The best UK credit card to hire a car

brianposter

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

[Deleted User]

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

Presumably same system that backs up electronic tills etc

brianposter

Deleted_User said:

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

Presumably same system that backs up electronic tills etc

Cash ?

But the T & Cs of car hire firms preclude accepting cash.

callum9999

brianposter said:

Deleted_User said:

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

Presumably same system that backs up electronic tills etc

Cash ?

But the T & Cs of car hire firms preclude accepting cash.

Given they make the T&Cs, if cash if the only way they can receive payment and you're happy to use it, why wouldn't they? I've hired cars with cash before though so it's not a blanket rule. Presumably they can call another branch/head office to process the payment remotely too - mobile coverage has been maintained in every power cut I've ever experienced.

The chances of losing power, telephone lines and mobile service simultaneously seems rather remote though, so I wouldn't be particularly shocked if the backup plan was "wait for it to come back"!

Vortigern

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

They probably have an old mechanical imprinter under the counter somewhere.  No use if your card's not embossed.

[Deleted User]

brianposter said:

Deleted_User said:

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

Presumably same system that backs up electronic tills etc

Cash ?

But the T & Cs of car hire firms preclude accepting cash.

No I meant if electricity is down, the electronic tills won't operate so there is no backup if they cannot register sales

brianposter

Vortigern said:

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

They probably have an old mechanical imprinter under the counter somewhere.  No use if your card's not embossed.

I am beginning to think that the insistence on embossed cards may well be sensible. "The internet is down" is not much of an excuse for failing to provide a hire car which has been previously booked.

callum9999

brianposter said:

Vortigern said:

brianposter said:

What is the current backup system for credit cards if the internet or electricity fails ?

They probably have an old mechanical imprinter under the counter somewhere.  No use if your card's not embossed.

I am beginning to think that the insistence on embossed cards may well be sensible. "The internet is down" is not much of an excuse for failing to provide a hire car which has been previously booked.

Is it really worth them making it a rule for every single transaction when a tiny fraction of one percent are ever going to take place during a power cut and internet blackout?

I'm curious whether an imprint will be enough to satisfy them though. It was the backup method used in a shop I worked in when I was younger, but would they really trust that the card would cover the car? For all they know the card could be cancelled and can't be charged a single penny. A few unpaid grocery orders is one thing, a £500 rental with no insurance excess pre-authorised is another!

brianposter

If the car has been pre-booked the car hire company, in principle, does not have the option not to be satisfied. They have contracted to supply a car.

brianposter

And another rental company requiring an embossed card - First Car in South Africa.

It looks pretty clear that if you are expecting to use hire cars, you need to insist on an embossed card.