<prompt> Human: 19 yo without a credit card, so I paid with my debit card at a Days Inn for one night. I swiped my debit card and the clerk said it wasnt going through. So I went to the nearest ATM and withdrew the amount owed and then paid. I get on my online bank account about an hour later and see that 750 has been withdrawn from my account, along with the 100 that I paid for the room. I googled why, and the answer was that its a pre-authorization. But she said my debit card didnt go through. How could they withdraw 750 from my account if it didnt work? Also, the ballpark range I saw for pre-authorizations was 50-200. So 750? Im just confused and worried that I got scammed. Ive never gotten a hotel room myself before, and Im worried about why the clerk lied and said the card didnt go through, then made me pay with cash but subsequently took 750 from my card that supposedly didnt work. Thanks in advance.  <response>: Usually when you pay for a hotel with a debt card theyll put a large hold in case you use room service, damage something, etc.Make sure you get and keep a receipt that shows you paid cash.I doubt its anything more than a hold, but if a charge does go through and you need to dispute it the bank will ask for a receipt that shows you used another payment. 