Car rental deposit charged without notice

Joe_Horner

It does sound iffy, not least the matter of putting through a CNP transacion when the card (and cardholder) were present. If I did that my provider would be all over me for breaching my merchant agreement!

Given that you didn't agree a debit of that amount, it would also potenially be a fraudulent use of your card details by them, just the same as if I presened someone with a bill for, say, £75, got their card details off them, then charged £300. That would get my merchant account closed in short order!

The best bet is either phone or drop in to your bank and explain what happened. If the transacion is showing as pending then the cash hasn't left your account, so you shouldn't have any charges to worry about. But you don't want them commiting that payment and then refunding (or not) the £250 "deposit" as a separate transaction. If your bank are aware ahead of time, they won't be able to stop them committing the ransacion but they will be able to recall the payment as soon as it goes.

JohnM5206

I would like to see the web transaction for the booking. As has been said, different companies have different methods of reserving the funds but most do notify you of this on the website by advising that the card to be used needs to be able to support the deposit transaction and to have such funds available.
The OP booked online and just added the additional CDW at point of collection. Perhaps the deposit was always going to be taken at that point, as a reservation, and was not mentioned because the online transaction told the OP of this?

macman

You can buy your own policy to cover the excess for about £40pa. So if you are hiring for a week or so a year, decline the hirer's penurious rates and provide your own cover.
It's a huge source of profit, and the automotive equivalent of retailers' extended warranties on electrical goods.

PeacefulWaters

1) Always use credit cards with such transactions.
2) Never buy insurance (above the legal minimum) from a car rental company.

£2.99 a day or £37.99 a year looks good. Other firms are available.

http://www.carhireexcess.co.uk