Alicante Car Hire - check your Credit Card works!

bluesaintdave

Just back from Spain with my extended family.

At Centauro Car Rental in Alicante Airport terminal we had 3 separate bookings and we all have hire car excess (from MSE recommendation) and therefore declined the comprehensive insurance policies.

One of the guys provided his credit card to cover the €1400 block that was required, but as he hadn't used his card for a while, his card was declined. He had his wife's card but as she wasn't the main driver Centauro couldn't accept it.  The only option available was to cancel the original booking and make a new booking there and then, paying by debit card and taking Centauro's insurance.

He was unable to reclaim the payment for the original booking as "Free Cancellation" ends prior to collection in most cases.
The new rental cost €322. 

I'd urge anyone picking up a car in Alicante to take their credit card to an ATM and check that a) you can remember your PIN - banking apps didn't want to open in the terminal and
b) that your card hasn't been blocked by the issuer due to lack of use.

Westin

Or travel with more than one credit card.

jimi_man

Whilst I sympathise with the OP, this actually has nothing to do with the thread title - eg, it's not the fault of Alicante Car Hire/Centauro. I've been hiring cars for nearly 40 years and every single time a working credit card has been required. 

Only because at the moment, it reads that the car hire firm are being petty/awkward or whatever when the reality is they are acting perfectly normally and reasonably.

I suppose the final paragraph should read 'I'd urge anyone using a credit card for anything, to make sure that it works'.

OP - good advice above, I have a couple of credit cards that I only use for travel and I alternate them to make sure that they get used regularly.