Rental Car cc/debit card help please-urgent

[msdis]

Long story but was just told by DS that she only has a Master Card debit card. Avis says they cannot accept debit cards. She says it does not say debit or check card anywhere's on it, just Master Card. Not sure how they would know the difference. We leave in less than a week and may not be able to go if we do not get a solution. Any help or ideas greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[poohbear2]

I used a regular visa card to hold the car(I have one for emergency purposes) and then switched cards on the day I returned the car. So I ended up paying with my debit card.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by msdis
Long story but was just told by DS that she only has a Master Card debit card. Avis says they cannot accept debit cards. She says it does not say debit or check card anywhere's on it, just Master Card. Not sure how they would know the difference. We leave in less than a week and may not be able to go if we do not get a solution. Any help or ideas greatly appreciated. TIA

The way it is coded by some banks. Also, most have the checking account number below the name. That is a dead give away.
Try a company that accepts them.
Alamo, Budget, and Dollar come to mind.
Safety Mom also says Hertz accepts them also.

 

[safetymom]

Hertz accepts them if they are in your profile. You can't just show up and use one.

 

[beattyfamily]

I would call Avis and be sure.

My BIL only has a debit Visa card and used it with Avis about 2 weeks ago BUT he booked the Avis car through Travelocity so I don't know if that made any difference.

I can't remember if he called them before he left or did when he arrived but I think he called and they said no problem but they took a cash deposit which was later returned.

So it is possible with Avis. Call them!

 

[CarolA]

Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't? I have seen several cases where people were turned away with Debit cards, atl least once from Hertz and once from Budget. In all the cases the renter indicated that they had used them in the past. I don't know what the trick is, but.....if they say they won't accept them I don't know that I would risk it.

The other thing you might want to find out is do they put a "Hold" on your bank account. Technically the rental car companies can put a hold on your credit card for the amount of the rental plus some extra. Lots of them don't, but if they did on the checking then that money would be unavailable.

 

[safetymom]

As I stated before at Hertz it has to be in your profile. This would be #! Express or #1 Gold. You can't just show up and use your debit card. I do this all the time with no problem. I have 3 different debit cards on my account and used them all with no problem.

Also they do put a hold on your card at pickup. It is for the amount of the rental and an additional day. That doesn't bother me because then I know the money will be there when I go to return the car.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by CarolA
Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't? I have seen several cases where people were turned away with Debit cards, atl least once from Hertz and once from Budget. In all the cases the renter indicated that they had used them in the past. I don't know what the trick is, but.....if they say they won't accept them I don't know that I would risk it.

The other thing you might want to find out is do they put a "Hold" on your bank account. Technically the rental car companies can put a hold on your credit card for the amount of the rental plus some extra. Lots of them don't, but if they did on the checking then that money would be unavailable.

At Budget they may have been turned away because the price of the rental exceeded their allowable amount for the day. Budget puts a hold of 200.00 or 25% (whichever is greater) plus the rental at the time of rental.
Not sure about Hertz, that is Safety Mom's area.

 

[seashoreCM]

Credit cards are much better for car rentals than debit cards.

Using a debit card for a car rental, even if accepted, is asking for trouble.

Car rentals and hotel stays fall into the category of transactions that are "open ended". This means they can add more charges later. This means they can put a hold on funds. You do not want to do open ended transactions with debit cards because a mistake on the rental agent's part can tie up so much money that your checks bounce. Also, if disputed charges were made, you are out the money until the dispute is resolved.

As far as knowing the difference between a credit card and a debit card, you should have remembered that about your own card. (The accounting systems of some rental agencies can pick up coded information about this from your card, also)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I do not use a debit card unless there is some bonus or rebate or airline miles given to me for doing so.

 

[safetymom]

Sure they can put a hold on your funds. It is up to every renter to know what those charges are before hand. I like knowing that when I return the car it is paid for.

Also I check the charges when picking up and dropping off the car which is another thing that everyone should do when renting even with a credit card.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
"Credit cards are much better for car rentals than debit cards.

Using a debit card for a car rental, even if accepted, is asking for trouble."

I agree with this.

"As far as knowing the difference between a credit card and a debit card, you should have remembered that about your own card. (The accounting systems of some rental agencies can pick up coded information about this from your card, also)"

I don't get this sentence. She was wondering how the agency can tell the difference between a regular CC and a Debit Visa card if there is NO mention on the CC that it's a debit card...many people wonder this.

"I do not use a debit card unless there is some bonus or rebate or airline miles given to me for doing so."

I use my debit card all the time except for vacation for car rentals and resorts, and not on the Internet or for really high priced items...otherwise I use it all the time! I love the convenience and this way I won't jack up my CC! To each his own, I say.

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

I had this problem once too! Alamo excepts debit cards so long as you have proof of a return flight such as your plane tickets. Avis also has an application for those that can only leave a cash deposit. Call Avis and request for a "cash prepayment identification card application". What I did during my last trip was I made a reservation w/ Avis and Alamo. Since Avis was a cheaper rate I went straight to the Avis counter and I was able to use my debit card, although it states they don't allow debit cards they never said a word. Also, my debit card doesn't have my checking account number on it, it has a completely different number on it.

Hope this helps, good luck!

32 days left to WDW

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by GoingtoWDWagain
I had this problem once too! Alamo excepts debit cards so long as you have proof of a return flight such as your plane tickets. Avis also has an application for those that can only leave a cash deposit. Call Avis and request for a "cash prepayment identification card application". What I did during my last trip was I made a reservation w/ Avis and Alamo. Since Avis was a cheaper rate I went straight to the Avis counter and I was able to use my debit card, although it states they don't allow debit cards they never said a word. Also, my debit card doesn't have my checking account number on it, it has a completely different number on it.

Hope this helps, good luck!

32 days left to WDW

Like I said before, different banks code their debit cards differently. I have yet to have a problem with my bank's debit/mc.
I have used it at National without a hitch. Under the credit card number and under my name my checking account does appear. But, different banks to different things.

 

[msdis]

Thanks everyone, the problem has been resolved as Avis says they will allow a hold on a credit card that belongs to someone else. Crisis over I hope.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> As far as knowing the difference... I don't get this sentence.

Sorry. What I meant was,

1. You should remember whether your card is a credit card or a debit card so you can answer if asked.
2. If you don't tell them correctly, the car rental agency or merchant may or may not figure out for themselves whether your card is a debit card or a debit card.
3. If the merchant does figure out it is a debit card it may or may not care. Car rental agencies usually do care and do not accept debit cards.

When using a Credit card for an ordinary purchase or rental, do not give a PIN (number). Otherwise the transaction is processed as a cash advance, you may have to pay a transaction fee, and interest starts building up immediately.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
1. You should remember whether your card is a credit card or a debit card so you can answer if asked.
2. If you don't tell them correctly, the car rental agency or merchant may or may not figure out for themselves whether your card is a debit card or a debit card.
3. If the merchant does figure out it is a debit card it may or may not care. Car rental agencies usually do care and do not accept debit cards.

I see.

I think most people know which kind of card they have when they are shopping/buying something...

When using a Credit card for an ordinary purchase or rental, do not give a PIN (number). Otherwise the transaction is processed as a cash advance, you may have to pay a transaction fee, and interest starts building up immediately.

For many ordinary puchases, I use my Debit Visa Card and DO, indeed, plug in my PIN number. I, of course, don't do this for rental cars as they would never ask me to anyway. But I do enter my PIN at grocery stores, Filene's and Walmart/Target, etc...I've NEVER had a problem and I've NEVER been charged a transaction fee and I've NEVER had any interest charged to my Debit Visa Card for PIN purchases. I've never even heard of that being done.

I have, however, had a problem but the conveniences far outweight the problem I had. The problem I had was with the Disney Store. They rang up my 3 AP's I was buying for $1018 and then told me they needed to void it and start over. Well, my Debit Visa Card was charged both times; they did not void it correctly. It took a month to get the money back for the double charge from the Disney store (but my nice bank gave me the money right away anyway!) AND I ended up having to get a new Debit Visa Card as my bank proceeded with the claim like my Debit Visa card was stolen. That was the ONLY time I had a problem using my Debit Visa Card.

If you are wise and careful, there should be no problems using your Debit Visa Card with or without a PIN except for the fact that some places still do not accept them.

Sorry for the rant but think Debit Visa Cards are GREAT.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
I see.

I think most people know which kind of card they have when they are shopping/buying something...



For many ordinary puchases, I use my Debit Visa Card and DO, indeed, plug in my PIN number. I, of course, don't do this for rental cars as they would never ask me to anyway. But I do enter my PIN at grocery stores, Filene's and Walmart/Target, etc...I've NEVER had a problem and I've NEVER been charged a transaction fee and I've NEVER had any interest charged to my Debit Visa Card for PIN purchases. I've never even heard of that being done.

I have, however, had a problem but the conveniences far outweight the problem I had. The problem I had was with the Disney Store. They rang up my 3 AP's I was buying for $1018 and then told me they needed to void it and start over. Well, my Debit Visa Card was charged both times; they did not void it correctly. It took a month to get the money back for the double charge from the Disney store (but my nice bank gave me the money right away anyway!) AND I ended up having to get a new Debit Visa Card as my bank proceeded with the claim like my Debit Visa card was stolen. That was the ONLY time I had a problem using my Debit Visa Card.

If you are wise and careful, there should be no problems using your Debit Visa Card with or without a PIN except for the fact that some places still do not accept them.

Sorry for the rant but think Debit Visa Cards are GREAT.

When using a Credit card for an ordinary purchase or rental, do not give a PIN (number). Otherwise the transaction is processed as a cash advance, you may have to pay a transaction fee, and interest starts building up immediately

She was talking about credit cards, and often, if you use one, they do ask the cashier to ask the customer if they know their pin number. I ran into this a lot and wondered why they would ask.
Possibly a security thing.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
She was talking about credit cards, and often, if you use one, they do ask the cashier to ask the customer if they know their pin number. I ran into this a lot and wondered why they would ask.
Possibly a security thing.

Oh my goodness! My bad! I need to read things more carefully and maybe twice before I reply!

Sometimes the debit card gets a bad rap...so I thought I'd defend them.

Sorry seashoreCM

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
Oh my goodness! My bad! I need to read things more carefully and maybe twice before I reply!

Sometimes the debit card gets a bad rap...so I thought I'd defend them.

Sorry seashoreCM

LOL, I had to read it a couple of times, my mind was elsewhere, when I read your post, I had to chuckle, you did the same. LOL.
Yes, debit cards do get a bad rap. Some banks, like mine, treat them like credit cards and offer pretty much the same benefits and rules. I would be lost without my MC check card.

 

[msdis]

Just for the record since I made the op, I do not have, and know absolutely nothing, about a debit card. DS is the one who has a debit card and not a credit card as I always use and know all about credit cards. The confusion and problem came when I told her she needed a cc and she assumed a dc was the same. Hopefully when they show up to get the car Avis will stick to their agreement otherwise I will have to get this out for more advise. Thanks again everyone. I knew there would be lots of valuable info to be had here.