why is my credit card not accepted?

oblivion_o

I live abroad and all my bank cards here are laser printed. My credit card is with my bank and is a visa and is chip and pin but because the numbers are not embossed, I've been told that it is not accepted by a car rental company in the UK.

It is a valid credit card, embossed numbers were for the old machines for carbon copies so why is my new chip and pin card not accepted?

Anyone have any ideas?

Donna

Candyapple

What country is your card issued from?

Which car rental company are you trying? Have you tried any others - what did they say?

Are you actually in the UK and have tried to pay in person and they rejected your card?

oblivion_o

Hi,

I'm in Spain and I bank with Abanca. I spoke to Indigocar hire (Leeds office) about renting a car for a weekend from Leeds Bradford Airport. They said that my credit card doesn't comply with their rules and the rental company (Enterprise) because it's not embossed numbers, even though I explained how embossed cards are being phased out here.

They requested an image of my credit card (details covered) and so I sent it over and they basically didn't believe it was a credit card...questioned me about it poss being a pre-paid card...it's def not, I know what I received, I know what I applied for. It has "Visa Credit" on the card, the chip, and information in Spanish on the back saying it can be used worldwide. The credit card number and details are on the back of the card. They asked me to speak to my bank, which i did out of courtesy and my bank just laughed at the company having a problem because it is a valid credit card and cannot understand what the problem is. I've never has a problem using my card in Spain and even hiring a car here.

I then contacted Enterprise, customer support and the guy I spoke to said it shouldn't be a problem and that as long as it's chip and pin it's fine. I booked the car through them but I have a feeling that regardless them saying it's fine, when I turn up at the office to collect the car they'll not accept my non-embossed credit card.

Donna

Candyapple

oblivion_o wrote: »

Hi,

I'm in Spain and I bank with Abanca. I spoke to Indigocar hire (Leeds office) about renting a car for a weekend from Leeds Bradford Airport. They said that my credit card doesn't comply with their rules and the rental company (Enterprise) because it's not embossed numbers, even though I explained how embossed cards are being phased out here.

They requested an image of my credit card (details covered) and so I sent it over and they basically didn't believe it was a credit card...questioned me about it poss being a pre-paid card...it's def not, I know what I received, I know what I applied for. It has "Visa Credit" on the card, the chip, and information in Spanish on the back saying it can be used worldwide. The credit card number and details are on the back of the card. They asked me to speak to my bank, which i did out of courtesy and my bank just laughed at the company having a problem because it is a valid credit card and cannot understand what the problem is. I've never has a problem using my card in Spain and even hiring a car here.

I then contacted Enterprise, customer support and the guy I spoke to said it shouldn't be a problem and that as long as it's chip and pin it's fine. I booked the car through them but I have a feeling that regardless them saying it's fine, when I turn up at the office to collect the car they'll not accept my non-embossed credit card.

Donna

Who said this? The customer service representative on the phone? How did you even get onto the subject of your card complying with their rules?

Surely it would have been a conversion along the lines

You: Hi I'm looking to hire a car between x and x dates, how much will this cost?
Operator: It will cost x-amount. Are you happy to proceed with payment
You: Yes. (reads out your card details)
Operator: That's all booked for you.

Or in your case:
Operator: Sorry your card has been declined. Is your card a debit card? If you're sure it's not a debit card, can you check with your bank that you have enough funds.

Does your card have 16 digits? I must admit I've never seen a non-embossed card, however I understand that lots of other countries may have different methods of issuing cards. It might have just been a case of the customer service rep you spoke to didn't have a clue and just thought the best way to get rid of you was to tell you that your card details would not work. I guess the only way you're going to find out is when you actually go to pay for it in person. Make sure you have a back-up alternative card if that is the case.

oblivion_o

It's to pay in person, I could pay online but then if I need to show my card I was worried about them then cancelling my hire and having to pay a cancellation fee.

The topic arose because I'd read about a guy who was refused rental with his non-embossed credit card. I get that it may not be common yet for laser printed credit cards but if it's a valid credit card surely the merchant has a responsibility to accept the payment method.

I don't have any embossed cards, my cards are all from here and laser printed...all this farce for trying to get to my friends wedding!!!

[Deleted User]

oblivion_o wrote: »

surely the merchant has a responsibility to accept the payment method.

No (which is always the answer to any question beginning 'surely', BTW).

They can refuse any card, from any customer.

oblivion_o

aaarrggghhh

Candyapple

I would imagine that once it comes to paying in person that you will more than likely just be asked to put your card into the handheld card machine and the person in-store won't even look at your card - you'll just be told to enter your PIN.

Do you have a link to the thread where you said someone else was declined for using a non-embossed card?

If you have the option to pay online with no hassle - why don't you do that? What makes you think they would give your card anything other than a cursory glance if indeed you were requested to show the card when you went to collect it? Most times they just want to check that the name and last 4 digits match.

eskbanker

Deleted_User wrote: »

They can refuse any card, from any customer.

Curious about this - I was under the impression that if they say they accept Visa credit cards they'd have to accept all Visa credit cards under scheme rules? Happy to be corrected if necessary though....

System

eskbanker wrote: »

Curious about this - I was under the impression that if they say they accept Visa credit cards they'd have to accept all Visa credit cards under scheme rules? Happy to be corrected if necessary though....

They wouldn't be refusing the card, rather the whole transaction.

Laser embossed cards are usually when the issuer wants to ensure it can't be used offline. These do tend to be online cards but it's at the issuer's discretion.

bigadaj

Deleted_User wrote: »

No (which is always the answer to any question beginning 'surely', BTW).

No, the answer to any question beginning 'surely' is don't call me Shirley!