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Pre-authorisation

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What is a pre-authorisation?
A Pre-authorisation is a Temporary hold of a specific amount of the available balance on a credit or debit card. The pre-authorisation is not a charge and no funds have been debited from your account.
When is the card pre-authorised?

We will pre-authorise your card 48 hours prior to your arrival.

We may then pre-authorise it again when you check-in, depending on the length of your stay, and whether you would like to open an account during your stay.

How much is a pre-authorisation?
If you wish to open an account then the pre-authorisation that is made upon check in is an amount of £30.00 per night for meals, drinks, etc, up to a maximum of seven nights.
Why is the credit card pre-authorised?
When you give us a credit/debit card, the pre-authorisation guarantees us that funds are available to pay for non arrivals, or any charges incurred during your stay.
Who is responsible for the pre-authorisation procedure?
Windcave Merchant Services are responsible for the maintenance and management of the pre-authorisation process. Should you have any queries regarding your pre-authorisation or any part of the process, they can be contacted on www.windcave.com.
When does the pre-authorisation get released from the credit card?
This varies dependent on your individual credit/debit card issuer. Upon check out your room charge and any extras you have incurred during your stay will be charged to your card as a ‘completion’. This will be stated quite clearly on your credit card receipt, and it confirms that we have followed the correct procedure. This amount will appear on your credit/debit card statement within 3 working days. However if you choose to pay the balance with another credit/debit card or method of payment, the pre-authorisation could take up to 10 working days to be released from your account.
Can the Pre-Authorisation be Removed Sooner?
This depends on your credit/debit card company. We are unable to remove pre-authorisations once they have been placed. We have found that most credit/debit card companies remove the pre-authorisation within 72 hours of our actual charge being posted. However if your particular company does take longer and you would like to take steps to have it removed sooner, speak with the receptionist and they can provide you with a form that you can fill out and fax to your company to possibly speed up its removal.
When did the King Charles Hotel start this practice?
We have been pre-authorising credit/debit cards since 2004. This is not a new practice nor do we hide the fact that we must do this. Since debit cards are more in use, and are tied directly to a guests current/savings account rather than a credit account, more guests have had questions regarding this practice. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation.