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Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

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Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#51

Post by gorbachev »

consp wrote: post #7
WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #4

Synopsis and excerpt: [Rest] markets itself as a way to "unlock a new revenue stream" with the help of a "robust algorithm" for detecting smoking. Hotels where these sensors are installed rack up complaints and negative reviews, after Rest sensors register false positives - thereby unlocking that revenue stream for the hotels. The awesome thing about black-box algorithms is they can't be challenged when they're wrong…

> The awesome thing about black-box algorithms is they can't be challenged when they're wrong. And errors reliably favor the institution that manages (and profits from) them. Doesn't the US have false advertisement rules/scam prevention? Around here one person would have to fight this in court to tumble the whole thing down as there is no way Rest can prove it's claim is airtight (pun intended) due to simple statisti…

Hotel guests are not buying the sensors. The hotels would probably have a claim due to this, but since they're "unlocking new revenue streams", they are probably not going to bother.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#53

Post by clort »

madaxe_again wrote: post #43
rdtsc wrote: post #11

> I asked Erik if the room needed to be cleaned [...] And he said it wasn't needing special cleaning so he offered me $250 Well that sort of says everything we'd want to know. They charged the customer $500, like they'll need to tear up the room and bring in a large team to clean everything. But they never bothered with that because they know it's a scam, and the company selling these knows exactly how their customer…

Wait, woodbine? A hotel literally owned by/named after a cigarette brand? You literally couldn’t make this up.

Largely a property development company, named after a geological feature "Woodbine Sand", in Texas

[1] https://woodbinedevelopment.com/woodbinedevelopment.com/our-...

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#54

Post by deanc »

octo888 wrote: post #21
jdenning wrote: post #18

This seems like outright fraud - how can they charge a cleaning fee and then perform no cleaning?

Just like how car rental companies can charge damage fees and not repair it (thus charging it multiple times for multiple customers!)

Time for the EU to legislate on this. Car rental companies should be required to provide a detailed report to the customer on the damage allowing the customer to challenge any potential cost estimation (with reason) that the rental car company provides. Then the rental companies should be required to prove to the customer the damage was fixed and provide the invoice.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#55

Post by shawn_w »

lisper wrote: post #52
chneu wrote: post #23

Tire shops do this by siping your tires and then offering you a refund if you complain that you never wanted it. But they do it without asking to everyone and then charge $60 hoping nobody notices.

Siping?

Cutting into a tire to improve traction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#56

Post by bell-cot »

octo888 wrote: post #30
hotboxin wrote: post #9

Looks like nothing a little duct tape couldn't handle.

"Fire Safety Device Interference Fee: $1,000"

IANAL - but might doing that sift the burden of proof, and force Hyatt to show that the Rest device met regulatory standards as a fire detector?

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#57

Post by yonatan8070 »

jdenning wrote: post #18

This seems like outright fraud - how can they charge a cleaning fee and then perform no cleaning?

Exactly my thinking. If I get this smoking charge but haven't smoked, I should be able to go to my credit card provider and tell them to get me my 500$ back

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#58

Post by sneak »

BlackFly wrote: post #24

I'd refuse to pay the charge on check out. If they charged my card anyways I would demand a refund and inform the consumer protection agency, wait 30 days and issue the chargeback. Luckily these things work well in my nation.

AmEx used to be good about doing chargebacks generally, but they once sided with the merchant during covid when I was sold an impossible itinerary and cost me $2k.

Since then I realized that I won’t always be able to do a chargeback, and I am much more cautious with vendors.

Re: Hyatt Hotels are using algorithmic Rest “smoking detectors”

#59

Post by ddingus »

abbadadda wrote: post #36

This is a microcosm for enshittification writ large. If no one cares about your individual complaint you’re fucked. Only in numbers do consumers wield any power. The 48 Laws of Power says, “what is unseen counts for nothing.” So make it seen. Make bullshit like this visible. And vote with your dollars. Better yet sue the smoke detector company. Make them demonstrate their flawless false positive rate in court. Bullsh…

"enshittification writ large."

Good grief! We are actually going to have a shit list now:

Hertz, Hyatt are the first two entries in this historic development..

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