Prepay Credit Card - Incidentals

Gillsx

I am due to go on holiday soon to the States and will be taking a pre-paid credit card with me. I have been told that the hotel I will be staying at will need to swipe a credit card on check-in for incidentals. Also the car hire company I will be hiring my car from will do the same.

The issue I have is that I don't own a credit card and the pre-pay one is all I will have. As it will have all my spending money for the duration I am out there, will the hotel and hire car company put a 'shadow' on the credit card that will stop me using the funds while I am staying/using the car?

If so, does anyone know a way round this as I can't afford any more than the spending money I have saved hard to have for the trip, and I won't have money in my bank account to support any 'shadow' blocks being put on the card.

Please help! My credit card company (Caxton FX) sent a leaflet which advised against using this card for incidentals but I dont have any other method to use!

Thanks!

ehlo

Surely there is nothing "credit" about this card? Is it not identical to a prepaid debit card? If so most companies do not accept prepaid cards for this. Sometimes the card is even setup to decline such payments

bengalknights

im pretty sure you can withdraw the money on prepay cards once you get over there so if you feel it might decline take it to a local atm machine and withdraw some money for security

Old_Trout_3

I got a prepay card loaded with Euros from FairFx. It is a Mastercard and was accepted in all the places that accept a Mastercard in Finland. I don't know about the States but I had no problem with this card. As long as you've got the funds in, it works like a normal Mastercard.

dzug1

Gillsx wrote: »

I am due to go on holiday soon to the States and will be taking a pre-paid credit card with me. I have been told that the hotel I will be staying at will need to swipe a credit card on check-in for incidentals. Also the car hire company I will be hiring my car from will do the same.

The issue I have is that I don't own a credit card and the pre-pay one is all I will have. As it will have all my spending money for the duration I am out there, will the hotel and hire car company put a 'shadow' on the credit card that will stop me using the funds while I am staying/using the car?

Yes they will, and in the case of the hire car company it's dubious they will take the card at all. You can probably talk the hotel into paying cash as you go but the hire car company will want some surety

The way round it is to get a real credit card.

Old_Trout_3

Forgot to say. I never withdraw money with the card since you have to pay commission.

waynepyrah

I would call or email the hotel and ask if you can leave a cash deposit instead... most will let you do this or if they do need to pre-auth on a card ask how much it is and put extra on the card to allow for it.

Car hire I'm not sure about but worth asking in advance before its too late when you arrive.

waynepyrah

Old_Trout wrote: »

Forgot to say. I never withdraw money with the card since you have to pay commission.

I thought Caxton did free ATM withdrawals

Isn't there a brand of ATM's over there that don't charge? I can't remember the name but think its linked to Wallmart

Gillsx

Thanks Guys. Hotel have agreed to take cash and hire car company (Alamo) now take Visa Debit which is great news and sorts my worries. Thanks for all your advice :0)