To not have a credit card?

[CatsArePeople]

Somebody just told me that credit cards are must have for a responsible adult. Seriously? Why?

Yeah, you can. I have rented loads of cars/vans using my debit card. is this in UK?

I have also done it in Spain - I obviously can't say for the entire world that you don't need one but equally the poster I was replying to can't say you do.

I also use one abroad (Halifax clarity card) - cheaper than bureaux de change and safer than carrying around lots of cash

@Auntienumber8 I have one where the points mean I have had free entry to places like Legoland, Sealife centre, Conkers, West Midlands Safari Park and the Jvorvik Viking centre, plus multiple ferry trips and free magazine subscriptions.
Which card is this please?

@Fluffypastelslippers

Yeah, you can. I have rented loads of cars/vans using my debit card.

@notacooldad is right, lots of car rental companies only accept credit cards. We had this problem in Spain with one of the big ones, either Avis or Sixt or Europcar.

I can understand the advantages with the credit rating ect,

Yeah, you can. I have rented loads of cars/vans using my debit card. is this in UK?

I have also done it in Spain - I obviously can't say for the entire world that you don't need one but equally the poster I was replying to can't say you do.
That us interesting.
I have never been able to get a car in Spain without cc.
Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, Albania and Lithuania have not accepted a DC. I always try but have always been refused. These have been over the last 3 years including this year.

@notacooldad

Yeah, you can. I have rented loads of cars/vans using my debit card. is this in UK?

I have also done it in Spain - I obviously can't say for the entire world that you don't need one but equally the poster I was replying to can't say you do.
That us interesting.
I have never been able to get a car in Spain without cc.
Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, Albania and Lithuania have not accepted a DC. I always try but have always been refused. These have been over the last 3 years including this year.

You probably just need to expand your Googling before you travel tbh. I have done it several times in Spain and a quick search of Hungary and Lithuania shows you can do it there too.

@notacooldad

Yeah, you can. I have rented loads of cars/vans using my debit card. is this in UK?

I have also done it in Spain - I obviously can't say for the entire world that you don't need one but equally the poster I was replying to can't say you do.
That us interesting.
I have never been able to get a car in Spain without cc.
Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, Albania and Lithuania have not accepted a DC. I always try but have always been refused. These have been over the last 3 years including this year.

You are right @notacooldad. I’ve had the same experience in Spain.

You are right @notacooldad. I’ve had the same experience in Spain.

Are you both turning up for your rental and asking if you can use a debit card? Because if you check before booking you can easily select a company in advance that accepts debit cards.

I think we booked via a debit card but when we arrived we were told the small print says we must have a credit card.

@ClawedButler

Never had a credit card, and never had a problem getting mortgage.

I do have one now, but have never used it. I refuse to pay twice for things!

How would you be paying twice for things??

You don’t need one, but they are useful for a lot of things.

I have a travel card which gives me free cash withdrawals abroad. A life saver on holidays. It just needs clearing before the end of the month.

It also provides a layer of protection for purchases over £100.

And PPs are right they you can get a mortgage without a CC, but it does help build up a credit rating quickly.

I've only recently got my own credit card. My credit rating has dropped on Clearscore but is perfect on Experian. I don't understand credit scores at all. I think you need to take them with a pinch of salt. I also got a mortgage without a credit card.

Are you both turning up for your rental and asking if you can use a debit card? Because if you check before booking you can easily select a company in advance that accepts debit cards
Virtually always book in advance accept for one time when we intended to get a taxi from the airport at Portugal and nothing was available so decided to hire a car and another time in Belfast when it was cheaper to hire a car than pay for a coach trip.

It also was a lifesaver when I needed to pay for very expensive vet treatment upfront and claim the insurance back. I wouldn’t have been able to do that otherwise and the insurance would have been for nothing.

They exist because they make serious money for the issuers, even after all the benefits outlined here. The reason is that the majority are not disciplined like PP and end up in debt to them. You are then looking a horrendous interest that becomes increasingly difficult to get out of
If you have any doubt about your ability to stay disciplined then don't get one. You can build up a credit record without them.
It is true that renting cars is difficult, if not now impossible, to do without one but if that is the price to pay to keep away from temptation then so be it.
They are most benefucial to good income households who don't actually need credit and can pay the bill every month. The rest of us can easily get into serious trouble with them.
Don't forget someone is paying for the 10s of millions they generate in profit and for all the benefits they provide. The credit balance transfers at 0perc have to be paid for by someone.
Most common debt to declare bankruptcy?
Credit Card debt.

I have one, it lives in the sock draw, never used. I break out in a cold sweat when I see friends get out their wallet and they have 4 credit cards and then they're swapping balances as an introductory period has ended.
I've never checked my credit rating. This is a privileged statement but if you budget and have money you'll never need credit.

I love my credit cards. They are absolutely not essential though.

Recently used Section 75 to claim on a smartwatch that broke within 10 months, refunded immediately. I love the protection that is offered on credit card.

I use mine for everything, it earns me cashback and vouchers. Free money. Always pay on full by DD.

Cashback.

Consumer protection.

Spreading the cost of larger purchases over a few weeks interest free.

Despite all the people saying they've got a mortgage or hired a car without a problem, I've also read about many people who've had problems with these due to no credit card or poor credit rating.

It's probably also good to not use the card linked to your main current account on the internet due to the hassle if the account got hacked.

I suppose if you have poor money management skills and cant stick to a budget or have a tendency to over shop then they may not be the right financial tool for you.
However they can be useful if used wisely.

Often a hotel will ask for a credit card when you arrive so that they have some protection against damage/you drinking the mini bar dry and running off. They don’t charge the card unless they need to though, so it is nice and straightforward.

If you don’t have a credit card what tends to happen is they ask for a deposit instead, so they take your debit card and actually withdraw the money from your account, then pay it back if they don’t need it.

I much prefer the credit card in that situation. I remember a thread on here once where someone was really distressed as they had arrived at a hotel with no credit card and didn’t have enough in their bank to pay for the deposit as well as the actual cost of the room.

I also get lots of Avios with mine. More than enough to get to Australia and back, if only it weren’t for COVID!

I much prefer the credit card in that situation. I remember a thread on here once where someone was really distressed as they had arrived at a hotel with no credit card and didn’t have enough in their bank to pay for the deposit as well as the actual cost of the room

Same with hire cars. With no credit card, they'll reserve about £1000 in your current account or charge you an extra £20/30 a day in excess reduction fees. Then people start complaining they don't have access to their holiday spending money or the car cost twice as much as they were told when they booked, all because they're too bloody minded to take out a normal payment tool that makes all these problems go away.

I use 4 credit cards at different places to maximise reward voucher which I get for my spending, i pay off in full each month. I don't use my bank card because if there is fraud it could close my account,

This is a privileged statement but if you budget and have money you'll never need credit

Credit card is a useful tool to help me budget and have money. It saves me quite a bit in the long term, plus less danger of losing out due to fraud.

I mean you don’t ‘need’ one but they do give you more protection than a debit card, particularly in the event of fraud