Hello everyone. I recently stayed at a hotel. When I checked out, I owed $10.00 for a pantry item. They tacked on a $26 state tax and a $9 city tax, even though I was already charged those taxes on the price of my room. This new charge is separate from the original bill for my room. I thought that double-charging someone on taxes is illegal. Also, isn't it illegal if the tax is larger than the item being taxed?
@shalimarcat wrote:Hello everyone. I recently stayed at a hotel. When I checked out, I owed $10.00 for a pantry item. They tacked on a $26 state tax and a $9 city tax, even though I was already charged those taxes on the price of my room. This new charge is separate from the original bill for my room. I thought that double-charging someone on taxes is illegal. Also, isn't it illegal if the tax is larger than the item being taxed?
seems like a mistake, did you call them and ask them to fix it?
I doubt it's malicious, legality aside
@GZG wrote:
@shalimarcat wrote:Hello everyone. I recently stayed at a hotel. When I checked out, I owed $10.00 for a pantry item. They tacked on a $26 state tax and a $9 city tax, even though I was already charged those taxes on the price of my room. This new charge is separate from the original bill for my room. I thought that double-charging someone on taxes is illegal. Also, isn't it illegal if the tax is larger than the item being taxed?
seems like a mistake, did you call them and ask them to fix it?
I doubt it's malicious, legality aside
Yes, I did contact them. I had a horrible time with them on the phone, so I contacted corporate, both for this and other problems with my stay. The charge still hasn't been reversed, even though it's been several days. I contacted corporate again, but haven't heard back from them. It may not be malicious, but this may have been done to many clients, which is a concern. If I don't get a response, I'm not sure who to go to next, the State's Attorney, the Better Business Bureau, or seek legal advice.
@coldfusion wrote:
@iced wrote:
@shalimarcat wrote:Hello everyone. I recently stayed at a hotel. When I checked out, I owed $10.00 for a pantry item. They tacked on a $26 state tax and a $9 city tax, even though I was already charged those taxes on the price of my room. This new charge is separate from the original bill for my room. I thought that double-charging someone on taxes is illegal. Also, isn't it illegal if the tax is larger than the item being taxed?
If they double-charged the same taxes, they should remove that as they can't collect them twice.
It is not illegal for the tax to be more than the item being taxed, and it happens all of the time. For example, in my state there is a 210% tax on smokeless tobacco products.
Welcome to Massachusetts!! Although that specific excise tax is set at 210% of the wholesale price.
I'm sure that's a big comfort to people buying a can of dip for more than double what it costs in some states. 
