this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
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A Boring Dystopia

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Guests report getting billed hundreds of dollars for smoking, based on the readings of an "algorithmic" smoke detector. The sensor manufacturer markets its product as a way for hotels to unlock new revenue streams.

See also: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/marietta-hotel-fined-women-hundreds-smoking-they-say-other-activities-tripped-sensors/WPFWFT7INFGOLHR4HSQK7YIOKY/

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 225 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

I have never seen a more clear cut example of a perfect use case for a credit card chargeback.

Fun fact: You can't dispute part of a charge. If you charge this back and win (you probably will) the hotel loses out on everything, for your entire stay. It also stacks up against them and raises their rates the more they get. An even vaguely concerted effort by people who have been ripped off by this would probably get the hotel in question booted from their credit card processor.

I imagine it's damn difficult to run a hotel if you can't accept credit cards. Just saying.

[–] imrighthere@lemmy.ca 117 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

They disputed it with their bank, the bank sided with the hotel because of the sensor report. Just saying.

[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 50 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Sounds like they also need to find a new bank, then. Or more people need to file — Once banks get wise of a particular scam, they'll start taking a more dim view of it.

[–] SoloCritical@lemmy.world 46 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

STOP USING BANK CARDS TO PAY FOR SHIT.. Credit cards are the way, they are SOOOOOO much easier to deal with than a bank. Also fuck banks.

Edit: a word

[–] AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone 32 points 2 weeks ago

Simply put:

If something gets fucked up and you used a debit card, you're the one screwed until it is sorted out (if it is sorted out). Also debit disputes can take 8+ weeks I've heard.

If something is screwed up and you used a credit card, then the bank is on the hook until it is sorted out. And typically they'll credit you the amount until the investigation is complete and it is usually complete within 30 days. I've had chargebacks remain credited simply because the other party never responded.

[–] half_fiction@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The commenters are saying "bank" but the original article says she disputed with her credit card company so I don't think that's the case here.

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[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How do you prove to the bank or in a court of law that you didn't do something? The hotel is alleging that their algorithm detected smoking.

Besides setting up a camera which seems to be very invasive, how would you fight this?

[–] despoticruin@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The burden of proof that the sensors cannot provide false positives falls on the hotel chain, not the person getting charged. There is also the question of whether the sensors can be triggered by someone else, or an adjacent room.

You fight them by filing a lawsuit for fraudulently charging you.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 week ago

Ah yes, the system keeping the poors in their place.

Most people can't afford the time and money required for this, so they don't bother. So corporations and corrupt people get away with all kinds of things.

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[–] ook@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 2 weeks ago

Surprise, banks also pull disgusting shit. Who would have thought about that.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 41 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

But when she disputed the charge with her credit card company, they sided with the hotel after it provided the credit card company the same smoke report it sent her.

They tried that. If the credit card denies it you could have a lawyer send a letter threatening legal action but that's all going to be at an extra cost unless you know an attorney or they think they could make enough to o do it on spec.

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[–] InvalidName2@lemmy.zip 34 points 2 weeks ago

In two different cases where I've disputed part of a charge/order, the credit card company returned the money for the entire order like you said. I was surprised they did that, and didn't realize that was the norm.

On the one hand, I never wanted anything I extra that I didn't deserve. On the other hand, both times this has happened to me, the companies at fault really, really went out of their way to deserve it. Not necessarily scam level deserved it like this hotel's smoke detector scam, but still.

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[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 87 points 1 week ago (4 children)
[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 65 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

lol fuck these people and these hotels. It’s not about not smoking, it’s about charging more money.

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

How is this a plus for guests wtff

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Devils advocate, I guess the room won’t smell like shit

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Oh it will.

Why would companies who willingly scam you wish to spend money to keep their rooms nice, when they're straight up stealing from their guests?

Have you never watched Hotel Hell?

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[–] skisnow@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 week ago

Another one to add to the list whenever I hear tech lobbyists shout about how unregulated capitalism breeds innovation.

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[–] 01189998819991197253 82 points 2 weeks ago

Wow. That is.... that is some horseshit.

[–] dangling_cat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 75 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sounds like an easy lawsuit. Record the entire stay, test different variables like a hair dryer, candle, fan, soldering smoke, medical equipment like nebulizer, steamer, etc. If they fine you, simply find a lawyer and request a $5M settlement fee. Boom, early retirement.

[–] michaelmrose@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You can win actual damages and your lawyers fees in most instances. Because there is no meaningful payday in the offing you will have to spend ~100 in small claims or $5000-$50,000 in real big boy court and you will win for yourself.... $500. Where on earth are you getting $5M. Large settlements are normally because lots and lots of people are damaged in small amounts, someone's life was destroyed, or the case was uber complicated and ended up taking years of expensive lawyers.

In case 1 and 3 only the lawyers make out like bandits. In the second case you earn a bunch of money because your life is ruined.

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[–] dawcas@scribe.disroot.org 67 points 1 week ago (1 children)

revenue-generating scheme

Scam. I think the word is scam.

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[–] HailSeitan@lemmy.world 57 points 2 weeks ago

It’s the Hertz AI scam in a different sector. I suspect every major rental company will have a version of this soon, and that none of them will be auditable or appealable.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 48 points 1 week ago (7 children)

I stayed at a "hotel" in Denver a few years ago. It was advertised as a hotel on Hotels.com, and we booked because we thought it was cool that the unit had a full kitchen and was like a condo. We thought it would be the best of both worlds, hotel amenities and Airbnb style room. We get there, and it's basically an apartment building that they've turned into a hotel. They have no staff on site, and I had to download an app to check in and do a face scan. Super not privacy friendly. Then one day we stayed in and we're having a few drinks and conversing. This was 5 guys. We weren't being beligerant or loud, just talking. It was maybe 4 pm, and not quiet hours. I get a text saying there was a noise complaint. Then we bailed and got another text saying there was a 2nd noise complaint. They threatened us with a $500 fee the 2nd time. I told them we were no longer in the room, so it wasn't us. We later found what we assumed was a bug device that notified them if we went over a certain decibel level.

I never got charged, but I was ready to fight tooth and nail with my credit card company if they did. It was very weird, and I would never book with that company again.

[–] bodilotion@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Do you happen to have a description of photo of the bug device? Interested to find out whether I am running into a similar situation myself.

[–] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago (5 children)
[–] SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 33 points 1 week ago

Set a decibel threshold for each device and receive an alert if it is exceeded.

Show guests that their comfort is your top priority and they’ll leave signing your praises.

Yeah getting a shut the fuck up text every 5 minutes makes me real comfortable. Also they literally advertise it as a revenue stream. How fucked.

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[–] wulrus@lemmy.world 46 points 1 week ago

Couldn't that be interpreted as a confession that their air is at least as unsafe as staying with a heavy smoker the whole night, in terms of PM 2.5 and other hazards?

[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 45 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Isn't this a textbook candidate for a class action suit?

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Some lucky lawyers will get rich off of this.

[–] Outsider9042@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Don’t forget about the lucky customers that might get almost half the fee back.

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[–] qfe0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 36 points 2 weeks ago

Yay! Fraud!

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

That was a very annoying read. I could feel the tiktok plug even before it was posted. This sucks, but oh my god I hate the internet now.

My thoughts exactly and while I hate making cliché comments, I'm surprised this isn't being talked about more in this thread. Felt like I was missing an adblocker, and I was glad it was only 13 tweets.

[–] Krudler@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

This is the one time I'm gonna be that jagweed and say I liked it. I've never once been on TikTok and I never will. But I was happy to see it in logical and streamlined format. I didn't feel the need to click on anything. Nothing got in the way... no oppressive popups, members-only, ads, etc. How sad is it that as much as you guys are complaining, and you have the right to your opinions, I found it to be one of the cleanest web pages I've seen in months.

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[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 31 points 1 week ago

Sounds like a great way to abuse front desk staff by proxy.

[–] ohellidk@sh.itjust.works 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

always put a bag over the smoke alarm!

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[–] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 2 weeks ago

Yet another way your country fucks over it's citizens

[–] hexdream@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Anyone got a mirror of the article that is not geoblocked?

[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Do archive pages work for you? If so, give this a try: https://archive.ph/2uKUX

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 1 week ago
[–] acchariya@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is why I preemptively destroy the hotel room.

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[–] notsosure@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Better refuse to pay the bill unless the item is removed. If they don’t remove it, contact your bank and block the payment.

A lot of hotels will require a card to put on file at check-in. The paper you get after your stay is typically an invoice, not a bill to be paid. They tell you how much they charged you, it's up to you to dispute if you disagree with something.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

I beg the Death Asteroid to rain down on us.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 8 points 1 week ago

Ah one step closer to "Fuck you, pay me" business style.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I'm going to start away from Hilton hotels after reading through this.

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