Debit Card w/ Mastercard Logo for Car Rental?

[safetymom]

I just returned from another trip using my debit card at Hertz. It needs to be in your #1 profile or they won't take it. Mine is so I had no problems. Mine says check card on it also with the Visa logo but I didn't have any problems.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by kilee
We had a recent expierence with this and were told that both Alamo and National recently changed their policies regarding this. It was only in the past few months that they stopped accepting the visa/mastercard debit cards. Now their policy states they will still accept it with a roundtrip train, airline, or cruise ticket. We went to get our car--- after doing this numerous times-- and we were told no. The rental fee was less than $300.00 and there was a very large sum in our checking at the time, meaning they could of took any size deposit. We then went through each rental place at the airport-- no dice-- not a single one would let us. I need to mention we were trying to rent from by our house to drive to Florida (we didn't want the miles on our cars). The companies that denied our visa debit card were: Alamo, National, BUDGET, Hertz, Dollar, and Avis. Not a one would take. (We also didn't have airline tickets). We do not hold any credit cards (great we have no debt, terrible in times like renting a car). Anyhow, we ended up having my MIL come rent a car in her name and put DH and I on as extra drivers. Luckily I found a code on Mousesavers that gave us the additional drivers for free. So that was my expierence in 2/03 trying to use a visa debit card. I will also note that our card says right on it--- checking account card( in small letters)-- but looks like a visa in every other way-- with the visa symbol and is accepted in all other "visa" situations-- and had been accepted in the past.

From the Alamo website:

Debit Cards are not currently accepted at following locations:

Latin America locations

Caribbean locations

Hartford, Connecticut

Manhattan, NY

Cambridge, MA

Fairbanks, AK

Maybe this is why you encountered a problem?

 

[kilee]

I live and attmepted to rent out of Buffalo NY-- about an 8 hour drive from Manhatten--- so definetly not the problem.

However, they are not all the same. Around here there are 5 different Budget locations. Each owned independently, each with different rules too. This can lead to some confusion. We found this out after renting an internet rate at a Budget about 18 months ago and we were told, even though my reservation went through, they weren't going to honor the internet rate. They said this was a problem they were having and were working on. They then told me that they were privately owned as were the other ones in the area.

As for it being there policy for 5 years with Alamo and National--- We rent cars (we don't usually fly) from the Buffalo airport an average of 4-5 times a year. I have had the same debit/visa card for many years. We never had a problem until 2/03. This is when they told us they just changed their policy. We had just rented 4 months previous to that. Same card-- same company (and 2 more times previous to that in 2002).

Also, not all debit/visa cards are the same. Each bank decides on the appearance of the card so while "X" bank may put check cashing card on theirs. "y" bank may not. This may play a role in the card going through as well.

In my opinion, if an ATM/Visa(mastercard) is the only card you will have. Then I would call several times to the location you are picking up at and ask the question, to be on the safe side.