Credit cards and car hire

Hi,

I am trying to book car hire in Greece in June but finding it very difficult without a credit card.

As I have only a small wage paid into my bank - Santander each month, i doubt if they will give me a credit card but can´t seem to book a car without one.

Any ideas gratefully received. Thanks,

Amatista

You have to have a credit card = there are no exceptions as far as I know. How would the hire company get re-imbursed if you wrote the car off?

They wouldn't need to be reimbursed as I would take full comprehensive insurance but thanks anyway. There are companies who would take a debit card only but they charge more. Thanks anyway. Jane

Are you in Spain? The reason I ask is because in the UK you would probably get a Virgin Credit Card, they are, to say the least, a bit short on doing any type of extensive credit checks before they hand them out,   (Know what I mean)  but don't know if Virgin do them for address's in Spain.

I shouldn't worry to much if you don't get the information exactly to 100% how they want it, just ask Branson, he's a master at what to say, and not what to say, when needs must.

Hi,

If you have a bank account with almost any bank unless you have a bad credit history the chances are they will issue you with a credit card. (even with a small limit on it)

Regarding the "written off car" this would be covered by insurance as if you had a credit card with a small limit it wouldn't be enough to cover the damage anyhow.

Thanks for that - i have applied to bank.

Jane

amatista   21 Jan 2015 08:13    They wouldn't need to be reimbursed as I would take full comprehensive insurance but thanks anyway. There are companies who would take a debit card only but they charge more. Thanks anyway. Jane

Don't take it for granted that any insurance on a hire car will cover you for anything which might happen.

Ask and ask again.

I took a car bock to a hire company at Heathrow  one time.   The guy in front of me had just collected a smashed windscreen a few yards before pulling into the garage.  He, like like me, had CDW, full cover etc.  The damage still cost him £300.
 

The cerdit card is need (in the main) is to ensure you pay any excess or any uninsured elements.

We hired a car in Crete some years ago. Like idiots, our credit card had expired without us noticing. We were able to use a debit card (Maestro at the time) but had to take the full insurance and leave a €450 deposit to cover the excess. The €450 was returned when we took the car back.

I always check the expiry date on the credit card before we go anywhere now.