WHAT ARE RESORT FEES? – While the total applicable taxes in South Carolina amount to only 10%, several of the lodging properties are arbitrarily adding a 2% to 4% fee to the vacationer’s room charges. Some others arbitrarily add $2 to $5 per night to the bill. What does the guest actually get for these sneaky add-ons? Stuff that they used to get for free, like access to the health club, local telephone calls, running water, a telephone, a TV, towels, windows – you get the picture. Of course, they rarely tell the suckers about these fees. They just stick them on the bill at checkout, and hope that the chumps won’t notice them.
Needless to say, we would choose at a more reputable property, because these kinds of operators are usually the same ones who only provide clean towels when a guest demands them, and instead of giving the guests fresh sheets they only give them a fresh bottom sheet, while they move the dirty bottom sheet to the top sheet spot. Now, isn’t that enough to make your skin crawl?
If you do happen to find any of these hidden fees, or any other charges that you believe to be unwarranted, on your bill, demand to see the General Manager, or Manager on Duty (MOD), and raise hell with them and they will probably take it off your bill. If they don’t, as soon as you get home file a complaint with your credit card company and the following consumer groups…
Better Business Bureau of Myrtle Beach |
1601 Oak Street |
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 |
843.839.0544 |
Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce |
Ethics Department |
1200 North Oak Street |
Myrtle Beach, SC 29578 |
843.916.7225 |
Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association |
Ethics Department |
1200 North Oak Street |
Myrtle Beach, SC 29578 |
843.626.9668 |
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs |
Post Office Box 5757 |
3600 Forest Drive, 3rd Floor |
Columbia, South Carolina 29250 |
803.734.4200 |
In North Carolina… |
Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce |
4948 Main Street |
Shallotte, NC 28459 |
910.754.6644 |
800.426.6644 |
North Carolina Department of Justice |
Consumer Protection Section |
Post Office Box 629 |
Raleigh, NC 27602-0629 |
919.716.6000 |