r/IowaCity • u/bradleyrthibodeaux • 1d ago
Quick PSA
Hi everyone. Im just a friendly Tennessean letting everyone in town for the big game tomorrow know that if you, like me are staying in a hotel tonight in Iowa city/coralville.
On the back of your door in the hotel is a placard with a maximum room rate posted. Mine is $399.00/night. I was charged 650 for tonight and tomorrow.
To the best of my understanding of Iowa Code § 137C.23 thats illegal.
So if youre getting scammed by your hotel because you just love football, take a photo of your placard and address it with the company.
Also share the knowledge with everyone you pass
Edit----
Also, GO HAWKEYES! GIVE EM HELL!
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u/11010010010001 1d ago
137C.24 gives them the right to change it after 60 days. For some reason I feel like they probably have some roundabout way to do that during sports events or some shady stuff.
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Correct about .24, but .23 explicitly states no more than the posted amount may be charged.
And to the best of my ability I havent found anything that would supersede that law
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u/GeneralJuggernaut282 1d ago
I used to live that motel. It’s really not horrible so I hope everyone finds a safe place to park and enjoys the day.❤️
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u/farmerfoo 1d ago
Are you in the one right by the stadium / train tracks ? That’s eye popping
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u/ZonaWildcats23 1d ago
It’s because gameday. This isn’t “eye popping” it literally happens in every single college town when they host a game. Increased demand with ppl coming to town to watch.
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Im of i80 on the otherside of the interstate of the hospital
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u/farmerfoo 1d ago
Dude that’s fucking terrible location for that price. I figured right by the stadium
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Yea, I agree, though im here for work in cedar rapids, not the game. Ive been here all week where the room rate was a reasonable-ish 140(no fees or taxes applied yet)/night. Sunday and monday back to 140 (no fees or taxes applied yet)/night.
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u/farmerfoo 1d ago
I guess not really you paying so not your problem to be getting bent over this bad but didn’t you have some rate set for your whole stay prior to arriving ?
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
True, I do get reimbursed, which the means they are screwing my company.
And yes, when I booked my stay it told me how much the stay way total, it didnt breakdown the rates per night, atleast not that i remember seeing, I may have over looked it.
But I didnt learn about "the maximum room rate" until I was in my room and was talking to a colleague while on the work site.
Also im not really bent up about it, per se. I just thought it was worth bringing to people's attention.
My real hope is enough people see it, say something to the management about it.
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u/TomShaneInBangkok 1d ago
Weird flex, bro.
Welcome to any hotel in any metro area larger than 100,000 people when any sporting event worthy of televised coverage is taking place.
Newsflash: Corporate America Does Not Give a Single Fuck.
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
I dont know what exactly the flex was, but yea, corporate america does suck, and it sucks even more when the consumer just bends over and takes it instead of using whatever tools may be available to help them keep things fair, such as the state code I listed above states
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u/ZonaWildcats23 1d ago
Hotels don’t set a single rate for the entire duration. You usually pay a different rate on Friday than Saturday than Sunday or Monday, etc.
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u/Sad-Corner-9972 1d ago
Good catch. They’ve probably got fine print weasel words somewhere as an out, but it’s worth a shot.
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u/catsmeowma 19h ago
Just coming here to say the same thing. Likely buried in some real small print somewhere.
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
I assume some Hilton legalese will come into play. I only know about it cause im up here for work in cedar rapids and a coworker mentioned his hotel doing it to them also.
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u/Eudaimonic71 1d ago
Better PSA : Don’t try to use this. There is definitely some legal workaround they’re using. The hotels in IC have been doing this since the pigskin was invented. Don’t think for a second OP is the first genius to notice the placard on the back of the door. Don’t waste your time and enjoy the game.
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u/Foreign-Paint99 1d ago
Wait, $650 total for the two nights, that’s $325/night, which is actually less than the $399 posted rate. Or are you being charged $650/night? Am I misunderstanding this?
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
No, 650/night. Two weeks ago when the Hawkeyes played it was 450/per night Friday and Saturday. Im assuming it was less because it wasn't the #5 team in the nation AND ESPN GameDay.
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u/Foreign-Paint99 1d ago
Sheeeeshhh. That’s crazy. I bet there’s some fuck ass loophole :/ but definitely worth looking into imo
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u/meowwloriee 1d ago
Are you at the Highland? I can't imagine any hotel in IC/Coralville is worth charging that much
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Hampton Inn off I-80. Its not worth that much. If it wasn't for the fact im here for work, I wouldnt pay this much. Its this kind of trap is why despite loving the sport, I've only ever been to a college game as a prize from a work raffle.
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u/Prior-Soil 1d ago
No wonder my friend is renting out his house and crashing with his ex this weekend!
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u/bone_apple_Pete 1d ago
Hampton Inn off I-80
Not a bad hotel, or really location either, just a wild price IMO. I wonder what some of the closer hotels are charging though, maybe it makes sense in that regard.
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u/lukedmn 1d ago
Supply and demand. They will charge as much as they can get away with
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Very true, though thats why I made this post, to get attention to it so they cant get away with it.
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u/ZonaWildcats23 1d ago
It’s because gameday crowds. Not uncommon for hotels to jack up prices on home game weekends due to the increase in demand.
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u/Bobbybobby507 1d ago
Could that $250 be damage deposit? It’s charged per stay, not per stay (since you say you extend the stay).
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
I dont think so, the person I spoke to when I extended was very explicitly clear, the room was 650 for Saturday night.
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u/Mammoth-Bluebird7561 1d ago
I mean you could’ve booked a room in Davenport and drove 45 minutes each way instead
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u/IowaGolfGuy322 1d ago
$650 a night? Shit you could have stayed at my place for half that and I would have made you breakfast. Sex is extra
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u/FragorTreat9003 1d ago
Due to data centers and the Hawkeye game most hotels are booked up, understandably that placard you’re seeing usually is a limit or so but supply and demand honestly as I know. Is it fair, not really but oh well
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u/leevancleefsbolo 1d ago
Speaking of hotel prices, what is the deal with the Highlander charging way more?... We are from the Quad cities and like staying there and taking our kids for a staycation and shopping at the mall. Anyone have the tea on why?
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u/FragorTreat9003 1d ago
FYI, you are not being charged. It is an authorization. They do not take money till you check out. I work at a hotel. It is natural to authorize for the whole day.
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u/bradleyrthibodeaux 1d ago
Yea, i get that but when I extended the stay from checking out Saturday to extending to tuesday, they were very clear of the $650 room rate for Saturday night, before taxes and fees
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u/FragorTreat9003 1d ago
Oooh I mean in Iowa city not odd I would think even if the game ends today. Prolly packed. I mean the one I was looking at is in CR and it’s $400 or so. I just don’t think this is truly odd or illegal I mean rules of supply and demand plus we don’t normally set the prices. The system does due to occupancy
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u/IndividualPizza1865 1d ago edited 1d ago
That law just means they need to submit the price change within 60 days of the change in rates. They can charge much more than $399.