Copycraigs - Tips, warnings or general comments on their service?
- Thread starter fernie
- Start date
I'm not surprised at all.....hehehe....
After all your the one with the most 'hands on' experience in this area on this board.....
If the rates are great, can i use a regular CC to simplify my transaction if i don't care of a paper trail?
Unfortunately you cannot call him to obtain information about his service with a blocked number. I would be happy to provide a number if I felt comfortable with his service and wanted to book but the hotmail email address and twitter web page makes me wary. A shame.
WG
CopyCraigs is a really useful tool to hide your name and avoid a paper trail.
Here's my procedure:
1. Txt and ask if there are any available rooms on the day I'd like and find out the rates and deposits. (Usually $100-$120 with a $50-$250 cash deposit)
2. Go get a 3v visa at Pioneer gas station. There is a $5.95 processing fee on top. (So $100 room fee + $5.95)
3. Txt CopyCraigs my 3v visa number and a name I have a photo ID for, he responds with a confirmation of your reservation.
4. Go to hotel and check-in using the photo ID. When they ask for a credit card just say I'm leaving a cash deposit of whatever amount CopyCraigs txted me it would be.
....
5. Go downstairs and check-out. You get the cash deposit back in full.
There's no registration fee, you can use the service just once or a many times as you'd like.
The website sucked, you're not missing anything by it not being available. I don't follow CopyCraigs on Twitter and I still use their service, you do not have to be a follower. I think of CopyCraigs as more of a "friend that can do favours for you" than someone's full-time business, hence the crappy ex-website, contact via txt, hotmail email address, etc. Answers txts quickly and throughly between 8am and 8pm.
I've used them more than 10 times and they have never once disappointed me. I am comfortable recommending CopyCraigs to friends.
Here's my procedure:
1. Txt and ask if there are any available rooms on the day I'd like and find out the rates and deposits. (Usually $100-$120 with a $50-$250 cash deposit)
2. Go get a 3v visa at Pioneer gas station. There is a $5.95 processing fee on top. (So $100 room fee + $5.95)
3. Txt CopyCraigs my 3v visa number and a name I have a photo ID for, he responds with a confirmation of your reservation.
4. Go to hotel and check-in using the photo ID. When they ask for a credit card just say I'm leaving a cash deposit of whatever amount CopyCraigs txted me it would be.
....
5. Go downstairs and check-out. You get the cash deposit back in full.
There's no registration fee, you can use the service just once or a many times as you'd like.
For clarification There is NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED. When the hotel asks for a credit card you can leave a cash deposit instead. CopyCraigs will let you know how much it is before you check-in, usually $50 (Holiday Inn, Courtyard Marriott) to $250 (Delta Chelsea).
The website sucked, you're not missing anything by it not being available. I don't follow CopyCraigs on Twitter and I still use their service, you do not have to be a follower. I think of CopyCraigs as more of a "friend that can do favours for you" than someone's full-time business, hence the crappy ex-website, contact via txt, hotmail email address, etc. Answers txts quickly and throughly between 8am and 8pm.
I've used them more than 10 times and they have never once disappointed me. I am comfortable recommending CopyCraigs to friends.
Actually to confirm, there are hotels that will not accept cash deposits. For example, Holiday Inn at Woodbine and Steeles in Markham, or both on Dixon in Airport for sure. I don't know about other Holiday's but those I know for sure.
They were taking Pre-paid CC for a while but then stopped unless it is a pre-paid with your name on it to match your ID. So none of those Vanilla CC's from Shoppers but they would use a Money Mart Titanium Visa. Now with that MM's Visa holds on the pre-auth. amount for 45 days unless you have a form filled out by the hotel, which most hotels will do.
So while, for the most part, you can avoid the paper trail, but it is not 100%.
I have heard that some hotels, if SP traffic is heavily known and a hotel is booked via Priceline, they will refuse cash deposit as well. Or up the cash amount to much higher. Novatel in North York for example. I know a girl who had to pay a $250/day deposit. She was booked for 3 days, so $750 deposit cash. Even though the hotel was pre-paid via priceline. She called her client in early to use his card as it was only $50 deposit on the card. LOL - so stupid. Fun photo-shoot though!
My suggestion, is after booking the hotel, call them to find out their policies. Also be sure to ask about ID as well. I know ladies who have tried to check in with Health Cards, and a lot of places will not accept those either.
Just some add FYI
That's crazy, I had no idea some wouldn't take health card or cash! I've only ever booked downtown though... The Holiday Inn on Carlton is a $50 deposit cash and takes health cards as well as driver's licenses (and I like the rooms after the redo)!
Health Card because it is not proper ID or something like. They will take the Ontario ID though, kind of like the new age of majority. I found that out with my sister.
The Holiday Inn at Airport said they don't even have cash register anymore. I have a CC with a great interest rate so it is usually carrying a high balance and was maxed. I showed them and let them run it but $50 was not available. So I tried with $100 cash, they said no and that is when they gave me the register line. So they ran the card through again for $30 and that went through. WTF would that do for them if I trashed the room? Would the $100 cash not be a bit better then $30. LOL
So anyway, that is why I said to always call the hotel after the booking is made to double check and ALWAYS get the name of the person who spoke to. Nothing like showing up with one thing, to find out that it is something else. Hahahaha.
And yes - the upgrade to the rooms on Carlton was nice eh?
