Premier Inn won't accept credit or debit cards not valid at check in date

Dawnv789

Went to pay for a room with Premier Inn for July next year, but found that all 3 of my credit cards and debit cards have an expiry date of January and February next year. They won't accept any of them as they are not valid at the check in date. This means I will have to order a new credit card just to book my room, cancel one so they send me a new card with a longer expiry date, or wait for 3 months until I get my new cards to book a room, and miss out on the discounted rate of early booking. Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

la531983

Seems a bit odd. Are you booking them to pay the full balance now or on check in?

DullGreyGuy

Dawnv789 said:

Went to pay for a room with Premier Inn for July next year, but found that all 3 of my credit cards and debit cards have an expiry date of January and February next year. They won't accept any of them as they are not valid at the check in date. This means I will have to order a new credit card just to book my room, cancel one so they send me a new card with a longer expiry date, or wait for 3 months until I get my new cards to book a room, and miss out on the discounted rate of early booking. Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

Guessing this isn't a pre-paid room but a flexible?

To me it makes perfect sense, with a flexible rate you dont pay anything up front, they just keep the number on file and you ultimately pay when you check out. The problem they have with you is that your card won't be valid at that point, which isn't a problem if you do turn up, but if you reneged on the booking and were just a no show they'd have no way to bill you for the money hence they want a card that will be in valid on the day.

I would imagine if you dont want to faff of getting a replacement card that you could do prepay and then it won't matter but you lose your cancellation rights etc

born_again

Dawnv789 said:

Went to pay for a room with Premier Inn for July next year, but found that all 3 of my credit cards and debit cards have an expiry date of January and February next year. They won't accept any of them as they are not valid at the check in date. This means I will have to order a new credit card just to book my room, cancel one so they send me a new card with a longer expiry date, or wait for 3 months until I get my new cards to book a room, and miss out on the discounted rate of early booking. Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

A word of warning. Do not just do it online, as not all cards get replaced with a longer date. Some just get replaced with the same expiry date.
So best ring up & ask if that is the case.

Anyone else in the household with a card with a long enough expiry to do it for you?

etienneg

Why not just get another credit card, preferably so you have Mastercard and Visa? That way you will not experience this difficulty again and will be immune to any network outage.

Consider other possibilities whilst you're at it (such as cashback, free foreign use, etc.) and so kill two birds with one stone. Just make sure you use it at least occasionally (say 2 or 3 times a year) to keep the DD active and prevent it being closed for inactivity.

Dawnv789

DullGreyGuy said:

Dawnv789 said:

Went to pay for a room with Premier Inn for July next year, but found that all 3 of my credit cards and debit cards have an expiry date of January and February next year. They won't accept any of them as they are not valid at the check in date. This means I will have to order a new credit card just to book my room, cancel one so they send me a new card with a longer expiry date, or wait for 3 months until I get my new cards to book a room, and miss out on the discounted rate of early booking. Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

Guessing this isn't a pre-paid room but a flexible?

To me it makes perfect sense, with a flexible rate you dont pay anything up front, they just keep the number on file and you ultimately pay when you check out. The problem they have with you is that your card won't be valid at that point, which isn't a problem if you do turn up, but if you reneged on the booking and were just a no show they'd have no way to bill you for the money hence they want a card that will be in valid on the day.

I would imagine if you dont want to faff of getting a replacement card that you could do prepay and then it won't matter but you lose your cancellation rights etc

It was an Advance rate paid in full, where you have the option to cancel up to 28 days before your stay. If I wanted to cancel they could just get you to register a valid card. It would be at the customer's loss if they didn't, not Premier Inns. 

Dawnv789

la531983 said:

Seems a bit odd. Are you booking them to pay the full balance now or on check in?

Advance rate paid in full.

eDicky

Dawnv789 said:

 Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

Dawnv789 said:

If I wanted to cancel they could just get you to register a valid card. It would be at the customer's loss if they didn't, not Premier Inns. 

Registering a new card has no purpose when refunds are payable only to the card that was used for payment, which is the norm.

born_again

Dawnv789 said:

la531983 said:

Seems a bit odd. Are you booking them to pay the full balance now or on check in?

Advance rate paid in full.

There is also the issue that any damages or extra's will be billed on the card. Which is why it needs to be a valid card.

Same as a car hire firm will not take a booking on a card that is going to be expired at time of hire.

Yes, they could ask for new details, but you can guess the trouble they will have with some people.

DullGreyGuy

born_again said:

Dawnv789 said:

la531983 said:

Seems a bit odd. Are you booking them to pay the full balance now or on check in?

Advance rate paid in full.

There is also the issue that any damages or extra's will be billed on the card. Which is why it needs to be a valid card.

Same as a car hire firm will not take a booking on a card that is going to be expired at time of hire.

Yes, they could ask for new details, but you can guess the trouble they will have with some people.

Have to say that each time I've checked into a hotel they've commented that they have a card on file and if I want them to use it or change it. In the rare occasion of using a travel agent then they simply ask for a card to be held at check in.  Given they can already deal with both scenarios it's surprising they cannot deal with a card thats expired for a fully prepaid booking. 

Hoenir

Dawnv789 said:

Went to pay for a room with Premier Inn for July next year, but found that all 3 of my credit cards and debit cards have an expiry date of January and February next year. They won't accept any of them as they are not valid at the check in date. This means I will have to order a new credit card just to book my room, cancel one so they send me a new card with a longer expiry date, or wait for 3 months until I get my new cards to book a room, and miss out on the discounted rate of early booking. Doesn't make sense to me, all they have to do is get you to register your new card at a later date. 

Ring up one of the providers and report the card as lost. You'll then be issued with a new one with an expiry date in the future. Problem solved.