My MC gets all her cash and credit cards stolen but doesn't realize it until she goes to pay for her motel room in the morning.

I wrote it so that she ends up cleaning rooms all day to pay it off. Is that what would happen? Or would they just call the cops no matter what? Or something else I haven't thought of?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I would think they would make her pay for the room before her stay. That's what they do in hotels. :]

That or they have you keep a credit card/credit card number at the front desk.

Maybe she needs to stay an extra day, and that's when she gets in trouble?

I have worked for hotels front desk for years and that would never happen. For one cleaning rooms for one day wouldn't pay for a room and secondly we require a credit card on file or pay cash up front.

Now say if you were setting your script 20 years ago, that could happen, but now with everything tech'd out there's no way that could happen at a hotel. If the person was unable to pay or use a credit card at the time of check in they wouldn't be allowed to stay.

One thing you could do is have her use a credit card, and have the card get stolen during the night, then when the hotel goes to charge it they can't because it's closed or maxed out. If that were the case than we would require them to find some other form of payment for the room, but cops wouldn't be called still. There are plenty of situations that a cop could be called to a hotel, a guest not being able to pay is not one of them.

Things might be different, though, in a really small town or in a small motel that's way out on a rarely-used highway (Bates Motel, anyone?)

Julie

even with the small motels, if they are smart they will get payment before they even check in... and with Bates Motel that took place over 20 years ago before companies started to not trust the general public to pay.

Right. Chances are that the bill would be paid somehow. If not through credit, insurance, Visa or cash, then through a collateral of sorts. The police would not be called in unless your character became overanxious and started becoming manic. :P

If (by accident or overlook - maybe even a rustic bed and breakfast) the room wasn't paid for pre-stay, it would be paid for by using collateral (like the person's car). If you want the character to work for her keep, you'll have to go back a couple decades. Also, that person's credit record would be virtually destroyed.

Just do like Steve Martin did when the IRS came to see him about his income tax not being paid. He said that he told them "Oops! I forgot." That worked for him and it should work for her. If the hotel doesn't go along, just have her call Steve Martin. online casino