Used to work in the hotel sector, incl. a Canadian/Russian JV, and what you state is sadly quite common. Basically 'free' money for the hotel.
The usual practice is to cxl the charge with credit card co., but it's irritating and timeconsuming and many hotels have std clauses in their terms of stay on the back of check-in docs concerning agreement to pay any 'post-departure charges' which Amex etc throw back at you.
Other way is to tell them to empty the minibar if you really don't plan on using it.
We came across many examples of the hotel's own staff pocketing stock after the guest's departure. A couple of miniature $5 bottles of Black Label were the average weekly wage in Moscow at the time.
Don't even start me on Car Rental Co.s!
