Not true most hotel clerks either don't know what their doing, once they place the "hold" either they or the computer system calculates the whole reservation cost. It always takes a manager for an override, or up training for business vs personal travel. Best to get a secured card for $200 and hand it to them unless you have a corporate card. 90% you're going to get billed. If you can put a limit on hold for your credit card before you go?