Charged a “smoking fee” at a hotel despite never smoking

Submitted by steved84 t3_yila3u in personalfinance

Hi all -

I stayed at a casino resort in Atlantic City this weekend (am I allowed to say the name of the casino?) and had a nice time - however, I received an email receipt this morning that included a $250 cleaning fee. I called and they explained that it was a smoking fee. I asked them to provide more details as I do not smoke, and neither does anybody in my party. They claimed that a smoke sensor in the room went off twice in the evening, and that my party must be lying as the smoke sensor is completely fool proof. I asked if the room even smelled like smoke which they said they were unaware. Has anyone ever had an experience like this? Is anyone aware of a smoke sensor device being installed in hotels like the one they mentioned (that isn’t a smoke alarm)? Which they claim is fool proof yet obviously alerted to some false positives? I know without any question that nobody smoked in our room. They offered to cut the charge in half but I will still dispute the charge as I can’t pay for something I know I wasn’t responsible for.

Note - I see a similar thread from a few months ago, though in this instance they are claiming a smoke sensor is the reason for the bill. Nothing in the room actually smelled though.

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barrycarter t1_iuj8pat wrote

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=smoke+sensor+smoking+fee&ia=web shows a few hits including https://www.freshairsensor.com/blog_credit_card_chargebacks/ suggesting this is a real thing.

You might ask them for the exact time(s) the smoking incidents allegedly occurred and see if that helps. You could also try filing a chargeback despite what the URL above says.

Apparently, smoke sensors are also used by car rental places and Air B&Bs

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jgravy73 t1_iuj9i4v wrote

I manage a hotel. With the amount of times people charge back smoking charges even when they have clearly smoked in the room, I only post smoking charges when I have enough evidence to dispute the charge back. Chances are the hotel has that evidence. And vaping counts as smoking in alot of places.

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steved84 OP t1_iujdfqz wrote

They appear to be leaning on this smoke sensor as it’s proof. I have no reason to lie on this board - I was there celebrating a friend’s 40th birthday - we had 4 people with us - none of us smoke (cigarettes or marijuana) or vape. The group I was with probably wouldn’t be known as the life of any party (my wife laughed when I told her this story, knowing the group I was with). And myself, I’ve probably smoked a cigarette 2 or 3 times in my life - tried it with friends in high school once, and maybe one or two other times at college parties. I am not a fan of smoking. The only thing I can think of is that we were sitting at a Blackjack table shortly prior stopping in the room, and somebody sitting behind the table had a cigar. Maybe the close proximity to that cigar smoke was picked up on some clothes and that kicked off an alert.

Conceptually, I like the idea of closely monitoring for cigarette smoke - I personally hate smoke - this seems like a money grab versus actually trying to enforce a no smoke policy.

I wish this wasn’t frustrating me so much, but I am being dinged by some clearly imprecise technology.

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Glittering_knave t1_iujg6rx wrote

According to some quick googling, the sensors are pretty effective. The only thing that stood out was that they may need to replaced after every third detection. Could you ask for maintenance records?

Is there any chance that a cigarette butt or the packaging for a vape or other smoking garbage ended up in your trash? Something that could indicate smoking happened in the room?

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steved84 OP t1_iujgrxz wrote

I will ask for maintenance records and see if they can provide anything. Though at this point it seems like I’ll be providing my defense more for my bank and less for them. It’s possible that there was something in a trash can from a prior visitor - it wouldn’t have been from us.

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Glittering_knave t1_iujh5zf wrote

The other option seems to be someone else was smoking, and there was enough blown into your room to register on the sensors.

Or, someone in your party had a cigar on the balcony and isn't fessing up.

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steved84 OP t1_iujhnt0 wrote

No balconies in the rooms! (24th floor). I wish I had somebody I could suspect.

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genraq t1_iujou6h wrote

I’ll bet someone was hitting that vape on the sly

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estherstein t1_iuk09di wrote

Is it possible some maintenance person was the one who smoked or something? Birthday candles?

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burner46 t1_iujw8qf wrote

How exactly do the sensors work?

I can imagine that going to a casino for a bit would leave most people smelling of smoke. Could that have tripped the sensor?

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steved84 OP t1_iuk4lwg wrote

They claim no, but I think that’s the only explanation.

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Engineer-Daddy t1_iujjb0z wrote

Those smoke sensors can be triggered by hair spray, steam, etc.

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Blue-Panda-Man t1_iujwgtp wrote

Ask they when the last time the unit was calibrated that should get they to wave it

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NearMemphis t1_iuk8u21 wrote

Can you tell us which hotel? Or maybe just the name of the chain?

I would like to avoid such a place.

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No_Tension_280 t1_iuk093l wrote

Were there candles or microwaving anything? Popcorn or something? I doubt it looks for nicotine, it is probably going after partculate size, like a smoke detector. I'm just supposing, as in have no direct knowledge.

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steved84 OP t1_iuk4qgz wrote

No candles, no microwaves. We didn’t even spend much time in the room. An hour to get ready, about 10 min to charge a phone, and then back to sleep. Left early.

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