How Do I Dispute a Charge with Ritz Carlton?

If you stay at the Ritz Carlton, you should never find any surprise charges on your bill. You should only find the charges you were informed of at check-in time. However, there are certain things that incur extra charges, such as any property damage that happened while you were there or ordering something from room service. If your Ritz Carlton bill contained a surprise charge and you believe that charge was a mistake, you need to learn how to dispute the charge and get your money back.

Collect Proof That the Charge Is Inappropriate

Before you do anything else, collect whatever proof you can that the charge is inappropriate. If you took any pictures of your room, they could show that the room was damaged before you got there. Ads showing a different rate than you were charged could prove that you should have been charged a lower rate. You should also save records of conversations with Ritz Carlton employees about the charge.

How to Dispute a Charge With Ritz Carlton

After getting your proof together, it's time to begin the dispute. The first step is contacting Ritz Carlton's customer service department and talking to a representative. Explain about the charge and why you believe that it wasn't appropriate. Tell that representative about any proof you have. While the representative probably won't be able to resolve the matter by themselves, they will get the manager or review panel that can resolve it. This process could take some time.

How to Make a Chargeback Request With Your Bank

If Ritz Carlton decides not to refund the charge, the next step is to move the dispute to the bank you used to pay your Ritz Carlton bill. Disputing a charge with your bank is called a "chargeback." Your bank will investigate your claims and may decide that the charge was not appropriate and refund the money you paid.

Please keep in mind that you can't start with a chargeback. If you don't try to talk with Ritz Carlton first, your bank won't allow you to initiate a chargeback.

To initiate a chargeback, contact your bank's customer service department and ask a representative for help. Each bank has a different chargeback investigation process, but no matter what bank you use, the process will probably be a lengthy one. After you start the process, your bank will ask Ritz Carlton's bank about the charge and may give a provisional credit while it investigates more fully. This provisional credit is essentially a refund that you have to return if your bank decides the charge was valid.

Filing a Claim in Small Claims Court

If your bank decides that the charge was justified and you still don't believe you should be responsible for it, you can always file a suit against Ritz Carlton in your local small claims court. Different courts have different procedures for doing so. Go to your local court system's website to find out how to do that.

Contacting Ritz Carlton

To contact a Ritz Carlton customer service agent, you can use Ritz Carlton's help forum or use the phone. The help forum might be the best choice, as you could easily take screenshots as a record of your conversation.