Can criminal charges be pursued if I fail to pay my hotel bill?
My brother, a resident of OH, was working in Pittsburgh, PA and was staying at a hotel. He was laid off from his job and while waiting to go back to work accrued a couple of weeks of hotel stay charges. When he checked out, they gave him his final bill which he was not able to pay. The hotel has contacted him trying to collect but he cannot pay for a couple more weeks. One week ago, a police officer contact him and said that he would be criminally charged if he failed to pay this bill within one week. He contacted the officer back today and let him know that he would need at least another week to pay. My question is how much validity is there concerning the threat of criminal charges in this matter? Thank you for your time.
He can be charged for Theft of Services. If the value of the total hotel bill is in excess of $2000.00, it will be a felony. If between 200 and 2000, it will be a Misdemeanor 1.
Yes, this is serious. The officer is being more patient than most would be. if he can't pay, he needs to be honest and say so. There may be options for dismissal/withdrawal further down the road. But, if the officer feels that your brother is jerking him around, the officer will not be agreeable.
Be honest or pay.
Yes, it is possible to be charged criminally for skipping out on the hotel bill.
Lawyer Michael Kotik
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Defrauding an innkeeper is a crime. Staying in a hotel that you know you can't pay for is fraud, the same as eating at a restaurant without money to pay for it.
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Asker
Thank you for the advise, I had never heard of this law and was sceptical. He will pay just as he promised and is being honest, just needs time to pay. but thanks for the moral advise too. I'll pass it on.