Hotels/Car Rentals before check-in/renting services etc., take a pre-authorization on your card.  A Pre-Authorization is essentially blocking of a certain amount on your card. At the time of checking out of the hotel/settling the bill, you should: Ask the executive to settle the final bill against the pre-authorization that was taken. Example: If Pre-Authorization was taken for $400, and the final bill is $700, this should be settled against the pre-authorization that was taken, and the balance asked to be credited back on the card. Ask the executive to cancel the pre-authorization (credit back the amount) that was taken and settle the bill by taking an authorization for the actual bill amount.