Newbie - FAQ

Was she your guest in a manner the hotel can substantiate? Then protest charge.
numpty88 14 Reviews 691 reads
posted

Many places don't exactly keep a close eye on the valet connection to a room.  But if you were both seen entering/leaving or eating at the restaurant, then it's not worth the attention to protest.  If they start rolling back security video to see where she went, then you may have to explain who entered your room.  It's possible they'll flag her picture and vehicle in the system too.

Were you staying at a hotel in an area that typically doesn't have valet parking, and it was a surprise to the provider?  I've done that, but told her up front about the charge and that I'd have it applied to the room - she's MY guest.
However, if the area is known to be valet (Chicago, DC, London, Milan, etc) then it should be built into the rate.  In either case, discuss those issues up front.

My take is you just spent $30 tuition to learn a memorable lesson about logistics and communication.  Let it go and move on.  If everything else was great, then you know what to focus on next time.

I just had a provider charge her valet parking bill to my room even though I paid a fairly substantial upcharge for outcall. Is that standard practice or did I just get shafted? I'm pretty new to the hobby so I don't want to be pissed off about something that is just widely accepted. For other providers that have come to me I've never been asked to pay their cab fare or anything else related to transportation.

Most providers charge more for an outcall in order to cover those exact expenses.  If she can't cover the expense of parking/valet, she might want to consider charging more for an outcall.  

The only way i could see this being even somewhat okay is if you'd pre-negotiated it.

...thanks for confirming I'm not being unreasonable. It was only something like $30 but it really bummed me out and left a sour taste in my mouth after our date. Little things like this can make the difference between wanting to see a provider again or not.

...to pay for her valet parking. That's what the extra outcall fee is for. I'd put her on my "don't see again" list.

Nobody should be charging anything to your room but you. Include that information in your review.

TwoMints781 reads

How much are we talking about?  

How was the sex?  

Must not have been that good if you are complaining about a parking fee.  

Yes you shouldn't have had to pay it, but it does make you sound a bit cheap by complaining about it.  

If you don't fear a reprisal, mention it in your review. You where already generous paying for the valet, no need to be so with the review.  

Posted By: crazy_oregon
I just had a provider charge her valet parking bill to my room even though I paid a fairly substantial upcharge for outcall. Is that standard practice or did I just get shafted? I'm pretty new to the hobby so I don't want to be pissed off about something that is just widely accepted. For other providers that have come to me I've never been asked to pay their cab fare or anything else related to transportation.

Touching on points by TwoMints but directed at the OP, clarifying this time so my post doesn't get pulled.

 
Honestly there are some times there's miscommunication but taking it upon yourself to charge anything to a room is a huge no no. I've stayed plenty times in rooms and have never taken advantage, anything above and beyond I pay cash out of my own pockets. Some may think of 30 dollars as chump change while others are tight, it's not up to the provider to make that decision though. If it cuts into her overhead then she needs to charge more but you shouldn't be incurring extra charges on top of what you paid extra for already. Sorry you even had to question, that should never be the case. So all the good sex in the world can be tainted by someone looking to spend X amount and instead is hit with X amount. It has no reflection on the seeker but says a lot about the provider. She took advantage and since the OP questioned it it's a problem. Some feel entitled taking as they may but the OP doesn't know her intimately and it's unprofessional to assume you'll give her more because she takes it. A caution of warning will tell exactly what kind of provider she is to others and they can decide if they want to wonder about the fees incurred after.

We all learn lessons the hard way, I've had to eat cost to save face because I wasn't clear. I simply shrugged it off and I handle my business to keep the client satisfied. You will have prima donnas in this business just like any other but it becomes known real quick. Do whatever you feel is necessary, but that bad taste in your mouth doesn't go away, and for 30 bucks?!? @@ Appreciated, not expected, or charge more!

Posted By: TwoMints
How much are we talking about?    
   
 How was the sex?  
   
 Must not have been that good if you are complaining about a parking fee.  
   
 Yes you shouldn't have had to pay it, but it does make you sound a bit cheap by complaining about it.  
   
 If you don't fear a reprisal, mention it in your review. You where already generous paying for the valet, no need to be so with the review

If you invite a lady to your location.......once you check in, let her know if there is valet and/or self parking and cover the expense.  I have absorbed the parking fee many times in SoCal, which can be as high as $25-30.00.

If I added that on to EVERY Outcall rate, would that be smart business?  Maybe. I would really like to know for future reference.

I'm a rather frugal person and $30.00, buys my lil' ol' self a tank of gas or another pair of sandals. I prefer "tangibles" as opposed to the disappearance of $30.00(for pkg), 'cause your company sprung for your Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah accommodations.  
                            Jus sayin'

I have to ask. How was anyone able to add their valet parking fee onto your room charge, without your permission?  

Seems like a hotel policy change may be in order.

Many places don't exactly keep a close eye on the valet connection to a room.  But if you were both seen entering/leaving or eating at the restaurant, then it's not worth the attention to protest.  If they start rolling back security video to see where she went, then you may have to explain who entered your room.  It's possible they'll flag her picture and vehicle in the system too.

Were you staying at a hotel in an area that typically doesn't have valet parking, and it was a surprise to the provider?  I've done that, but told her up front about the charge and that I'd have it applied to the room - she's MY guest.
However, if the area is known to be valet (Chicago, DC, London, Milan, etc) then it should be built into the rate.  In either case, discuss those issues up front.

My take is you just spent $30 tuition to learn a memorable lesson about logistics and communication.  Let it go and move on.  If everything else was great, then you know what to focus on next time.

...seems like I triggered quite the conversation. The provider is absolutely familiar with the hotel (she said it was one of her favorites), and I don't even have a car here so she knew more about the parking costs than I did. Nonetheless, the takeaway here is that hobbyists should probably just be wary and make sure communication is crystal clear up front to make sure there are no hard feelings. An extra $30 doesn't move the dial compared to the cost of the date but if it is a surprise then it does feel like something was taken.  

And for providers...please be up front - if there is a valet please inquire as to the cost and if you feel it is above and beyond your normal outcall please mention it (e.g. hey, parking is super expensive here; my outcall fee is really intended to cover gas and maintenance on my car; I hate to ask but would you be willing to contribute towards the parking?) Unless the hobbyist is a total jerk he/she will understand. And I can promise that if you drive off and stick us with the bill it leaves a pretty bad impression.

and finds a valet parking charge when no car was supposed to be there OR a double charge to a guest's account.  How to enter the hotel should be mentioned prior to arrival.

Explaining to your boss why there is a parking fee on the bill. I guess you could punt and say you had a friend in town, but discretion discretion discretion.

Hotels will gladly separate charges into two bills so you can expense one through work and pay the other with cash or personal card.

Few things will lead to firing as much as falsifying an expense report - that's financial fraud.  If they do audit, I've seen where they've gone back through seven years of travel reports for a coworker and had him justify each charge and/or provide receipts

Mr-Blonde712 reads

Going to hotels and putting your own personal expenses on someone else's tab without their knowledge or permission is not a normal or accepted practice.    

I would have told the hotel to remove the charge from my bill, as I didn't authorize this charge.  If someone wants to park here and then fraudulently bill things to people's rooms, that is really the hotel's concern, not yours.  

In your specific case, you paid the provider directly for her expenses to get to the outcall, right?  That means her actual travel expenses are hers to pay, you were under the impression that you were reimbursing her for all of that.  Unless you had otherwise agreed to pay for her parking expense, which it appears you didn't.  If she didn't realize that parking was so expensive when she quoted you the outcall rate, she certainly should have said something about that when she saw you.  There is a common word that describes the act of helping yourself to something that doesn't belong to you, without the other person's knowledge or permission.

paying for her parking is not necessary. In practice, there are times when I offer and do just that - but I'd be a bit irritated if it just happened without my consent, as would she if the envelope was $20-30 short. Not a make or break issue, but a good sign of potential disrespect and incompatibility.

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