Is it a normal practice for online hotel reservation agent to ask u to fax them photocopy of credit card ?

Question

I book a hotel through them . I have already provided them with my credit card details but now they want me to fax them a photocopy of my credit card ( front & back ) and also me to sign an authorise letter in order for them to deduct money from my credit card . Is this the normal practice with online booking ? I have book with HotelClub .

Answer 1

I have never had to do that and I would hesitate to do so.  Make sure that the company you are booking your hotel through is legitimate and not some fly by night company that is going to taken your credit card numbers and run.

Answer 2

I've never heard of this before, any reputable service wouldn't do this either.  The hotel you're staying at may be the problem though, not the service.  Some hotels require a facsimile of your information and some will require an upfront amount of the room charge.  Most big hotels won't do this, but small ones in Key West will require this information, a European hotel may do the same.  

If I were you, I would call the hotel itself and ask for their policy; if this isn't their policy than see if you can just reserve a room through them and cancel the other reservation.  Also, while they're on the line, see if they have any rooms for cheaper than what the service is giving it to you at.

I just checked out Hotel Clubs website and that is a pretty extensive website for them to be doing anything fishy.  This could still be the hotel though.  Get in touch with an agent through the website or at the hotel.  My initial reaction would've been what yours was, but the site looks legit and I'm guessing that any hotel they put on their site would be legit also.  Just make sure you have a backup plan for when you get to wherever you're going because even the biggest Marriott can lose a reservation or accidentally charge a card.  

Call(HotelClubs and Hotel)

Keep on eye on your Credit Card statements

Make a Backup Plan