Alamo payment question

[NeedaVacation03]

We want to pay cash for our rental car. Does anyone know the best way to handle this? My husband has a company Visa and we have a Visa logo Debit card. We do not have a personal Visa or MC, any suggestions?

 

[rayjess]

I always use a Visa debit card with Alamo. The only thing they ask for when using a debit card is your airline boarding passes or something with your roundtrip air info. I think their website should tell you the same thing.
As for paying cash, it also tells on the website.

This is directly from their website:

When renting in the U.S., debit and check cards may only be used in conjunction with proof of a round trip travel ticket (airline, cruise ship or train) at time of rental.


Cash Rentals


Customers must meet Alamo's requirements for renting a vehicle without a credit card.

Only Economy through full-size vehicles can be rented with cash.

No Additional Drivers are allowed on Cash Rentals.


All cash rentals, including prepayments, vouchers, and the like will require a deposit of $300 per rental, in addition to the pre-calculated rental charges.

When the rental vehicle is returned in accordance with the rental terms and conditions, the cash deposit will be refunded upon return of the vehicle, and in some instances, the refund will be mailed to the customer following the return of the rental vehicle.

Please see below for requirements:

A valid driver's license
At least 25 years of age, or for select corporate contracts and international tour accounts, the minimum age is 21(please see Age Requirements) for details.
Phone Bill or Utility bill in the renter's name that is not a cellular phone bill and can be verified through directory assistance, or a recent monthly statement that does not show past due status.
The address on bill must match address in renter's profile.
A return ticket from an airline, cruise or train
Verifiable phone number in the name of the renter
Verifiable employment
Ability to make a cash deposit in addition to the cost of the rental
A valid Passport
Advance reservation required for International Residents. Reservation through Alamo-recognized international source of business is required, no direct reservations or walkups permitted.


Hope that helps.

 

[juligrl]

I worked in car rental so I can say the best advice is to phone the branch in advance to let them know you have a reservation for which you would like to pay in cash. There are multiple steps to "cash qualify" and if time is important to you, you'll want to have as much worked out in advance as you can. You'd hate to show up to rent your car only to find out that you don't qualify to rent with cash. Cost of the rental and a deposit will probably be up front payments.

Don't forget to check on your insurance coverages and the rental car company's coverages. If you need them, there will be additional cost and you don't want them sprung on you at the last minute.

Good luck!

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Thank you. I am going to go with the debit card since that seems easier. I guess I didn't realize that I could use the debit card without adding in a deposit. Thanks again.

 

[CarolA]

Here is another idea, put the car on DH's credit card on pick up and then change to cash on return. I have never seen them refuse cash on the back end and it keeps them OUT of your checking account until you have a total.... (I am paranoid about this I know, but I don't want folks able to access my CASH LOL!)

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I haven't rented a car in years (many years) and wasn't sure how that would work. When I return the car to MCO do I just drop it off or do I check out?If I checkout then that would work, which would be great. I just wasn't sure that I could actually checkout. Please let me know how the return works, it has been a long time.

 

[CarolA]

I haven't rented a car in years (many years) and wasn't sure how that would work. When I return the car to MCO do I just drop it off or do I check out?If I checkout then that would work, which would be great. I just wasn't sure that I could actually checkout. Please let me know how the return works, it has been a long time.[/QUOTE

When you get to MCO they will start to check you out. Tell them to stop, that you want to change the payment method. They will then send you inside to do this. Give yourself lots of extra time./.

 

[juligrl]

Be careful about the debit card though. At the car rental agency I worked at and most others in the industry, debit cards were treated like cash. Although you won't be chargen on your card, they will have to run an authorization on the card for the total of rental and deposit (just like if you were paying with cash).

Personally, I would secure the rental with the business credit card instead of your debit card, then when checking in the rental tell them you'd like to pay with cash or use the debit. No problem at that point.

Hope this helps!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i have used debit with alamo, they charge you when you leave with the car, they do not wait until you return so how can you change the payment method? Why would any company wait until you return the car, what if there are no funds available on the debit card when the person returned.

 

[juligrl]

Again, the company I worked for may be different, but at return of the rental the car would be inspected for damages and fuel replacement. If everything was satisfactory, customer would settle up the bill in the manner of their choosing and be on their way.

With debit card an authorization would be run on the card (at vehicle pick up) to see if funds were available beyond the actual rental cost (cost + deposit). While the charge would only be for the rental cost, the authorization would be higher. If just using cc then there was no additional deposit required.

Sorry if I was unclear.

 

[CarolA]

i have used debit with alamo, they charge you when you leave with the car, they do not wait until you return so how can you change the payment method? Why would any company wait until you return the car, what if there are no funds available on the debit card when the person returned.

Having done this, what they do when you rent the car is "Hold" the account. Basically they put a hold on $X of credit of your account, but the actual charge is not done until you return.. At that point, they process the charge. That allows them to add in anything like fuel. So if you give them your debit card they basically tell the bank they have "dibs" on $X in your account. That money is then not accessible by you to spend at Disney (or whereever)

If you go in to change the payment method they "cancel' the hold on method one and put the payment itself on method two. The biggest problem is that you normally have to do this at the desk and it can take a while. (I had to do it a few months ago when I lost my corporate CC. I put the rental car on my personal card and then transferred it over when I returned the car as Diners Club had overnighted me a new card)

That is actually the reason I don't like using my Debit card for this. I have had banks and/or merchants make misstakes so my credit card has a hold and a charge for the amounts. For example, I checked into the Holiday Inn in Brookline and they held the account for $400. WHen I checked out they screwed up and somehow processed a new charge. So until the hold expired (or the HI cancelled it) they had both the $400 hold and the $400 charge or $800 tied up. That's no biggie on my CC, but might be on my bank account!!!!