Do I have to own a credit card to hire a car?

Figtree

desperation wrote: »

Not 100% correct

Thanks for clarifying I guess from the customer's point of view it's the same thing though (i.e. money not available as immediately as it was if using a credit card)?

desperation_2

Figtree wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying I guess from the customer's point of view it's the same thing though (i.e. money not available as immediately as it was if using a credit card)?

Correct.
It will come off your available balance, as in any other 'normal' transaction done through a shop etc, however is not actually 'taken' by the company.

The hire company concerned should explain this to you, that it is only an 'authorisation', not a 'payment' then 'refund'.

Paul_01

desperation wrote: »

Not 100% correct. The deposit would be pre authorised, not taken. At termination if no funds are owing the authorisation for £250 would be closed by the company by claiming £0.00 against the authorisation code previously obtained. The funds would then 'drop back into your available balance however dependant on who you bank with this could take up to 10 working days.

To actually 'take' the monies and then 'refund' would be more costly to the company and ultimately of no benefit when they have already gained 'authorisation' should they wish to claim the funds at a later date.

I hire regularly through Enterprise mainly, and the deposit is always taken in full (£200) and then refunded when the car has been returned. They definitely do not simply authorise the amount, they take it.

TSx

desperation wrote: »

Not 100% correct. The deposit would be pre authorised, not taken. At termination if no funds are owing the authorisation for £250 would be closed by the company by claiming £0.00 against the authorisation code previously obtained. The funds would then 'drop back into your available balance however dependant on who you bank with this could take up to 10 working days.

To actually 'take' the monies and then 'refund' would be more costly to the company and ultimately of no benefit when they have already gained 'authorisation' should they wish to claim the funds at a later date.

We always hire from a local company, they take a £200 deposit (which shows on my statement) and then refund the deposit (shows as a credit further down).

Not sure why they do it that way, but the transaction is definitely a full transaction/refund and not just a pre-authorisation.

CKhalvashi

TSx wrote: »

We always hire from a local company, they take a £200 deposit (which shows on my statement) and then refund the deposit (shows as a credit further down).

Not sure why they do it that way, but the transaction is definitely a full transaction/refund and not just a pre-authorisation.

I'm also a local company person, and they always take, then refund.

A much smaller (but probably higher turnover) specialist company we regularly rent high end (Ferrari/Merc/Range Rover etc) stuff from just holds an Auth code.

CK

inmypocketnottheirs

No, but it helps.

Paul_the_Painter

It may have been that the hire company charged the extra £48 as the full insurance with zero excess as the customer did not have a credit card or a debit card with enough available credit/funds for the deposit. Or they didn't offer the option of paying the deposit as the insurance is a nice little earner!
I last rented in Italy from hertz, and the deposit was €1700, the insurance was about £120, for the first time ever I opted for insurance, which considering I scraped the car quite badly was a bit of a result.
Deposits are often a lot higher if you are a foreigner.

stephane_2

Reported......

gglaze

Don't know about UK, but just to point out - in the US, credit card is almost always required as your "guarantee" and they explicitly won't accept debit card for this. Or they might, but only with a bunch of other documents and proof and probably some fees for guarantees. Was surprised to hear about this happening in the UK though - didn't think debit cards were considered such a second-class citizen as they are in the US.

VixieBelle

Hi Everyone,

Thank you very much for all the replies. I thought I posted a thank you ages ago but just checking back in and found I didnt - I am new here, you will have to bear with me!

desperation - really interested to read your posts as you work for a car rental firm. You have confirmed what I suspected that they were taking the P. So cross!

Paul the Painter - you've got it in one. Not only was I not offered the option of putting the excess on a debit card I was actually told the only way I could take the car was if I paid the extra insurance!

Kicking myself now for paying it instead of arguing at the time, but we had arranged to meet family we dont see very often so they had us over a barrel.

We used Budget at Belfast City Airport. Booked via rentalcars.com.

I will not be using either of them ever again, but I'd still like my money back.