Arrived and went to front desk, where the clerk immediately told me my card had been declined. This is before she asked for my ID or my credit card. I said "let me go to my car and get my phone so I can check." I was not sure if I chose prepay or pay at the hotel, so I wanted to check. The clerk asked if I still wanted the room, and i said yes. When I returned moments later with my phone, the clerk said again "Your card was declined. Do you want the room?" and I replied "yes" as I was checking to my reservation on my email. She then said something like, "Do you want the room? These people want a room if you don't" At this point, I gave up and told her, go ahead and give them the room, I'll go somewhere else.
It felt like and argument from the time I walked to the desk. My card was declined because a fraud alert was sent to my by my card issuer regarding this transaction.
I went on to Extended Stay America in Alameda, and had a very nice stay there instead. So it all worked out.