Im not sure I want a credit card but..

cranezoe

I want to rent a car when I go on holiday in Italy (hopefully!). I cant seem to find an easy way of renting a car without having a credit card to give as a deposit.
I've never had a credit card before and neither has my husband. to be honest we dont know much about them - we've always got by on debit cards with no problems.
Would it be a good idea to get a credit card for using on holiday for the car hire? is it ok to use a credit card for this and then never use it again? or should we really be thinking about having one...?

confused!

davetrousers

Get yourself a Nationwide Credit card for foreign use. I have a Nationwide card and only use it abroad.

[Deleted User]

My credit card is set to direct debt the entire balance each month.... i see it as a 'months delayed payment' card.

Don't be scared.. they're useful and help protect you when buying online.. just don't use them to borrow money and you'll be fine

Lorian

There is always the goldfish card with £41 back through quidco. Pretty good for a one-off use I'd say.

cranezoe

oooh a "months delayed payent card" doesnt sound at all scary! I didnt even think of setting a direct debit to do that - great!
I already have a nationwide visa debit card, I guess it would be quite straightforward to get a credit card?

lisyloo

Just get one and close it down afterwards if you like.

The problem with not having one is that the hire car company will want loads of ID and a cash deposit of something like £500.
With a credit card they just "reserve" the money.
99.9% of the time it never gets taken but it's enough security for them.

You really don't want to be carrying around loads of cash.

Get a Narionwide card as they charge 0% commission on the currency exchange.

Italy is a very bad place for petty theft.
Be very careful with luggage, wallets and watch out for con men.
We got picked up at the airport once by a hire car company.
My husband very carefully placed our luggage in the van himself as he is a keen photographer and had expensive cameras.
Other passengers were chatting and had their luaggage loaded by a man in a suit.
He was nothing to do with the company and nicked their luggage and drove off (passports, cash and all) but because he was wearing the right colour suit it worked.
Also be careful in hotel foyers.
Either carry your luggage yourself or make sure the porter really is a porter and not some guy dressed like one who will jsut walk out with your case.
These people are really very clever and totally confident.
Look anyone suspicious in the eye.
A normal person will get annoyed about your eye contact.
A conman will ignore you but at least they will know you are watching them.

cranezoe

hi. thanks for your replies. my husband successfully applied for a nationwide credit card and we have set it up so that we can do a direct debit to pay it off in full every month if we use it.