For donations Click Here

Theft from getting cheaper hotel rate

Question:

BH
Thank you so much for your help.
My question is: If a hotel quoted a certain day rate when booking a room, and after checking out of the hotel, the day rate they charged is less than the original quote, can this be considered theft? The hotel worker agreed to waive a certain fee which brought the price down as a courtesy, however the day rate may have been lower than what was originally anticipated…there may have been an advantageous coupon applied or perhaps an incentive applied that I am not aware. Would I be required to bring this rate difference to the attention of a staff member, or since they had the price in their computer system (and gave me a print out of the itemized bill, which was generated from their computer) it wouldn’t be considered theft, and no follow up is needed?
Thanks sincerely for your help, it is really appreciated

Answer:

It is nice to see such honest people.  There is an idea quoted in the gemora about an amora that would pay the price that he thought in his head even though the seller agreed on his own to sell it for cheaper, however we are not obligated to do this. In your instance, if the hotel is owner by non-Jews then you do not have say anything because they decided on their own to give you the cheaper price, and you didn’t do anything to fool them into doing so. Even if the hotel is owned by Jews, you might want to call them up and just ask them, just in case it was a mistake, and it would be hashovas aveida. They will most probably tell you that it is fine.

Best wishes

 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *