Hotel is trying to charge me $25 per baxter box

[smokey1277]

Hi, I am on PD and traveling to Houston tomorrow morning. I had my pd bags delivered to the hotel and they arrived from baxter today. I called the hotel to make sure they had arrived and the hotel is saying they are charging me $25 per box (8 boxes). Has anyone every encountered this while traveling? Is there anything I can do to not have to pay $200. thanks

[Simon Dog]

Hotels are often pretty good about waiving the fee when you explain the medical life support nature of the product.  The key is you have to contact the hotel manager (one good question to ask is "Am I talking to someone who has the authority to waive this fee?").   It is little benefit to get into a conversation about a fee waiver with a low level functionary who does not have the authority to take the charge off your bill.

Ideally, this should be done at reservation time so you can try another hotel if the first one refuses to budge.

If you meet resistance, you can ask the hotel manager who the ADA compliance officer is at corporate, as you are requesting a "Reasonable accommodation under the Americans with disabilities act".   Don't fuss about the fact that the "reasonable accommodation" clause may not technically apply - just explain that charging you for accepting delivery of life support material is like charging extra for a handicapped room.  There is a good chance you can get the corporate office interested, particularly when you start muttering "ADA compliance"  (once again, the fact it may not apply is irrelevant - you are using this as a negotiation tool, not to litigate).

I had good luck in Las Vegas getting the per-package fee waived by asking for the manager when making my reservation back when I was on PD.

Just remember to tip the bell person who delivers the packages to your room generously.

[iolaire]

Great advice Simon Dog, including tipping the bell person and calling at reservation next time.

[amanda100wilson]

Had this issue multiple times.  Have just explained ADA to them, and stuck firm and it has always been waived.

[JW77]

Pretty much out of order.. If they did this in the UK they'd be breaching the disability discrimination laws.

[Wat76]

Wow, that is shocking, I have traveled several times this summer and had my solution shipped by baxter to the hotel.  I have never been told that I had to pay for the hotel to receive the boxes.  I have to be sure to check that out next time and make sure that I am not being charged.  Good Info.

[Simon Dog]

Wow, that is shocking, I have traveled several times this summer and had my solution shipped by baxter to the hotel.  I have never been told that I had to pay for the hotel to receive the boxes.  I have to be sure to check that out next time and make sure that I am not being charged.  Good Info.

This varies tremendously by location.    I've had packages (non-medical) shipped to me at many hotels, and it was the rarity that a fee was charged.  One exception to this seems to be Las Vegas, where every hotel runs package receipt as a virtual business, with lots of trade show types receiving packages.  Even so, many hotels will waive this once you meet two criteria - 1) explain it is medical and 2) reach someone who is actually allowed to make a decision rather than just cite policy.

[amanda100wilson]

Yep, escalated it upwards.

[okarol]

Jenna has traveled out of state twice and both hotels were very accommodating. No charge for her boxes but she was clear up front that these were medical supplies for dialysis.

Go to http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress.

To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.