What's my rights if not notified in advance?

Toberton

Hi All, I can imagine this area has been treaded before but was hoping for some input from anybody who has particular knowledge of the field. 
I recently took out a car hire in Ireland with Herz (never again!). I made the initial booking via rentalcars.com and paid the first fee on my debit card. 
When I tried to pick up the car at Dublin terminal I had my credit card to cover the full deposit and had arranged separate excess insurance through third party company (annual).
The "sales manager" who was clearly shifty wouldn't let me use my credit card, told me that I should have booked originally with the credit card but because I'd booked with debit they cannot take another card, even though its in my name.

Rentalcars.com have confirmed this is incorrect and they should have allowed me to pay deposit with my credit card. 
Herz say that they were correct and don't allow additional cards k in Ireland, despite the fact I was given no prior information on either rentalcars.com when I booking, my voucher or on Herz own website. 
Indeed Herz website says you need a credit card in your name when picking up, doesn't mention Ireland or anywhere else is different.
I was charged £300 on top of initial booking fee, because I'd arrived with very pregnant wife and 3 year old, when told I had to pay more, what do you think I did to get to my onward destination? 
I signed the form but under duress after being lied to. 
Herz say because I signed that that's the end of it. 
Anybody every fought successfully for their hard-earned cash back in this situation? 

Thanks. Constructive replies only please. 

Grumpy_chap

Normally you need the same card at collection as used to make the online booking.  Same for car hire, hotel, theatre / cinema tickets etc.

Brie

why is the fact that you had a wife and child with you significant?  

Westin

What type of credit card was it?

I have seen car rental T&C's which say they don't accept pre-paid cards or those even without raised embossed numbers?
Hertz.ie seem to have a caveat as "We accept most major credit and debit cards (restrictions apply)". Could the restriction be one such a card?

This snip from Hertz.ie. Unfortunately their links to Forms of Payment and Payment Options do not seem to work at the moment.

https://www.hertz.ie/rentacar/misc/simpleIndex.jsp?targetPage=rentalGuide.jsp&locationCode=BGYT50

Toberton

Grumpy_chap said:

Normally you need the same card at collection as used to make the online booking.  Same for car hire, hotel, theatre / cinema tickets etc.

Have rented cars in the past and as long as my credit card is in my name as the lead driver and person booking then it's been accepted.

Think you only need the card you booked with for hotel/ cinema, etc as proof you are who you say you are.  

Toberton

Westin said:

What type of credit card was it?

I have seen car rental T&C's which say they don't accept pre-paid cards or those even without raised embossed numbers?
Hertz.ie seem to have a caveat as "We accept most major credit and debit cards (restrictions apply)". Could the restriction be one such a card?

This snip from Hertz.ie. Unfortunately their links to Forms of Payment and Payment Options do not seem to work at the moment.

https://www.hertz.ie/rentacar/misc/simpleIndex.jsp?targetPage=rentalGuide.jsp&locationCode=BGYT50

So that's exactly what I understand to be the case. I explained that I tried to pay with a card in my name but the so called customer services person who replied simply said they were right to charge me. Its exasperating!
Not sure if its worth my effort to try to chase this. 

Toberton

Brie said:

why is the fact that you had a wife and child with you significant?  

Thanks for your input Brie.
It's significant because I was anticipating some clever person smugly telling me that I shouldn't sign something I didn't agree to. Of course there are circumstances where give in under duress.
Have a warm and pleasant day. 

Toberton

Here is the response to my complaint from Herz. 

NoodleDoodleMan

Toberton said:

Brie said:

why is the fact that you had a wife and child with you significant?  

Thanks for your input Brie.
It's significant because I was anticipating some clever person smugly telling me that I shouldn't sign something I didn't agree to. Of course there are circumstances where give in under duress.
Have a warm and pleasant day. 

I was curious as to the wife and child aspect as well.

Not sure how relevant it was, or not, as the case may be.

Nothing "clever" or "smug" about asking.