Portman hotel sues guest for card fraud

The Radisson SAS Portman hotel in central London is suing a Middle Eastern guest who allegedly used someone else's credit card to settle his hotel bills.

Businessman Ghazi Al-Saqabi paid hotel bills totalling £201,363.44 using a Visa card which the National Bank of Kuwait told the hotel this January belonged to a Mohammed Nayef Al-Dabbos.

The credit card bills were processed by the NatWest Bank, which is entitled to recover the money from the hotel.

Al-Saqabi, who was arrested for suspected credit card fraud and is currently staying at Le Méridien Grosvenor House hotel in London's Park Lane, stayed at the Portman on numerous occasions between 3 January 2000 and 20 January 2003.

His accounts with the hotel were held in his own name and others, including those of a Mrs R Al-Qatami (whom he claimed was his wife), Arab Combined Group Trading and General Contracting Co, and Gas Investments.

In a High Court writ issued for the hotel by Seddons, the hotel conceded that NatWest had a right to recover at least £70,604.40, and possibly the full sum, because the credit card slips carried the signature of Al-Saqabi rather than that of the card holder.

The hotel has asked the court to rule that if it is liable to repay any of the £201,363.44 to the bank, then Al-Saqabi will be liable to the hotel for the same amount.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 5 - 11 June 2003