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BDC does not apply any guest credit card validation

Dear all,

The policy of BDC regarding fraud and card validity is absolutely inacceptable and they now it.

I discussed with them numerous times stating that if they substitute themselves for the owners by accepting booking in our name, they should also check card validity.

By refusing this check at the time of booking confirmation BDC creates a great opportunity for fraud, illegal immigration, fake bookings to obtain VISA's etc.

They do not accept these arguments, although the necessary check applications are available in the BDC systems. (they have to use it for prepaid bookings anyway). We also know there are discussing with AI service providers to improve their card fraud recognition system.

Let us get together on "Booking.com independant user forum" on Facebook; and see if we can form a group.

K. MONDT


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pibomarco 4 years ago

Booking.com offers you few options such as:
- Payments by Booking.com
- Online payments (Virtual card)

Validate CC's yourself. Get a POS machine from your local bank or a service from a third party that do that.

independat user forum on facebook - LOL
let it go dude..

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David 4 years ago

Yesterday I received a booking, when I went into the extranet the credit card had already been marked as invalid by booking.com.they said on some reservations they now check the credit card up front.as anyone else had this recently? perhaps the guest tried to pay on line with an invalid card.the guest did update their card eventually but was shocked that booking.com had tried to validate the card on receipt of the booking.ARE THINGS CHANGING MY FRIENDS??

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Sleephere 4 years ago

Thanks for your reaction

Your suggestions are exactly what BDC is repeating, but this is not acceptable and legally even very limit. I explain myself:

Since BDC subsitute themselves for the actual property and since they accept bookings in our name, the check needs to be done AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. Otherwise, BDC should transfer the demand to us, properties, to check and accept by us.

By not validating the credit card at the time of acceptance, BDC allows fraud and false bookings to be pushed into the system. Once a booking is accepted,

1) it can be used for fraudulous intentions.declarations, like hidden immigration

2) it becomes very difficult and tedious to correct (check all indivudual bookinfs which is for most properties not feasible, asking for a new card number via the site is tedious and needs a lot of follow up, 48 hours loss of time (48 hours is given to the guest to communicate a new card number) with risk of lower occupation rates, etc...

Interesting discussion, is't it?

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Sleephere 4 years ago

Response to David.

Good to mention this David. Your testimony proves also this checking module exists in te BDC systems and it cannot be otherwise since they need to check cards in case of upfront payments.

I also know they are negotiating with AI solution providers to improve their existing systems for card fraud detection.

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fluff 4 years ago

It's a discussion that has been done to death within this very forum. Every OTA has their own way of doing things, we experience the negative points and find our way around them.

This is where a forum like this can be helpful for those with experience to offer solutions to those who don't.

Who do you get the most valid bookings from? For us it is definitely BDC so once we moaned and griped and couldn't change the universe, well BDC at least, we changed ourselves to fit. As this is under our control it is only logical to go down that path.

That leaves us back at pibmarco's post, which is what we did.

With reference to David's post, we have had a few of these, I think perhaps BDC checks a random selection?

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pibomarco 4 years ago

For me it really isn't.

It's up to the host how is going to act. As mentioned, Booking.com offers you few options to choose from. But most would like to get paid by cash and are shocked when they receive a late cancelation or no-show.

If you choose that you personally collect payments it's up to you how you will handle payments, cancelations and no-shows. You can choose that BDC handles your payments and you don't have to worry about getting paid.

As far as I know guest have 24hours to update the CC information.

So the guest book with a valid credit card, he decide that he will cancel or that he will not going to show up. He emptied his CC (no funds) before check-in what then?
You succesfully charge the CC for a NO-SHOW or late cancelation, guest make a claim on their CC provider that he didn't authorise this transaction, they make a refund without asking for evidence/reason. What then?

I experienced all of that, for 3/4 of bookings I don't even validate, because the cancelation rate is at minimum and 0% no-shows. Or I am just that lucky.

P.S. Perhaps those cards are "declined" by BDC if card expires before the arrival date.

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David 4 years ago

The most shocking is to have to ask a guest who provides a fraudulent card to provide another card number,also If a person makes a reservation then cancels with penalty I am not sure how some accommodation providers credit card handlers are refunding charges to guest when you have the booking, the card details and your terms and conditions clearly printed.Asking for a guest permission to charge their card due to contractual reasons be it a cancellation or a no show is madness and the law is clearly on your side and not the guest.

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pibomarco 4 years ago

The guest can just say that it wasn't him. It could be someone else that used his identity/data. There is no way for a solid proof. Specially for charging CC's on the distance (not physically).

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David 4 years ago

They would have had to report the card as stolen beforehand the laws can not just be made up as you go along

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pibomarco 4 years ago

Not really. My mothers CC data was stolen from the cashier guy in a market store, and was purchasing with her CC data online google play game apps. She wasn't aware of it, till she checked her bank statements.

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David 4 years ago

People use credit cards constantly to reserve flight accommodation etc. once they tick they have read the terms and conditions then they are liable for any charges. Happened to me few years back guest complained they had been charged cancellation charges even though they agreed to my terms and conditions.My CC handling agents Worldpay asked me to show the information and proof I had which I did BINGO Worldpay states you have charged the guest according to your terms and conditions and they would be breaking the law to make up a false story to why they had been charged just to get out of paying.

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pibomarco 4 years ago

Hypotheticaly the "thief" could tick those terms and conditions. It all depends how far are you or the guest willing to push this matter further. If the guest would claim that he didn't do it and push it to the court your case would not stand.

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David 4 years ago

It is up to THE GUEST to prove by providing evidence to substantiate what they are saying.The guest must prove that another person inputted their data into the computer to make a booking. Can you imagine if everyone used the excuses you are using to get out of paying or abiding by terms and conditions.

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pibomarco 4 years ago

That's something like when a religious person says in his defense: "Proove that God doesn't exist."
We're not lawyers so, better to end this discussion. From my perspective it is logical why my charges were refunded, because there is no solid proof. To charge someone you need a 100% proof.
Well not everyone are psychopaths and scammers.

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David 4 years ago

The proof is you have the booking, the bookers name address telephone number card details it is the bookers responsibility to show proof the transaction is fraud or made by another person committing fraud.with what you are saying EVERY on line transaction made everyday around the world could be called in by the person making the transaction by telling lies.Your CC handler obviously does not have your best interest at heart.

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pibomarco 4 years ago

Lets just agree to disagree.

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fluff 4 years ago

Just a little sub-note to answer pibomarco's point/question.

"P.S. Perhaps those cards are "declined" by BDC if card expires before the arrival date."

No, I've had plenty of those come through and have rejected them myself, the guest either cancels (scammer/time waster) or provides real details (typo, online wary, WHY) if they actually want the booking.

Maybe only out-of-date at time of booking get filtered out?

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pibomarco 4 years ago

Fluff, this also could be a good possibilty. I don't think that BDC just randomly checks CC's validation.