Can I put my credit card into credit.....?

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

I'm off to Czech Rep next week and will be hiring a car for a fortnight. The hire company will take a deposit/hold sum against my credit card. I've checked and it says the minimum they will "hold" will be:

Excess (800e) + Fuel + VAT.

I only have a limit of £1k on the card, and though it is unlikely, I'm a little worried that on the off chance to may amount to more than £1k and take me over my limit. And/or if I had to use the card for any unplanned payments that could do the same....

So I got to thinking last night that maybe I could make a payment to my card that would actually put in me in credit (maybe £200-£300 should do it). I've just checked on the phone with Santander (it's a Zero card) and they have said it is ok for me to do this. However, I'd like to double check on here and also ask if there are any potential problems with doing this....

If anyone could point out any problems or put my mind to rest on this one, I'd appreciate it hugely.

Many thanks

Max

YorkshireBoy

If you read your zero card T&Cs you'll see that they prohibit the creation of a (deliberate) positive balance.

Tunstallstoven

Hhhmmmmm......

How about accidental?

Tunstallstoven

(Nudge nudge wink wink)

dr_adidas01

Most credit card company's don't like you to have a credit card with a positive balance and can be a breach of your T&Cs.

Any positive balance will usually result in them sending you a cheque for the amount your positive balance is over your credit limit.

I also wouldn't take Santander's word for anything, they can't get simple things like direct debits set up correctly.

Wouldn't it be best to have some money in Euro's anyway that way you have everything covered.?

thenudeone

Worst case is the card could be frozen on suspicion of money laundering, complete with your £1k on it!

YorkshireBoy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

If you read your zero card T&Cs you'll see that they prohibit the creation of a (deliberate) positive balance.

Specifically condition 16.7*

Santander_Zero_T&Cs wrote:

16.7 You should not make payments that place the Account in credit. If you do, we may still restrict the use of the Card and the Account to the amount of your Credit Limit.

* The condition number, but not the wording, may have changed, because I've pulled the above up from a quick google search as I don't have my Zero card's T&Cs to hand.

exel1966

And don't Santander also issue a charge if an account is kept in credit for a certain period of time? I know they used to when the card first appeared.

Tunstallstoven

Well, I'm glad I asked here now rather than just taking their word for it!!! Sometimes I consider myself a little too thorough (anal) having to ask about things more than once..... In this case, it has paid off by the sound of things

dr_adidas01 wrote: »

Wouldn't it be best to have some money in Euro's anyway that way you have everything covered.?

Yeah, we will be taking cash as well. The CC is just for emergencies and for the car hire deposit.

So I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers tightly crossed that the deposit is under £1k....


Thanks to all for the help and responses.

Max

simax

I take it you asked them if your could increase your credit limit to say £1,500?

Tunstallstoven

simax wrote: »

I take it you asked them if your could increase your credit limit to say £1,500?

Yes. They said I could not make a direct application, but that they could note it on my account and when my next "review" takes place my wishes to increase the credit limit will be considered....