Freezing of Credit Cards

[tonijo]

Hi, I have just become aware of car hire companies and Hotels freezing peoples cc for up to 30 days and wonder if anyone else has experienced this or have tips on how to avoid this!apparently it has nothing to do with the CC Companies themselves?

 

[MrRomance]

Hi, I have just become aware of car hire companies and Hotels freezing peoples cc for up to 30 days and wonder if anyone else has experienced this or have tips on how to avoid this!apparently it has nothing to do with the CC Companies themselves?

I'm not sure what you mean by "freezing" the cards. Hotels and Car Hire places will often authorize a set amount on the card for charging privileges or as a deposit, but once the car is returned or the bill has been paid they take the authorisation off which can take a few days.

 

[edinburghlass]

It's always wise to let your card issuer know that you are going abroad or the company may think there is fraud on your account and they will put a stop on.

 

[2Tiggies]

It's always wise to let your card issuer know that you are going abroad or the company may think there is fraud on your account and they will put a stop on.

Yes, yes and yes!!! Some banks don't seem to worry, but others are real sticklers. I had a problem with this (not car hire related, but because I'd made a transaction in US$). I had actually gone into the bank to advise them and sat while they put the notes on my accounts. Only trouble was, the 'notes' apparently didn't go through. Imagine my horror when we returned from nearly 3 weeks in Florida, merrily charging purchases and services to my card only to learn that they had blocked it for fraud on day one Nightmare is probably an apt description of what I had too sort out on my return!

With hotels/car hire etc where they place a hold on the card it is usually for a set amount so make sure you have enough credit available on the card in the first instance. It probably won't hurt any to contact the hotel/car hire company and ask what their procedure is and likewise with the bank.

 

[lolainkent]

It's always wise to let your card issuer know that you are going abroad or the company may think there is fraud on your account and they will put a stop on.

Yup! We always call HSBC and Halifax when we go abroad. I went to the continent in May and they marked every country I was going to be in and during which week.

I didn't do this once when I was 20 and traveling solo in Greece, and had my card blocked after a couple purchases while trying to buy a one-way plane ticket. My bank card was from Canada so sorting that out while on a remote island was not fun!

 

[starrysky]

Yup! We always call HSBC and Halifax when we go abroad. I went to the continent in May and they marked every country I was going to be in and during which week.

I didn't do this once when I was 20 and traveling solo in Greece, and had my card blocked after a couple purchases while trying to buy a one-way plane ticket. My bank card was from Canada so sorting that out while on a remote island was not fun!

Yes I do the same call and let them know I'm going abroad after I forgot one year and they stopped my card. So now I always make sure to call them and have it noted.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi, I have just become aware of car hire companies and Hotels freezing peoples cc for up to 30 days and wonder if anyone else has experienced this or have tips on how to avoid this!apparently it has nothing to do with the CC Companies themselves?

If you are talking about what the person posted in 'that FB group' yesterday, since she was posting on behalf of a friend, I usually take those kind of postings with a pinch of salt. It is very rare that they have got the whole story. There wasn't much in the way of facts, only that that she "had her cards frozen for 10-30 days by the carhire company and also the hotel". The only thing I'm aware of is that they will 'take a deposit', meaning that amount is deducted from your available credit. That is standard practice, though, and nothing out of the ordinary. I am not sure that a car hire company or hotel has the authority to 'freeze' a credit card completely - only the CC company can do that.

As others have said, it's always a good idea to let the CC company know you will be using the card abroad and, even if it is 'frozen. a quick call to them to explain the 'unusual' transactions can easily resolve the situation.

 

[scoobydooby]

Sounds more like the car hire 'hold' had taken the person over their CC limit maybe?

 

[tonijo]

Thanks everyone for the advice