Online check-in

[smallblackstars]

I am trying to do online check-in but when it comes to giving charge card details it will not allow me to select the Visa card already linked to MDE and when I try to add a new card the address section will not change to UK format This results in it constantly asking me for a state and zip code even though I have selected UK in the drop down. It is REALLY annoying me!! Has anyone else encountered this problem? Any ideas of anything I am doing wrong?

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't know, but I'm curious why/how you have a Visa card linked to MDE? What was that for?

 

[Nicnic]

I have checked in online but did not provide my CC details as I have not received my new card yet. I do have another card on MDE that I used to book the dessert party with but it was not linked to anything else.
If it comes before we go, I will try add it, if not I will just do it at the hotel.
Will the system let you continue with no card?

The card being linked to MDE is for room charges. Saves doing it when you check in at the hotel by doing it now.

 

[2Tiggies]

You can try it and see if it will let you do it without a card. i've never bothered with resort OLCI so I don't know. I don't like a card attached to my room and prefer to pay for things my own way so I honestly can't help any more than that. There is an option at the front desk to add a card or not to - so there may well be a similar option with the online system

 

[smallblackstars]

The card was the one we used to pay off our package. The reason I want to link it is that I heard at POFQ the laundry machines only take a CC or a KTTW card, they no longer take coins and being there for 3 weeks there is no way we can go without doing laundry and I also do not want to be carrying CCs about so linking it to the KTTW card for charging is much easier. I have completed the check-in, just with no card linked but it took me a few attempts. I will just add the card when we arrive.

This is the screen I get..

 

[edinburghlass]

The laundry room at POFQ will only take a credit card and not your KTTW card even if you have a CC linked to it.

Have you time to apply for a Post Office card, real time exchange rate and usually you get cash back from Quidco or TCB?

 

[chmurf]

I don't know, but I'm curious why/how you have a Visa card linked to MDE? What was that for?

room charge (you even have to add a pin code to secure your card during OLCI)

but one of the perks I found invaluable is to have that card already registered in MDE when I booked my ADRs

with many restaurants requesting a CC guarantee, you just need to tick the checkbox next to your CC instead of having to enter the same number all over again each time (when you do +10 ADRs it can be a real pain)

My CC was linked by the CM when I needed my first CC guarantee 180 days out (I phoned, so maybe that's why my CC was linked without the foreign adress issue)

 

[smallblackstars]

The laundry room at POFQ will only take a credit card and not your KTTW card even if you have a CC linked to it.

Have you time to apply for a Post Office card, real time exchange rate and usually you get cash back from Quidco or TCB?

We have Visa debit cards, will those work? We really do not want to start taking out credit cards. I stress enough about our £100 overdraft! We had a major fraud on the last credit card we had (about 5 years ago) and I just never want to have one again.

 

[2Tiggies]

We have Visa debit cards, will those work? We really do not want to start taking out credit cards. I stress enough about our £100 overdraft! We had a major fraud on the last credit card we had (about 5 years ago) and I just never want to have one again.

Eek I would not put a debit card as security for charging on a room. The 'hold' process works very differently to a credit card. Of course many folk choose not to have c/cards and perhaps you could rather pay cash into your room card at check in. You can opt to do this but obviously have to wait until you are there.

 

[Sencybil]

I am also having problems with the credit card part of the on line check in - although not the same problems you are having.

When I first checked in over a week ago it was fine. But then I tried to make a change and it wont accept anything now, I just keep getting Goofy and a message saying sorry we are unable to complete your check in at this time.

There is a tech support number that I spoke to on another matter, and I mentioned the cc issue. They said it all looked fine, and any amendments we could do when we got there, so I didn't push for a resolution. You can ring the UK reservations number, press 2 for an existing reservation, and ask them to put you through to tech support. I think they're only there from 9am EST though, so ring mid to late afternoon. Sorry, they did give me the direct dial number but I didn't keep it. They were very nice, and they did fix the other problem I had.

HTH

Sencybil x

 

[edinburghlass]

We have Visa debit cards, will those work? We really do not want to start taking out credit cards. I stress enough about our £100 overdraft! We had a major fraud on the last credit card we had (about 5 years ago) and I just never want to have one again.

If you decide to use your debit card in USA, let the bank know especially as the laundry is $2 a machine and this is likely to flag up to the bank as your card being used for fraud (fraudsters test a card with a small amount) and you could come home to your card being blocked.

You can get a prepaid card from the PO, minimum load is £50, keep a note of how much you have spent as you go then use the remaining balance on shopping just before you leave.

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card

 

[chmurf]

We have Visa debit cards, will those work?

DW and I both have Debit Gold Mastercards. We don't do Credit Cards the the "credit" part (even though here in france all debit and credit are referred to as "Credit Cards" and it's always puzzling for a first timer to be asked wether debit or credit at a store in the US ...)

We've always used our debit cards, (Visa before we switched banks, and Mastercard) to cover for room charges without any issue

only issue we had in the US (crossing fingers here ) was at walmart on 535 where the card just wouldn't be accepted.

But there are a few things you need to be aware of.
There will be holds on your card for everything that's not prepaid (car rental if not prepaid, hotels if not fully prepaid for, and so on)
If you go debit card only you will probably need to ask your bank to raise your spending limit, as the hold eats into that limit.
We have 2 cards with a £8000 monthly limit on each, so I guess it helps, but if you have a low spending limit and have recently made lots of purchases (like booked a flight) you might fall short

also, PP's advice about warning the bank is paramount.
You MUST call your bank at least 72hrs before departure and tell them to make a note in your file that you'll be in the US and using you debit card in the US, and give them the dates you'll be across the pond.

If you don't do that, the bank might block your card as a security measure against what they could consider as a fraud attempt.

 

[2Tiggies]

Chmurf has given some great advice.

Here's a suggestion:

To avoid a hold being placed on your main spending card, perhaps you could get two prepaid cards. Use one to put down against the hotel room for spends and use the other one for access to holiday cash for other things. Not sure if this would work - never tried it, but maybe it would be a solution.