Why do you HAVE to have a credit card to rent a car?

The BBQ Pit
21

whitetho said: “And don’t expect them to be impressed by your ‘Visa Check card’–it’s no different than a regular checking account to most of them.”

Shirley Udon’t-think-before-you-type said: “People who do not have credit cards for the fear of god knows what (CIA is ‘watching them’ crapola), are infantile and not living reality. People who do not have a credit card because of bad credit, well, would you want these people to drive your car?”

I don’t have a credit card. I’m not a Luddite wierdo who doesn’t have a card so he stays out of “the system”. Hell, I use my real name as my nom de Net, so I’m obviously not paranoid. Nor do I have bad credit; I receive preapproved applications for platinum cards in the mail about every month. The reason I don’t have a credit card is because I don’t want to get stuck with 19 percent interest if I don’t pay my balance to the penny and on time every single month.

I realize the various benefits of being able to pay with plastic and not cash, so I do carry plastic of a sort: a bank-issued debit card with a MasterCard logo, linked to my checking account. Most places I’ve gone, it’s been accepted on the same basis as a credit card, including when hotels have taken security imprints for already-paid-for rooms. According to whitetho, this would not be acceptable to many car rental companies.

Since I’ve never rented a car in my entire life* this is of very little direct concern to me. Still, I can see why it would surprise or even anger a non-paranoid, non-deadbeat person who has a debit card but no credit cards.

*Before Shirley Ujest picks people who don’t rent cars as the next target of her ire, I’m perfectly able to drive and I own a car, thankyewverymuch. I have never had to rent a car because my business travel has always involved hotels and meetings in downtowns, so at most I’ve had to use the occasional taxi. My vacations have been in cities as well – I’m not much of a nature person, and I’m somewhat of a railfan so I like to ride the subway/light rail/whatever in the cities I visit.

22

John, I’m not singling you out here, as I’ve heard plenty of others make essentially the same statement.

However, I am genuinely confused by the above argument. Given that you only pay the (admittedly ridiculous) interest rate if you carry a balance, why not take advantage of the thirty days’ free credit before you get your monthly bill and then pay it all off as soon as you get it? For that matter, if you get a Discover card you even get a piddling amount of your purchase money back at the end of the year.

My wife and I use our Discover card for everything (that is, everything that we were going to buy anyway). We even pay for the groceries with it. Our monthly Discover bill is usually over $1000 (most of that for groceries for a family of four). I get thirty days’ free credit, we’ve never been charged interest, and we get a check for a few hundred dollars at the end of the year.

(As to the complaints that you can’t rent a car if you don’t have a credit card, that’s just the way it goes. The car rental companies have found a fast, easy, and inexpensive way of checking out your credit - they let someone else do it for them. Sure, they lose a few potential customers that way, but not enough to counter the benefits. Sounds pretty clever to me.)

23

I’ve been in the travel biz for over twenty years now, and I can state that, while it is possible to “cash qualify” for a car rental, it sure ain’t easy. Oftentimes they simply won’t do it for a walk-up; they require the reservation be made in advance and the deposit made at least 24 hours before the rental pickup.

An exception to this would be for corporate rentals when the company guarantees the rental.

Some travel agencies will make the reservation for you as well as accept the deposit and prepare the vouchers that you’ll need. Be sure to have your insurance forms and driver’s license when you go to pick up the car.

They may be more requirements depending on the car rental agency. YMMV :slight_smile:

This is getting hard. Somebody relieve me. (A Wallian exclamation)

24

Yeah, what he said.

I have a couple cards. I keep one because it gives me frequent flier miles–I use it ot book flights and hotel rooms. My other has a high limit and low interest rate (around 10%). I make a lot of purchases on it, and pay it off every month as soon as it arrives. I want a low rate and a high limit in case of emergencies.

But then, I live within my means, save money, and have only my mortgage as outstanding debt. I don’t live hand-to-mouth, so I can afford to pay all my bills immediately.

-andros-

25

Er, what WillGolf said, that is.

26

**

Insurance, something that you, as a renter, have to pay for one way or another anyway.

It’s still a piss-poor comment which is erroneous and demeaning to the folks who it implies are financially (and possibly responsibility-wise) at the leven of a pre-teen.

Yer pal,
Satan

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27

Lemme explain something in the form of a ramble.

As a former corporate travel agent, I had exposure to this small group that we at our agency would refer to as the Oh Fuck, not another guy who doesn’t think he needs a credit card and that the world revolves around them If we were dealing with a sharp secretary, she would find out in advance if the guy had a card. If he didn’t, the company would get him a corporate card or send someone else to do the job/go out of town.

On a rare case when one of these guys slipped through the cracks and actually made it to the rental counter only to be turned down, it was a clusterfuck to get him from point A to point b where ever he was, without the plastic. Either way, it is not pleasant to have someone ( the client) have a hairy all over you because of someone else’s financial belief system. In every case, * every case*, we would talk to the secretary or boss who knows the traveler without plastic best and after we would make the comment of
“Why doesn’t he have a card.” the response was, " I dunno, he certainly isn’t saving any money by the looks of the crappy car he drives or the rat hole place he lives in…etc."

[sidebar] The only car rental rule I don’t entirely agree with is you have to be 25 or older to rent a car without an extra fee. I can understand trying to weed out the hot rod mentality and this can usually be done by checking their driving records.[/sidebar]

The people who get indignant about how they are discriminated against because they don’t have a credit card just burn my bra. What are you, Amish? Just because you get a credit card does not mean you are going to go hog wild and buy everything under the sun and be in debt PDQ. It gives you more access to everything. It’s all about being financially responsible, which oh-so-few are capable of doing these days.

Yes, I was making sweeping generlizations about people with bad credit. They weren’t sweeping, they were vacuuming. These generzations are based on my experiences and encounters with these irresponsible people. I"m not talking about the poor schmoe who’s out of work, his house caught on fire and he lost his legs in a plane crash, etc, kind of guy. I’m talking about the brainless fucking lemmings out there en masse out there that think they can fill the knawing void inside themselves by constantly shopping.

( I have a neighborhood chuck full of these people.You know them, they are the Joneses. They drive me fucking nuts with the * I would like to stay at home with my child/ren but can’t afford it, OH, but We’re going outlet shopping this weekend. But we might not be able to go because our baby has her 23rd ear infection in a month that she picked up from the daycare gulag. * These people should be shot, But that is another rant by itself.

So, I was blowing chucks over a personal mental vendetta against two groups: the militant anti-credit card group and the clueless fuckwad lemmings down my street.

To all others, I humbly apologize.

28

I think that the idea of a de facto “credit check” by checking for a credit card is fast becoming anachronistic. There has been this incredible loosening of standards to get credit cards in the last few years. The card companies have figured out that slightly careless people with low credit ratings are the money-cows of the credit industry. Three hundred dollars isn’t much of a risk, but even 20% interest dosen’t amount to much on $300; however, $20 monthly late fees sure as hell do. The slow-payer is a credit companies best friend. That is why they aggreessivly market college students–they know that these are people who will probably pay late regularly, but will probably pay eventually. GTE or Citibank will give an unsecured credit card with a limit of $300-$600 dollars to a college kid who declares no income and has no credit. So as a system for doing a fast credit check on someone, checking for a credit card is silly.

29

Oh yeah, Shirley:

Where were you when I started my thread about a ten-year old girl with a Tommy Hilfiger bedroom? My only pit thread, ever, and it sank like a stone. I thought I was the only doper infuriated by consumer culture. :slight_smile:

30

They shove 'em down the throat of us college kids…of course they know Mommy and Daddy will pay it off when Junior goes shopping to the tune of twelve thousand dollars.
What really irked me was when I was a Junior in High School I got an ad about “Why your high schooler needs a credit card”. WTF! We really dont need to give kids a chance to get bad credit before their even a fucking adult.
Yep…I’m sure you’ve figured out that I am not a big credit card fan. Some people don’t drink because they so too many people get in trouble when they do. I don’t (like to) use credit cards. What I hate is that to exist you have to. I just don’t like the concept of spending money that you don’t have. heck…I have issues using my checkcard cos I like to see the cash go through my hands so I know where it all went at the end of the month. Do we really want to be at a point where we have to go through a mediator out to get our money (those credit card companies arn’t there for the good of humanity) in order to do stuff?
Then again, the rental car thing doesn’t affect me because I choose not to drive. I guess that makes me a double Amish twelve year old.

31

Well, yeah. I’m 28 now and we’re quite responsible, but when I was younger, we were poor as hell. We’re still recovering from that, credit-wise.

Actually, I got my first credit card this winter. Yup, an unsecured Visa in my very own name :smiley: I have a whopping $200 limit, too!

Now I understand why car rental agencies do what they do, but just because someone has bad credit doesn’t mean they aren’t trustworthy–that is my only point. (and I know they have no way of knowing, so don’t get on my case. I’m not saying car rental places should change their policies, I’m just saying that bad credit doesn’t always equal bad person)

–
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32

The compulsive spender checks in.
I can assure you of 2 things. 1) Possesion of a credit card is not an indication of ability to pay. 2) Credit card companies are not that selective when deciding who to issue cards to.
I am currently in debt management(euphemisticly (sp) called credit counseling). I had to surrender all my cards, thirteen in all, which were maxed out.
Debt management automatically puts you in slow-pay status and makes you a bad credit risk.
Since I have been on this program I have received about a dozen pre-approved credit card applications, including American express. I applied for, and received, Discover card and a Target store card, because I have no impulse control. I can’t imagine who they’re turning down.
One caveat about renting cars. When they tell you the optional insurance is only 20 dollars, that means per day. I found that out the hard way. (had the car 2 weeks)

33

I just gotta say, whitetho, this is the second funniest thing I’ve read all day. “[O]nly issuing their cards to reliable persons” snicker

34

And I have to admit that’s an excellent reason for not getting a credit card. More power to you.

35

OK, having been someone who has rented a car both with and without plastic, I have a few items to add.

First of all, you can rent a car without a credit card at several rental agencies (I tend to use Enterprise because I like them). Yes, you need to provide more “stuff” - one once asked for a utility bill, which I could not provide since I live at home; they require from $300-$400 cash deposit (which can also be taken off your Visa Check Card); and I think one did say they’d take a pay stub. Is it a pain in the ass? Royally, especially if you’re low on cash. But it is possible.

I would think that another big reason a car rental agency would want your credit card number is so they can have as much information on you as possible should you drive away in their car. I see this as a separate issue from fiscal responsibility in case of an accident, since, as Satan has pointed out, is covered by either the insurance you buy from them or your own car insurance. If you steal their car, they’re gonna track you down, and if you forged your license, they’re screwed. A credit card is simply another form of valid identification in today’s world.

For those of you without credit, I do feel your pain, as I screwed up mine when I was 18 and it took me years to recover (hence the above scenario of having to rent without a card). However, if you can get a credit card, you should. Worried about high interest or increased bills? Well, if you can afford to rent a car, then you can afford to put it on your card and then pay the bill the moment it hits your mailbox, right? If you pay within 25-30 days, no interest accrues, and you actually start building a good credit rating by paying on time all the time.

Plus, having the credit card in order to rent the car does not mean you are required to actually charge it to the card - they only need it to secure the reservation. When you turn the car in, you can settle the bill any way you like, including cash. I have also gone this route.

Hotels aren’t much better, and I’ve had the same problems with them.

Bottom line - get a credit card, even if it’s just a few hundred dollars, and whether you actually use it or not is irrelevant. If you don’t, have lots and lots of cash and identification on hand.

Esprix

Ask the Gay Guy! (or, if you prefer the Jesusfied version, Asketh the damn Priest Guy!)

36

Let me rephrase the OP: Why won’t somebody let me use a $20,000 piece of equipment without requiring security?

News from the real world: Any business can refuse you service for any reason or no reason at all.

If you think you have a discrimination case, take it to the ACLU.

If you want to rent a car, get a credit card or jump through their hoops. Welcome to the life of a grown-up.

You can stand around and bitch or you can get a credit card - secured or unsecured.

Some mornings, it’s just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
– Emo Phillips

37

To confirm what Esprix said about Enterprise (I rented a car from them a few months ago). If you don’t have a credit card (I did, so it wasn’t an issue), they require the full amount of the rental up front, in cash, plus $100 damage deposit, plus insurance (or proof thereof), plus a driver’s license and utility bill. Different locations may have different policies; I didn’t ask. I tried to get on the Enterprise Rent-a-Car web site to see what their policy is, but my browser’s acting up.

So you can rent a car without a credit card; you just have to have cash in hand, and your options are limited (IIRC, the biggies like Hertz and Avis won’t rent to you at all without a credit card). Considering that you’re asking to borrow a $20,000 piece of equipment (as Jett put it), asking you to pay up front doesn’t sound so unreasonable to me.

38

Completely off-topic:

Asmodeus, you’ve been posting for a few weeks here, but not enough for us to get a handle on you. Tell us about yourself, won’t you?

Esprix

Ask the Gay Guy! (or, if you prefer the Jesusfied version, Asketh the damn Priest Guy!)

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40

DNFTT :wally

41

SurlyUjest:

Hello.

I don’t have a credit card. I despise credit cards.

Back when I was broke and could have used a hand, the credit companies didn’t want to know me. They actively scraped me off. So I made it without the miserable sons of whores. Now I’m rich, and the little maggots crawl out of the woodwork and act like they’re my best buddy. They act like they are doing me a favor offering to loan me money I don’t need. They act puzzled when I don’t want to talk to them. They’d love to have me borrow 'til they own me and I’d never see daylight again. I take great joy in scraping them off.

It’s not just the 18+% interest rates. Those are just a limp, sorry joke; somewhat like your previous post.

It might be the constant juking. Those little inserts filled edge to edge with fine print that come with your bill. You know, the ones titled “Changes to Part 147a, Section B of your User Agreement”. The ones where they drop those zingers that slap charges on you if you terminate service. The ones where suddenly your happening credit card deal isn’t so sweet any more. The ones that make things as fucking complicated as possible, so now you’re spending time each month keeping track. The ones they’re hoping are too much trouble to read. The ones that should come with little packets of K-Y jelly.

They lead the charge to label people with credit trouble as ‘deadbeats’. They push to weaken the protection of bankruptcy laws. They advocate the return of debtor’s prison. Then they drop you if you don’t carry a high enough balance.

Or maybe it’s the way they collect sensitive personal information from you and cheerfuly broadcast it to the world on command. And then try to tell you that’s a ‘service’. Oh yeah, they’re ‘servicing’ you all right. There’s a word, it’s spelled privacy, and it means the right to be left the fuck alone to eat my dinner in peace. But let’s move on, look it up sometime.

Or it could be the fat percentage that credit card companies charge on the entire American retail world. Did you know that it costs the retailer several thousand dollars to get set up to accept credit cards? Care to take a flying guess who pays for that eventually? Did you know that the credit cards take about 6% off the top of each and every transaction? And they have been able to force retailers to charge the same prices for cash and credit, thus forcing cash customers to bear the cost of credit cards as well? That’s EVERYPLACE that takes credit cards. Woo hoo, party on the consumer! Everybody’s coming.

And then we have some individual who wants to sound off like it’s my duty as an American to be saddled with a rack of credit cards. What a dipshit idea! I’d say that credit cards are the spawn of Satan but I wouldn’t want to piss him off.

You want financially responsible? I pay my bills. I patronize small businesses that I want to see survive. I plan for retirement and then actually back that up with investments. I bank a goodly chunk of my income. I live within my means; something that would help our nation immensely if more of my fellow Americans would do.

I do rent a car occasionally. I am well aware of the procedure. When I show up at the rental counter I bring a corporate card and the transaction goes smoothly. If I ever want to cash qualify I will have that set up in advance too. If there’s a problem I have more sense than to take it out on the poor schmoe behind the counter. I can see from your attitude why you are a former travel agent. I sincerely hope that whatever you do now keeps you far away from anything that looks like a customer.

Wait! Don’t tell me, let me guess. You have 6 different credit cards. You buy many or most of your purchases with them. You are carrying a balance of at least several thousand dollars. You save less than 2% of your income. You drive a nice car that is less than four years old. At retirement time you will suddenly realize that you’re in the red because you lived your life in debt and were too dense to sock it away when you had the chance. You will whine through your nose for increases in Social Insecurity as though it was your God given right. Once a decade you peer into your dim, narrow little radar screen and don’t see a problem with any of that.

Goodbye.