don’t talk back to me” - ironic, given that she was cutting me off at various points and well, talking back to me.
I don’t have high expectations of service. But I do expect to be treated with a basic level of respect as a paying customer. I also expect hotels to update their processes, and not give excuses like “it’s the law” when that’s not the case.