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

Anthorn

Why do you need to put your credit card into credit to cover emergency expenses? Travellers cheques, prepaid travel card, bank account debit card are all viable options.

You could also try increasing your credit card limit although these days lenders tend to give us what they think we should have and not generally allow applications for increases. Santander could be the exception: Although I don't have a Santander credit card and can't comment on that, I do know for a fact that they allow applications for increases to an overdraft facility. No harm in asking them!

Tunstallstoven

Hi Anthorn

Sorry if I have not made it clear above. But really the CC is only going to be used for the car deposit. When I say emergencies, I really do mean hugely unforeseen events. We have bank cards, plenty of cash, family who would be able to help out, etc. etc. So the likelihood of having to use it for anything other than the car deposit is tiny. Problems is though that there's a chance the car hire deposit would be over £1k.....

As for Santander, like I said - I have already asked them and they said no.... The best they can do is note the account, which will be considered in the future when the account is reviews. Apparently....

Cheers

Max

sharpy2010

Seagull27 wrote: »

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....

That is purely what the phone operator said to get you off the phone, in no possible way is that true.

Tunstallstoven

sharpy2010 wrote: »

That is purely what the phone operator said to get you off the phone, in no possible way is that true.

Well, thank God I get 0845 numbers for free! Otherwise I'd be really peeved off seeing as it would seem everything I was told was incorrect! Santander = nil pointe!

So, seeing as his information was incorrect, what would you say the correct info is? That I cannot apply to raise the limit? Or that I can? If the latter, how would I go about it?

Many thanks

Max

GreenApple

In my experience, this 'deposit' when hiring a car isn't actually a deposit as such (which is why they ask for credit cards only). There is always some sort of authorization or swipe of the card, so that the details are on file ready to charge it if required but they don't actually deduct the amount from any balance. They don't even seem to authorize the amount, as it's a credit card they're almost guaranteed to be able to charge it later if required - even if this puts you over your limit.

So if all goes well, you won't even see any transactions on your card statement (i.e. deduction of deposit and refund/reversal), it simply won't show at all because nothing was ever charged.

When I've hired cars within Europe, I go through a Chip & Pin process with the card (on a separate machine they use for charging cards fully) but nothing is ever taken from the balance or available funds at all.

In summary, I don't think you have much to worry about. :beer:

MABLE

I know Barclaycard do not like it. I tried online to pay more than the balance by paying it on my debit card. It would not allow me to do it.

bris

BlueHayes wrote: »

In my experience, this 'deposit' when hiring a car isn't actually a deposit as such (which is why they ask for credit cards only). There is always some sort of authorization or swipe of the card, so that the details are on file ready to charge it if required but they don't actually deduct the amount from any balance. They don't even seem to authorize the amount, as it's a credit card they're almost guaranteed to be able to charge it later if required - even if this puts you over your limit.

So if all goes well, you won't even see any transactions on your card statement (i.e. deduction of deposit and refund/reversal), it simply won't show at all because nothing was ever charged.

When I've hired cars within Europe, I go through a Chip & Pin process with the card (on a separate machine they use for charging cards fully) but nothing is ever taken from the balance or available funds at all.

In summary, I don't think you have much to worry about. :beer:

It's a pre auth, they don't take the funds but the amount is not available to spend elsewhere while the pre auth is in place. So you can't spend the grand anywhere else as long as the car hire co have the pre auth running.

UnionGirl

I was told exactly the same thing by a Santander customer advisor (in branch).

"Can I put this card into credit for going abroad?"

"Yes, madam. I do it all the time when I go on holiday".

Unsure if this was deception or incompetence by the advisor. I did get £25 compensation (surprised about) when I said that the main reason that I took out the card was because the advisor told me I could pre-load it.

Meadows

Seagull27 wrote: »

Well, thank God I get 0845 numbers for free!

And for those that don't http://www.saynoto0870.com/

zerog

UnionGirl wrote: »

I did get £25 compensation (surprised about) when I said that the main reason that I took out the card was because the advisor told me I could pre-load it.

Well £25 will probably cover any interest / cash advance / exchange fees, so maybe this is a new trick we can use