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Credit card / Travel / Section 75 / advice needed.
bob69
Posts: 45 Forumite
in Credit cards
Hi, We have recently booked flights for a family holiday to Cyprus in late July, using a Visa debit card & paying in full. I am currently in the process of applying for a Credit Card, as I believe the majority of Car Hire firms in Cyprus will require a Credit Card (not a debit card), in my name, & as such I have been 100% pre-approved for 3 or 4 after using the MSE calculator tool. I think the Virgin Money card has the best criteria for what I need, ( a decent 0% period on purchases, & the lowest APR afterwards).
My question(s) relate to section 75, & where best to use it. In addition to the car hire, I was wondering if I were to also pay for an extra item of luggage on the flight, (with TUI), using the credit card, does this then mean the whole flight would be covered under section 75? (Bearing in mind that TUI have already changed both of the flight times to slightly less favourable times already, only a few weeks after booking it).
With regards to the car hire, what exactly are the advantages of paying in advance with a credit card? Would this mean that if for whatever reason we were unable to travel, I would be able to reclaim the full amount? I estimate we are looking at around £500-600 for 2 weeks car hire, with full insurance, including excess cover. If I were to pay the full amount for the car hire on the credit card, as I understand it, I would have the 14-16 months 0% period on a new card to pay this off in full, is that correct? Or would I need to pay the minimum monthly amount on the card after the car hire payment has gone through?
Our accomodation is free cancellation until early July, & I have a Monzo Card available to pay for this in full without any foreign exchange fees. Would there be an exchange fee for the Car Hire if I were to use a UK based Virgin Money Credit Card?
Thanks in advance for any replies, & apologies if this comes across as a bit long-winded. I'd just like to be armed with a few facts / do's & don'ts before making my next move..
My question(s) relate to section 75, & where best to use it. In addition to the car hire, I was wondering if I were to also pay for an extra item of luggage on the flight, (with TUI), using the credit card, does this then mean the whole flight would be covered under section 75? (Bearing in mind that TUI have already changed both of the flight times to slightly less favourable times already, only a few weeks after booking it).
With regards to the car hire, what exactly are the advantages of paying in advance with a credit card? Would this mean that if for whatever reason we were unable to travel, I would be able to reclaim the full amount? I estimate we are looking at around £500-600 for 2 weeks car hire, with full insurance, including excess cover. If I were to pay the full amount for the car hire on the credit card, as I understand it, I would have the 14-16 months 0% period on a new card to pay this off in full, is that correct? Or would I need to pay the minimum monthly amount on the card after the car hire payment has gone through?
Our accomodation is free cancellation until early July, & I have a Monzo Card available to pay for this in full without any foreign exchange fees. Would there be an exchange fee for the Car Hire if I were to use a UK based Virgin Money Credit Card?
Thanks in advance for any replies, & apologies if this comes across as a bit long-winded. I'd just like to be armed with a few facts / do's & don'ts before making my next move..
If you're not living on the edge, you'll take up too much room.
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Comments
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S75 gives you the same rights as against the retailer.
If you cant' travel, s75 won't help unless it's the airlines fault. And booking luggage would only help if they didn't take your luggage. If doesn't provide any sort of flight insurance. TUI changing your flight times has no bearing in your luggage booking.
You always need to make at least min payment on any credit card.
The Virgin card doesn't offer free forex.
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bob69 said:My question(s) relate to section 75, & where best to use it. In addition to the car hire, I was wondering if I were to also pay for an extra item of luggage on the flight, (with TUI), using the credit card, does this then mean the whole flight would be covered under section 75? (Bearing in mind that TUI have already changed both of the flight times to slightly less favourable times already, only a few weeks after booking it).bob69 said:
With regards to the car hire, what exactly are the advantages of paying in advance with a credit card? Would this mean that if for whatever reason we were unable to travel, I would be able to reclaim the full amount? I estimate we are looking at around £500-600 for 2 weeks car hire, with full insurance, including excess cover. If I were to pay the full amount for the car hire on the credit card, as I understand it, I would have the 14-16 months 0% period on a new card to pay this off in full, is that correct? Or would I need to pay the minimum monthly amount on the card after the car hire payment has gone through?
S75 doesn't give you any extra cancellations rights.
One you get your first credit card statement you must pay the minimum balance each month
Let's Be Careful Out There1 -
>With regards to the car hire, what exactly are the advantages of paying in advance with a credit card? Would this mean that if for whatever reason we were unable to travel, I would be able to reclaim the full amount?<
Only if you turned up & it was not available. (chargeback) If you can not go then there is no cover.
S75 is not insurance. It is not a replacement for travel insurance.Life in the slow lane2 -
HillStreetBlues said:bob69 said:My question(s) relate to section 75, & where best to use it. In addition to the car hire, I was wondering if I were to also pay for an extra item of luggage on the flight, (with TUI), using the credit card, does this then mean the whole flight would be covered under section 75? (Bearing in mind that TUI have already changed both of the flight times to slightly less favourable times already, only a few weeks after booking it).I will also be booking holiday insurance in the very near future, are there any extra S75 benefits in using the credit card to buy this? I appreciate any reply. As you may have guessed, the use of credit cards is way outside my sphere of knowledge. I did look online for some of these answers, but managed to receive some conflicting information which left me none the wiser.If you're not living on the edge, you'll take up too much room.0
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Section 75 protection only applies to items priced at over £100, so buying hold luggage and seat reservations over and above flight tickets, especially in separate transactions, is unlikely to qualify IMHO....2
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bob69 said:HillStreetBlues said:bob69 said:My question(s) relate to section 75, & where best to use it. In addition to the car hire, I was wondering if I were to also pay for an extra item of luggage on the flight, (with TUI), using the credit card, does this then mean the whole flight would be covered under section 75? (Bearing in mind that TUI have already changed both of the flight times to slightly less favourable times already, only a few weeks after booking it).I will also be booking holiday insurance in the very near future, are there any extra S75 benefits in using the credit card to buy this? I appreciate any reply. As you may have guessed, the use of credit cards is way outside my sphere of knowledge. I did look online for some of these answers, but managed to receive some conflicting information which left me none the wiser.
Don't delay this any more take out insurance now, you should really have done it immediately after booking the holiday.1 -
Get a credit card that has 0% exchange fees.
Get travel insurance immediately.
I have an annual multi trip policy costing £24 a year1 -
bob69 said:
With regards to the car hire, what exactly are the advantages of paying in advance with a credit card? Would this mean that if for whatever reason we were unable to travel, I would be able to reclaim the full amount?The reason that car hire firms like you pay by credit card is so that if there is any damage to the car when you return it, they can charge that directly to your credit card, they don't have to argue the toss with you there and then, and try to get you to pay up immediately. So it's largely for their benefit.S75 only gives you protection if the supplier breaks the terms of their contract. If you are unable to travel (due to sickness or whatever) but the car is available as agreed, then it's tough - they've upheld their end of the contract, so you would forfeit any advance payment you'd made.Remember, S75 can be a useful added protection. But it only comes into play if (a) the supplier has not upheld their side of the contract and (b) they refuse to refund you themselves. It's crucial to understand that is absolutely is not a replacement for proper travel insurance. You really should take out insurance at the time you book the holiday - apart from anything else, it means that you can at least claim from your insurance if you (or one of your party) cannot go on the holiday due to illness.bob69 said:I will also be booking holiday insurance in the very near future, are there any extra S75 benefits in using the credit card to buy this?I guess there may be a benefit if you earn points/cashback/whatever on your credit card, or if it's got a 0% rate for purchases, meaning you can spread the cost. But even then, the cost of insurance is usually pretty insignificant in relation to the overall cost of a holiday.
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S75 is not a substitute for travel insurance.0
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eskbanker said:Section 75 protection only applies to items priced at over £100, so buying hold luggage and seat reservations over and above flight tickets, especially in separate transactions, is unlikely to qualify IMHO....
When Monarch went bust I had 2 single flights tickets, 2 luggage 2 seat reservations, No single item cost more than £100 but able to claim S75 as the "item" was everything to do with that trip (flights, luggage & seats)
When adding seats (with the airlines I use)
You don't get billed for adding seats (eg: get an invoice for the seats) what it does is recalculate the cost of the whole trip with those seats now included.
Let's Be Careful Out There0
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