How to handle "hotel security" knocking on door?

I'll join the chorus: do not open the door. Criminals know that people with nice stuff often stay in Marriotts. Other places, too. Nice hotels are not exempt; they're targets.

Shakyl said:

Should I have called the front desk to verify before opening the door?

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No. I'd recommend calling the front desk immediately and not opening the door at all.

Until the desk clerk or manager satisfies you that they have sent the person who's in front of your door, you are facing a possible violent felon.

Jeff White said:

If it had been me, he'd have been standing at the door until someone with a peace officers commission verified his identity.

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That's even better.

I say this not as a criminologist, a hotel manager or a law enforcement officer but just as a regular person who has been fooled by "effective camouflage" -- I've mistaken criminal behavior for innocent activity when people have "shown me what I expected to see."

If someone's causing a problem and it isn't you, then hotel management must deal with that individual, not sift through all of the hotel's customers until they find the problem. Hotel management owes you what you've paid for and that does not include bed-checks and employee tourism in your room. That would be a crazy business practice.

Want to come in? The police may come in; stray employees with attitude problems may not come in.

While all of this is going on, if you develop a subtle feeling that you should call the police, do so.

In any case, the hotel manager gets sent a copy of the scorching letter that goes to the corporate office.

Should I have called the front desk to verify before opening the door?

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Yes. A generic 'badge' isn't worth squat. He was a jerk. Maybe he's a perv and wanted a look at your wife. Who knows what was going on.

Ah, what the trappings of authority will do for an hotel ninja...or a crook.

I would definitely have called the front desk to verify. I think perhaps, subconsciously, you permitted him the status of "cop" in your mind. Obviously, you knew he wasn't a police officer. But perhaps, somewhere, you were thinking, "Wow, he's really getting agitated, I think he's probably legit, I don't want him to break down the door or arrest me or anything!" - as if he were LE.

(Of course, IANAP - I'm not a psychologist. Take with spoonful of salt. But still, don't open the door for strangers.)

It's possible that another guest called the front desk and said, "There's a lot of noise and I think it's coming from room XXX," which would be the only reason I can fathom that he would have knocked on your door. A more appropriate reaction would have been to stand in the hallway for a moment and, failing to have heard any party, left you alone. Hotel security guard is typically a very low-paying job, so unfortunately this class of person is usually all the employer can get.

Security guard, trying to compensate for his lack of authority by bullying a "dumb tourist." I'd not open up, and would call the hotel manager to verify any complaints and the identity of his security guy. "Hey Bubba, when you call for backup, make sure that includes the police, and your lawyer." Further, there is nothing to prevent you from calling police if he doesn't go away. Rental or hotel / motel rooms are your temporary home, with all of the rights and protections of your home.

I'm fortunate in a way, that I am certified to carry in all 50 states, under the Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act, HR-218. I like to think of it as travel insurance and as long as I'm traveling in the U.S., I'm covered.

Welcome to The High Road, pioneer 461. Good post.

Just to clarify, you did not bring a gun with you on vacation, right? I'm assuming not, since presumably you had to fly there, and all that.

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You can keep guns in your checked baggage.

This is the perfect place for this thread and it is a problem we all will face at some time or another.
On personal business even in CA I carry a gun. When I tarvel with a school team I have a parent carry a gun.

When I go overseas I carry a Surefire flashlight and have a baseball bat in my luggage or in SE/Asia I purchase a bamboo club. I also make it a point to meet the desk staff and ask pointed questions about security.

I work security on Sunday nights at a local hotel for extra cash. The only reasons I ever knock on someone's door are:

1) If they've called the front desk and requested assistance
2) If they are being excessively noisy
3) If I smell illegal drugs

If I get a noise complaint but go up and all is quiet, I stand there for a minute listening and then leave if I don't hear anything. There's no reason to be an ass about it. My vest has police patches on it. I've never been asked to provide any other ID, though I would if requested.

On the flip side, if there is a legitimate reason for me to be knocking on the door (drugs, noise) and the guest doesn't open the door...well, they're probably going to be spending the night in a different hotel.

If they won't show their ID, screw them.

First, why did he need to enter your room to investigate a noise complaint? I would think that a couple of minutes in the hall would resolve that situation. That alone makes his request sound fishy.

Don't ever open the door. Call the front desk. If you don't get the correct response, then call law enforcement.

I assumed the knock was another family member (staying in a separate hotel room)

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did you ever think that your other family members were playing a prank on you by calling security? ive done that to some buddies in vegas once

I don't think anybody has said this yet: You should've checked with the front desk and you should've waited to open the door until the front desk verified.

Should I have called the front desk to verify before opening the door?

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Yes. Absolutely yes. From your description I'm not sure the fellow was legit. The pretext sounds very fishy.

You can keep guns in your checked baggage.

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Sure, but HA has some of the worst gun laws in the country.

In dealing with noise in a hotel the FIRST action is a call from the desk. The second step is security at the door. Security more than likely will NOT have a photo ID. Your only assurance is a call to the desk and / or a previous call from the desk.

BTW, a chain or bar will not hinder an emergency entry into a room. Hint: if you are in a hotel you are NOT secure behind doors. Throwing the mechanical lock, locking the electronic lock and latching the bar will delay emergency entry by a leisurely 10 seconds.

Having spent over 200 nights each year for the past 5 years in hotels, I would like to comment.

I would not have been near as civil as you were.

The fact that he wise-arsed over the ID would have warranted termination, IMHO. Hotels are there because customers stay there. They are there to make your stay enjoyable and pleasant. The security "ninjas" are there to help park cars, pick up dog doo, and fetch messages. I would not trust a hotel security person with my safety any more than a two-bit celebrity posse wannabe.

Never, ever open your hotel door to someone you do not know. Ever. Call the front desk. Keep the door chained, dead=bolted, everything.

At the minimum you should inform Marriott of the incident, especially if you are a member of their premium program. I have had the VP of Hilton marketing call me when I pitched a fit about their hotel service in LOng Beach, CA. It gained me an expense paid weekend at the Hilton of my choice complete with room service and chilled wine on arrival. The wife unit was impressed. We used it for a concert weekend.

Travelers must be extremely careful. Always squeak loud when you are disrespected.

Anygunanywhere

Many years ago I did hotel security. I worked for a company that was contracted to the hotel and was uniformed. When we had noise complaints we could tell from outside the door if there was a problem or not. One other thing, just because he is wearing a uniform means nothing. Uniforms (shirts, trousers, nameplate, cap, duty gear, and even badges) can be purchased through the mail or even over the phone by most anyone. Some uniform companies require proof of occupation but some others don't.

I would not open the door but called the front desk to demand *** this goon is doing at the door to my room. If he did not have a good answer, call 911.

SInce you brought it up, I too, have a hotel security story. Year- 1991. Place- South San Francisco (near SFO). Hotel- one of the early highrise extended stay all suite hotels. It is 0100 + or - and the phone rings. It is the Front Desk calling about some message left, apparently, by the previous guest. I reply in a less than civil manner like a man clearly in need of Anger Management training. I go back to sleep. There is a pounding on the door I get out of bed and ask who it is. "Security. Open Up". I open the door a crack and there are two guys. One is the enormous goon I saw in the lobby. He looked like an extra from "Goodfellas". I knew he was legitimate. The other guy was some pencil necked weasal in a skinny tie, short sleeve white shirt and bad haircut. He annouced, " I am the guy you talked to on the phone." Then he pushes his way into the room with the big guy following, I exclaim "Oh no you don't" and slam the door hitting the security guy in the face. I turn and pencil neck jumps at me. I throw him across the room with one shove and he lands on a piece of their quality furniture- an overstuffed chair, which immediately falls to pieces with him on it. I open the door and stop the security guy with a glare. He is looking in to see what happened to Pencil Neck. I order the Pencil out and go back to bed. Sometime later the South San Francisco Police show up (3 uniforms) and want to know *** has been going on here. Pencil Neck is with them and offers a preposterous story about how I assualted him. The Officer in Charge turns to me an asks "What about it?" I give him my story. He looks me over and looks over Pencil Neck and the broken chair. He shakes his head. Pencil starts screaming that if I am not to be arrested I must leave the premises at once. I appologize to Pencil Neck for the trouble, saying to him I was wrong, he was right, I will pay for the damages. No! I must go! The Officer says to me quietly, "If he wants you out, you will have to pack and leave." The police stay with me while I dress and pack and escort me to my car. They are sympathetic about what an ass this guy was. I drive across the street to lesser accomodations and check in.

Lesson learned: never, never open the door.

Importing guns into Hawaii isn't a very big deal. I do it every time I travel there to visit my parents (usually twice a year).

You are supposed to register handguns with the local police, but you have a 30 day grace period and while I do love my parents I don't spend a month visiting them.

Hard sided locked case, a copy of TSA gun regulations and you are all set.

Hotel security has NO authority to enter your hotel room once you have paid for it/left a CC# on file, notwithstanding emergencies. Your rented room is considered your "home", just as a rented apartment is. A loud party is not an emergency, no matter what the hotel says. If it is such a public nuisance that the police are called, the police have authority to enter, but the security personnel can rot outside while you talk to the cops (and even they can't force you to open the door for no good reason).

In such a case, I would call front desk and tell them to get the rude ja***ss away from your door, and that you will speak to the manager in the morning to file a complaint against the employee. If the guy is legit security, it shouldn't be a problem. If the guy isn't kosher, then real security gets sent up to deal with it. End of problem both ways. Hotel security should NEVER need to see into your room while you are actually inside of it and telling them to stay out. I used to work in the hotel industry, and let's just say that hotel rentacops are on about the same level of trustworthiness as minimum wage TSA flunkies and mall-ninjas.

FourNineFoxtrot said:

Opening the door with the bar lock still in place was a good move,

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Myth Busters did a segment on door locks and how hard it was to slam in a door. The security chain or bar on most hotel doors easily snapped and the door swung open. Just something to remember, the chains provide a false sense of security at best.

Myth Busters did a segment on door locks and how easy it was to slam in a door...

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Fixed it.

Blacksmoke I hope if something like this happened to you today you would find youself staying free of charge, With a few grand in you bank account (quite a few) as well as other perks. *if things happened as you said*

You are half asleep and someone pounds on door, You open it because you THINK it might be security. A person you don't know (actually it does not matter if they ARE security) FORCES their way in/at you. So you shove them away (in fear for your safety) as you slam door on his parter (outnumbered two to one.)
You get them both out and call the POLICE. File charges of assult/not sure what they intended. (IMO a legit 911 call) Pencil neck gets arrested/ big guy gets questioned and hotel management calls you at 9am sharp (time you said NOBODY better bother you until) with pleas to "forget the whole thing/what can we do to make it right" Otherwise you could sue them for tens of thousands (and should win)
When I rent a room that is MY HOME for the time period I am renting. Anyone forcing their way in can expect the same response I would give in my home. (I realize maid service/ I always put sign up for no maid service unless I am staying multi days) I would rather get my own towels if I need more. (Hint a "DO NOT DISTURB" put in cardway/outside of door seems to work better then hanging sign. )


Edit to add I was staying in a Super 8 (my normal price range when solo) Thing is it was one I had stayed at a dozen times over 2 weeks so I knew the night clerk. (new employee getting trained in/she was kinda cute/I was hopeful) anyway I heard racket. Since I had planned to go chat with her (and bring her a can of pop) I headed out. She was crying behind desk. It was her FIRST solo night (yep stupid have a 22yr old gal solo night clerk) Seems she had noise complaint from one floor about people above stomping on floor. As ONLY person she couldn't go check so she called that room. Thing is the room numbers were DIFFERENT on next level so she called wrong room. There was a couple with two infants who had JUST gotten them to sleep. The husband had come down and yelled at her till she was crying. (and still getting phone calls about noise) Then the college student started running down halls yelling (2am) so guess who goes behind counter? I called local PD, had her call manager at home, I had a chat with the father when he came back. (who thought I worked there)
The Police took a couple students away (who were too drunk/stupid to listen to the nice Officer when he suggested they go back to their room and BEGGED to go to jail) (honest they gave the Police no choice)
Sad part is she quit and I never got anywhere with her.