credit card just for hiring cars????

RogerBruton

My wife and I live in France. We are both British but are NOT on the UK electoral roll. We have an account with NatWest in England which has our French address. My wife has a NatWest credit card that she has had since we were living in England. I have a Nationwide account and debit card with my father's address on -- I use it for minor purchases on Ebay etc. We do not have any French credit cards.

The problem I have is that when I visit England, and try to rent a car, the car hire companies want a CREDIT card to secure the deposit. Not a problem when my wife and I are together, but on my own it is a headache. Are there any ways around this? Can I get a UK credit card without having a UK address or job???

Roger

NickX

Why not approach your wife's Card Provider and request that you be added as an additional card holder ?

fawinds

You could also register on the Electoral Roll at your father's address and apply for a credit card in your name.

This way, if you ever come back to England will not find yourself without a credit history and all related trouble.

RogerBruton

NickX wrote: »

Why not approach your wife's Card Provider and request that you be added as an additional card holder ?

MANY thanks for that suggestion!!! It never occurred to me. But I followed it up and my shiny new MasterCard turned up last week!! I will be hiring a car at Stansted airport with it tomorrow afternoon!!

Thanks again to you and the forum!!

Roger

NickX

RogerBruton wrote: »

MANY thanks for that suggestion!!! It never occurred to me. But I followed it up and my shiny new MasterCard turned up last week!! I will be hiring a car at Stansted airport with it tomorrow afternoon!!

Very pleased to have helped you. Enjoy your trip and hope they give you a decent hire car :beer:

jonesMUFCforever

fawinds wrote: »

You could also register on the Electoral Roll at your father's address and apply for a credit card in your name.

This way, if you ever come back to England will not find yourself without a credit history and all related trouble.

Sorry but I think this is dangerous advice and totally wrong.

Just ask your local council what the penalties are for giving false information on the electoral roll.

hax_2

£1,000 fine

jonesMUFCforever

hax wrote: »

£1,000 fine

Exactly !!!!

Trusted_Friend

When you 'Secure' the deposit, do the hire company make you type in your pin ?

If they do, then they are not securing the deposit like they used to with signature forms, but taking the money out of your credit card (to return when you return the car).
Beware

jonesMUFCforever

Trusted_Friend wrote: »

When you 'Secure' the deposit, do the hire company make you type in your pin ?

If they do, then they are not securing the deposit like they used to with signature forms, but taking the money out of your credit card (to return when you return the car).
Beware

Not so in most cases - they will have an inprint of the card to do a person not present transaction.