Marriott Illegally Blocked People's Internet Access And Charged Them Up To $1,000 Instead

[pstokely]

Don't a lot of hotels also block Netflix to get you buy the overpriced pay per view movies


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/03/marriott-wifi-blocking-fcc-charge_n_5928678.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

"
Hotels, beware: Blocking guests' access to Wi-Fi in order to force them to pay for your own costly Internet service is not a very nice thing to do. And, it turns out, it's not legal either.

The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it was fining Marriott International $600,000 for unlawfully blocking customers' Wi-Fi access in a conference room at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, which is operated by the company.

According to a statement from the FCC, Marriott workers were using "Wi-Fi blocking technology" called jammers to prevent people at the hotel from using the Internet via their own personal Wi-Fi networks they established with smartphones or mobile Wi-Fi devices. Meanwhile, the hotel was charging $250 to $1,000 per device to connect to its wireless network in its conference facility.

"It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging customers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," said FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc in a statement. "This practice puts customers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether."

[hobbit709]

1. They should add a couple of zeros to that fine. Then Marriot might pay attention.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. At Least One

Once you hit the 7th digit, companies pay attention. 600 grand is not much to Marriot.

[sendero]

2. It seems like Marriott..

... is often in the news for doing something sleazy. I don't think I will ever stay there.

[ColesCountyDem]

4. It's weird, in a way.

When I used to travel, I tended to stay in Marriott hotels, because they were normally clean, comfortable and most often had a decent restaurant (and room service). With all the horror stories that have come out since, I wouldn't stay in one, were I ever to start traveling again.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. I Was A Hilton Guy

Lots of Hampton Inns. Always a good deal, always clean, and good wireless and TV for downtime. I've been on Hhonors member for many years, but i don't travel as much as i used to.

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. I've been a Hilton Honors member since 1988....

and I agree, Hampton is a great chain. One of the better breakfast spreads offered among the properties at that price point.

[riverbendviewgal]

8. I recently discòvered

MICROTEL, AMERICINN & MOTEL 6 . All are super clean and rates good. I found some of their motels now have no carpeting in their rooms. I find carpeting in many motel smelly and dirty. Those motels I mentioned all have free wifi.

[NBachers]

10. Yup, we stayed at a Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe a few months ago, and I was quite impressed

There's no question that, when we go back, Motel 6 will always be our choice there.

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. Motel 6 has gone carpetless for several reasons, including bedbugs...

No carpets make it easier to control bug infestations. Since it is a system wide policy to accept pets, this also makes flea control easier.

(Stayed in more motels and hotels over the last 30 years than I can count)

[Ilsa]

3. I wonder how it was discovered? Did an employee

turn them in, or did a guest do some sleuthing?

[randome]

5. Since it was conference rooms, they probably wanted to hit businesses up for easy pickings.

Deep pockets and all that. Still illegal, though, and I'm glad they were caught.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[mountain grammy]

9. Wow, Marriott screws their workers and customers. How very American!