It's been a year or so since I last hired a car in the UK.
I looked online today at hiring in September. Reading the small print, if I want to avoid the extra charges associated with a Credit Card and use my debit card I require:
1. An Equifax check and 2 telephone references
2. Two additional forms of identification (NOT driving licence or credit card)
This is from one of the companies I have seen recommended on here. This is in the general T&C's of the contract.
When did the rules change ? Will I be expected to give a DNA sample/retina scan/fingerprints when I pick the car up too ?
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Will I be expected to give a DNA sample/retina scan/fingerprints when I pick the car up too? >>
No, but you will have your photograph covertly taken, normally as you are stood at the counter with your driving licence in front of you.
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Then I shall dress as Inspector Clouseau's Salty Sea Dog character when I pick the car up.
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If you were to hire your car to a complete stranger what would you want in the way of evidence to positivly identify them?
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If you were to hire your car to a complete stranger what would you want in the way of evidence to positivly identify them?
Ignoring the, I can't because my insurance would not cover them (no reward clause), what I was asking is what has changed in the last twelve months ?
Previously I have hired cars from what turns out to be the company I have frequently used in the past, entered my card details, made my reservation, got off the plane handed over my card, drivers licence and booking reference and five minutes later headed out to the car park with keys in hand.
Why are so many checks required now ?
Edited by gmac on 18/07/2008 at 22:40
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Why are there extra charges assoiciated with using a credit card, gmac?
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Have you bought online lately?
With travel, airline tickets, ferry tickets, hire cars the companies are generally adding 2% on to ticket prices when using a CC unless you use the companies own credit card.
Edited by gmac on 18/07/2008 at 22:55
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Always hire from Holiday Autos, tho never yet for a car in the UK. If there's a cc loading I must have missed it.
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Hertz don't surcharge me for paying for a hire car with a CC. It is the only sort of payment they will accept! Their rules not mine!
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Always hire from Holiday Autos tho never yet for a car in the UK.
If you ever do in the UK, read their small print on picking up your car...
The 2% loading may be new I don't know.
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You're right for all hires. Changed in last few weeks then since I hired early this month. Didn't spend huge amount of time looking but it appears that you'll only need all the extra id if paying excess and depo etc by debit card. CC seems ok for that and (hopefully) you get your money back so no cc charge.
Good luck!
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Holiday Autos act as agents. When you pay for the hire are you paying HA and getting some of voucher to show to the hire firm or do you get a booking ref and pay Hertz, Alamo or whoever you are picking it up from? A credit card IS a credit check because you were credit checked to be issued with it!
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You pay HA and get a voucher for the car. HA have only just brought this in. I always have paid HA and then the supplier for petrol or whatever with a CC. As you say, it's a check. I don't know that 2% would worry me since HA are usually very competitive anyway, but if it did I'd pay them on debit and the supplier on credit.
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I hired from HA in February this year. The 2% CC surcharge certainly applied at that time on my hire. I used a CC that gives me a generous cash back, so it did not bother me. This is what their email said:
"On arrival at your pick-up location, you will need your voucher, your driving licence, and unless you have made other arrangements, you will need a credit card. It is standard practice for credit card details to be taken as security for the car. Fuel policies vary from one rental partner to another. When you pick up the car you will be asked to pay for the fuel or leave a deposit. Please see the voucher for details of the fuel policy for your rental. Please note that your pre-paid rental includes all mandatory insurances and taxes."
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It now reads:
picking up your car
You must leave a deposit to cover the insurance excess & fuel in the form of cash, cheque, debit or credit card. Cash, cheque and debit cards are accepted Mon to Fri 0800 - 1800 only subject to Equifax check. The amount will be taken from your credit/debit card. Cash/cheque/debit card deposits will be subject to an Equifax check & 2 telephone references. Cash/cheque/debit card deposits are not accepted on Sundays or Public Holidays unless an Equifax check is carried out in advance.Lead driver must be over 25 years for cash deposits. Credit/Debit cards must be in the name of the lead driver. 2 additional forms of identification (NOT your licence or credit card) are required. If you fail an Equifax check, a car will not be supplied.
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Pick a firm who don?t charge if it is an issue. Personally I like to look at a package as a whole before declining.
Alamo didn?t charge me recently for using a CC.
Trailfinders make issue of the fact they don?t make such charges
Must be others too.
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>>A credit card IS a credit check because you were credit checked to be issuedwith it!
Which is tied directly to the Debit Card as the Debit Card is for the account which services the CC.
The 2% doesn't worry me, just don't see why I should pay it when I can pay with a Direct Debit card which is the same place where the money ultimately comes from. If it was the credit card company charging it for the 56 days credit or whatever then fair enough but for the vendor to charge it when they get the money regardless.
Edited by gmac on 19/07/2008 at 00:06
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If it was the credit card company charging it for the 56 days credit or whatever then fair enough but for the vendor to charge it when they get the money regardless
Just look up how much vendors are charged by credit card companies for their services, and compare that with the fees charged for use of debit cards. The main difference in charges : 'All merchant acquirers offer Visa (credit and debit), MasterCard and Switch....The crucial difference is that debit card charges to merchants are levied on a flat transaction basis while credit card charges are levied on an ad valorem basis.'
Edited by jbif on 19/07/2008 at 00:19
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The crucial difference is that debit card charges to merchants are levied on a flat transaction basis while credit card charges are levied on an ad valorem basis.'
So, reading this, the vendor should know for a certain price banding whether a DC or CC is the best option for them. However, as the customer I don't care what the banks charge the vendor. All I want what is the lowest cost for what is the same end product.
Still doesn't explain, if the money is coming from the same source why one requires Equifax and the other doesn't.
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If they need to charge you for any excess at the end of the hire it is very much easier to charge to credit card.Does anyone use cash to rent a car these days?
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Does anyone use cash to rent a car these days?
It's not just cash though. Cash, cheque or debit cards are all dealt with in the same manner. Why would you use a CC if the cash was coming from the same account for which you have a perfectly usable DC ? Why pay the extra 2% ? OK, it may only be 2 pounds on a 100 pounds hire but that's two pounds in your pocket.
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If they need to charge you for any excess at the end of the hire it is very much easier to charge to credit card
That may be the "insecurity" that explains the difference in attitude to CC vs "cash" [which Debit Cards are supposed be as good as ].
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That may be the "insecurity" that explains the difference in attitude to CC vs "cash" [which Debit Cards are supposed be as good as ].
They are only a VAR. I can still give my credit card to the actual vendor to cover any insecurity. This company is only a middle man to agree a basic price between the customer and vendor. The 2% at this stage is pure profit to the man in the middle. I will still have to give some form of payment at the airport to cover accidental damage (or pay to exclude through insurance) and fuel surcharge.
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if the money is coming from the same source why one requires Equifax and the other doesn't.
I think you have not yet said you are talking about HA specifically, but if you are, I am unable to find the reference to Equifax in their T&C
www.holidayautos.co.uk/cgi-bin/liveweb.sh/webpage....2
www.holidayautos.co.uk/GBR/smallprint/
However, whichever Company it is that refers to the Equifax check, I can only presume that for some reason that Company may feel more secure about a Credit Card transaction [as the money comes from the CC company, and the risk of fraud is between you & the CC company].
If money is taken from a Current account using a DC, is it the case that the guarantee of payment by the cardholder or the Bank MAY NOT be there for some reason? I do not know, but may be there is some legal background to this feeling of insecurity.
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I think you have not yet said you are talking about HA specifically but if you are I am unable to find the reference to Equifax in their T&C www.holidayautos.co.uk/cgi-bin/liveweb.sh/webpage....2 www.holidayautos.co.uk/GBR/smallprint/
Not allowed to name and shame but if you look at my posting above at 23:10 I think it covers the point.
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Not allowed to name and shame but if you look at my posting above at 23:10 I think it covers the point.
The T&C you refer to certainly apply to HA in Ireland! They also have this term which I ahve not seen in the UK "If the car is damaged during the rental you may be charged an excess of GBP 400 which will be debited from your deposit. If you have purchased one of our damage excess waiver products, you will be reimbursed for any excess paid from accidental damage caused whilst renting your car (subject to certain exclusions, see terms and conditions for details). "
Edited by jbif on 19/07/2008 at 01:08
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Will I be expected to give a DNA sample/retina scan/fingerprints when I pick the car up >> too ?
Don't know if they still do it, but all of the rental companies at Stansted were running a scheme where you had to leave a finger (or was it thumb?) print.
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Don't know if they still do it but all of the rental companies at Stansted were running a scheme where you had to leave a finger (or was it thumb?) print.
I'd read about that which prompted me to ask the question. I wasn't sure if it only affected the shark pool or if it was out in the sticks too ?
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