Car Hire

mark_one

OK people need advice

Going on holiday next week staying out in the middle of no place need a car. Looked on the web ordered a car paid using debit card

Now I get confirmation through saying I need to pay a €250 deposit using a credit card in my own name

Anyone with any ideas how I can get round this

I expected to be able to leave cash but I am told it needs to be a credit card

lisyloo

If you have booked a car with a comapny that insists on using credit cards and you don't have one then that was a bit silly.

If you don't have one (and neither does anyone else in the travelling party) then I suggest you cancel.
If you weren't told you needed a credit card up front then you should expect a fee-free refund.
If they told you and you didn't bother to read the terms and conditions then tough, you might have to pay admin fees.

Then book with a company that will allow you to hire a car without a credit card.
Expect to have to show passport for ID and leave a hefty cash deposit.

mark_one

I am wondering if I present a prepaid mastercard how will the car hire company know its not a normal card

I used a broker to hire the car

lisyloo

I am wondering if I present a prepaid mastercard how will the car hire company know its not a normal card

What they want to do is put a "reservation" on your credit card.
Hotels do this before booking in case you don't show up then the money is already "reserved". They also do it when you arrive in case you leave without paying or damage the room.
Car hire companies want to do it for the insurance excess or any extra charges (like petrol).

I'm not sure how the reservation system works on prepaid cards.
I would imagine that if you have a sufficient balance it's OK.
On a noraml credit card you would only need suffiicient credit limit.

Not being funny, but why aren't you asking your broker these questions?
They got you into this.

Tozer

I think you would be very lucky to find any hotel or credit card company that would not want to see a credit card and to put a reservation on the deposit. I couldn't think of travelling without a credit card.

lisyloo

I did find one recently.
It may have been Avis or Budget.
But they did want passport for id and a large cash deposit (about £600).