"Despite having a major Visa card with a decent limit and cash back, they refused to take it, stating they had never heard of it. I had the impression they just didn't want to rent me a room, especially after an older lady interrupted, asking if they accepted her federal credit union card, which they did. However, when I mentioned my credit union, they outright rejected it, even after one of their coworkers confirmed that it was a legitimate bank.
I was wearing a female empowerment shirt and had an Instacart badge, but being in my early 30s with bright red hair and tattoos, I couldn’t help but wonder if the staff was judging me by my appearance. I was willing to stay at a low-end motel, but they wouldn't accept my well-established credit card.
In the end, I ended up at a nicer hotel with air conditioning, where they had no issue accepting my card. The reception staff there even laughed when hearing about my experience at the first hotel, having never encountered a problem with U.S. Bank or OpenSky. They even gave me a $20 discount on my stay because they felt bad about what I had experienced."
