Quick $100: Hotel 800 Number Records Calls for ‘Quality Assurance,’ Settles Class Action

by Gary Leff

Supposedly then-Priority Club (now IHG Rewards Club) and their associated brands like Holiday Inn and Intercontinental recorded customer service calls to their 800 number — as most companies do — but between March 1, 2011 and July 18, 2012 they allegedly didn’t inform callers they were doing so.

So anyone who either lived in California during that period and called, or called while in California, gets money. Because the hotel chain settled for $11.7 million.

The lawyers get paid first out of this settlement – naturally (up to $3,510,000 .. plus expenses) – with remaining funds distributed to those who file claims. They estimate payouts at $100. Payouts could come in early April, provided final court approval of the settlement is granted February 3.

Submissions are being taken through December 14. Here’s the claim form. It only asks for your current name and address and for the phone numbers you used to call IHG hotels from between March 1, 2011 and July 18, 2012.

(They’ll certainly be capable of verifying that the numbers you provide match numbers on the 800 number telephone bills.)

Because of course nobody knew that calling a major corporation on their 800 number means the call is being recorded ‘for quality assurance,’ right?

Let’s be frank, what does a ‘No Trespassing’ sign mean when you’re as drunk as I was?

They can have their $2.6 million back, but who’ll give me back my tooth?

…Do you want to spend the rest of your life wondering, maybe I should have sued?

(HT: Don H.)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  2. When you use the online claim form, the phone number field is a little confusing. You need to hit Add New, type in your phone number without dashes, then hit Update.

  3. Is their 888 number currently the 800 number they were referring to then?

    I have called but not sure of which number I used…

  5. I’m confused. R they asking for the phone numbers from which the calls were made or the 800 numbers to which the calls were made?

  6. Thanks for the tip Gary. My wife and I each got a check for $248 today from the settlement. They must have had a lot less claims then they thought when it was estimated at $100.

  8. That One is EVEN too weird for me. Nope never ever been nor do I ever foresee being a CaLe Eee Forniun.

  9. Got mine yesterday for around $250 as well. Now I wish I had also filed for my parents. Was surprised it was so much money!

  13. What does the envelope look like, or the senders name or the approximate date people have been receiving checks in California? Out of the country long term, almost blind elderly relative not usually asked to look st my mail. Thank you

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