car hire co refused my credit card

glenderg

Booked a car on line with Holiday Autos to be collected from Budget at Belfast Airport, i paid with my credit card & named my brother as the driver (he doesn't have a credit card) and got the hire voucher by e-mail.
The Budget rep at Belfast tried to sell us insurance to protect £750 excess at £13 a day which we didn't want so reclined it. He then wanted a credit card to take the £750. He refused to accept my card stating it had to be in the name of the driver.
As my brother didn't have one and was the driver we were forced to buy an overpriced product we did not want.
Is this common practice or have we been conned surely my money is as good as his :mad:

dzug1

Quite normal to require a credit card in the name of the driver. He's responsible for the car - you don't exist in their eyes.

glenderg

dzug1 wrote: »

Quite normal to require a credit card in the name of the driver. He's responsible for the car - you don't exist in their eyes.

I understand that but they were getting the money up front, what would be the problem why would it have to be the drivers money?

Quentin

glenderg wrote: »

I understand that but they were getting the money up front, what would be the problem why would it have to be the drivers money?

When booking the car you agreed to the conditions. Next time you should read them before accepting them:

All customers will be required to leave a deposit to cover the collision damage waiver excess, theft waiver excess (where applicable) and fuel . To do so, a valid credit card in the name of the lead driver, must be produced upon collection of the car, as a form of deposit.

lorweld

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glenderg

Quentin wrote: »

When booking the car you agreed to the conditions. Next time you should read them before accepting them:

Ok lesson learned,i normally do but as we were in a hurry to the funeral of a very dear close relation and time was not on my side,after paying a premium for air fares booked at the last minute this did not help.
I even offered the excess in cash but money was no good it had to be a credit card in the drivers name and he doesn't have one so what do you do?

Bengt

I have been in almost the same situation. A group of 8 will travel in two cars and i am responsible for the costs. The solution suggested by the Hertz Customer serice representative was that I hired both cars and named a second driver for one of them.
I believe this would have worked in your case too, naming your brother as second driver. However, there could be a surcharge for the second driver....

dzug1

glenderg wrote: »

I understand that but they were getting the money up front, what would be the problem why would it have to be the drivers money?

The problem is the contract is with the driver. He runs off with/crashes the car, incurs parking fines, etc. They've no financial comeback on him. They can't legally charge your credit card for the excess or the cost of the car, etc, as there isn't a contract with you. So they make you insure them against this possibility.

One way out of it might have been for you to hire the car with your brother as an additional driver.

Quentin

glenderg wrote: »

Ok lesson learned,i normally do but as we were in a hurry to the funeral of a very dear close relation and time was not on my side,after paying a premium for air fares booked at the last minute this did not help.
I even offered the excess in cash but money was no good it had to be a credit card in the drivers name and he doesn't have one so what do you do?

As the credit card arrangement was agreed when you booked, there was nothing you could do about it when you arrived without one! It was like turning up at an airport having paid for your flights, got your tickets but left your passport at home. You hadn't complied with the contract to which you had agreed!

Luckily they were able to accomodate you albeit at some extra expense. Could have been worse!

chnelomi

They want a credit card in the name of the driver so that in the event of an accident or theft of the vehicle they can take any excess or money owed straight from the CC in accordance with most of their T&C's.

They can't deduct an excess etc for your brother in the event of an accident from your card.