To be annoyed that certain things will only accept a credit card when I don't have one?

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

I'm going on a trip (yay!)

Trying to book myself some hostel accomodation and a train ticket and both of these places will only accept a credit card payment to book/pay for.

I don't have a credit card and have 0% chance of getting one as my credit history is not very good :/ Don't really like the idea of having one either as I prefer to just spend the money I have rather than borrow it if I don't need to.

I know that, particularly for international payments and stuff, credit cards can be useful and you sometimes get more protection if things go wrong, easier to get money back etc but it's sooooo annoying that certain places will only take credit cards.

Aibu to find it really annoying or is there some fantastically good reason for having them I'm missing out on?

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

Most places take debit cards. Do you not have a debit card?
I used to have problems with the electron card not being accepted everywhere but now have a natwest visa debit and that's always been accepted. The downside is for things like room deposits or car rental deposits it takes it from your avalaible balance so you need to budget for that.

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

Normally they'll take a debit card instead. Have you tried?

[MiddleClassProblem]

As pp, they norm mean credit/debit cards

[cricketballs]

You can also get a prepaid Mastercard. Usually requires a small fee though

[Crisscrosscranky]

I've never come across anything other than online porn that only accepts credit card payments. Have you tried using your debit card; could just be a wording issue?

[MrsKCastle]

Are you going abroad? I don't have a credit card and have never had any problems, I've always used a debit card. I agree though, I would be thoroughly annoyed if this happened to me, I don't understand what the justification would be?

[Pootles2010]

Yes do check - they often say credit when they mean credit or debit. Only insistence on cc's i've found is hire cars.

[99GBPChargeToUseMyPostsJournos]

I agree, many people state credit cards when they also accept debit cards.

You'd be able to get one of those ridiculously high Apr cards, and pay it off every month. Or I believe you can buy visa or Mastercard gift card things in the supermarket that work like credit cards as far as paying online is concerned.

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

I have tried using my debit card, twice, and they sent me an email saying it wasn't accepted and I needed to use a credit card. At first I thought I might have put my details in wrong so I tried again but eventually it transpired that I needed to use a credit card, not debit.

I've emailed to ask them if I can use a debit card instead but not had a response yet.

I have plenty of money in the account so that isn't a problem!

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

Yes, I am going abroad :)

[MiddleClassProblem]

That's odd. Is there anywhere else you can get what you're looking for at a similar cost?

[mum2Bomg]

You can get prepaid Visa cards and master cards - transfer the cash into them and use this. Much better than having a credit card.

[Minniemagoo]

Get a prepaid credit card.
You front load it. They are quite widely available.

[BarbaraofSeville]

What sort of places, except hire cars, take credit but not debit cards? Any time I've booked train tickets or accomodation there's always been the option to use a debit card.

Makes no sense at all.

But yes, get a credit card - the limit won't be loads on a card aimed at people with poor/no history and it is extremely useful as you have found. Also will improve your credit rating as you build up evidence that you can manage your money properly. Just only use it where absolutely necessary and you have the money to pay for the item, and pay it off in full every month to avoid interest charges.

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

No, it's just a normal Visa debit card! In fact it's one of those accounts that comes with travel insurance etc etc so it's definitely not a basic account.

Can't get same thing anywhere else - one is a hostel in Switzerland which is normally really expensive and I got really lucky and managed to find a really good rate. All the other ones were waaaay more.

The other is a bus from one country to another.

[Andbabymakesthree]

Grrr I understand this. I've no desire yet alone ability to get a credit card. Very frustrating!

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

-But yes, get a credit card -

I can't. No one will give me one. I might be able to get one of those 1000000% interest ones but not really keen on having one of those :/

I wouldn't be in a position to pay it off until I get back either, so at least one month I wouldn't be able to pay off any balance on there.

[redexpat]

Have you looked into a prepaid credit card? Failing that, have you got a friend with a cc who can make the booking for you and you give them the cash? Check that you don't need the card to collect the tickets before you do this.

[Ewock]

If you have the money in your current account you can always pay your credit card early if you will be away at the actual payment time. So if you did get a credit card just to pay for the hotel and bus you can then transfer the money straight away from your current account and pay it off, that way you know you are only spending money that you have.

[MiddleClassProblem]

Have you tried calling the booking company? It might just be a fault

[AndNowItsSeven]

The reason they want you to pay by credit card is because they are guaranteed to money for " pay on arrival " if you don't turn up, with a debit card they aren't.
Just email and ask if I can pay the full amount on your debit card rather than just s deposit.

[Potcallingkettle]

If you are booking internationally, the issue might be that your bank is refusing the transaction because you have not informed them you are using your card outside the UK. I just had this trying to book train travel to Switzerland with my debit card on a European site. As soon as I informed Nat West that this is what I was doing, it was authorised. Credit cards do not have this safeguard on them hence the suggestion to use that instead.

[MiddleClassProblem]

Surely a credit card could just as easily be maxed out just as a debit card could have no money? How can a credit card guarantee?

[AndNowItsSeven]

It's something to do with the agreements between the credit card companies , they will let your cc go over the limit and charge the customer. With debit cards that are accounts that don't have the ability to go overdrawn.