No credit card - holiday ruined??

[Rockmehardplace]

I’ve booked a driving holiday and need to hire a car. Turns out I need a credit card to use as a deposit against any damage and I don’t have one. I’m distraught as everything is booked & paid for. Have applied for a credit card via my bank but they’ve said it could be 7 days till they make a decision and I fly on Monday. Does anyone give instant credit cards (I have savings, no debt, good credit rating etc). To stop me losing all the money on the holiday and DC being gutted????
im already distraught about the whole thing so don’t need telling how stupid I have been :(

I’ve found that some companies if you don’t use the airport branch won’t require a credit card.

Car companies can "hold" an amount ie £600 via your debit card until you return the car. As I don't us a credit card on a daily basis I've have forgotten to take it with me it on more than one occasion the same situation and there's always been a workaround.

@Dimdam completely agree. Put the money back into the local economy, not line the pockets of multinationals.
And go direct, not through a broker who takes such a large percentage.

Get a Revolut card. We use them all the time abroad.

You can get one instantly and use it through an app on your phone

Try a different hire company?

I had something similar - my passport is in maiden name and licence was in my married name and they wouldn't accept this as the two forms of ID needed, which I realised a day or two before we flew. My husband didn't have a credit card either but we'd booked through Holiday Autos and they were able to find a company that would accept a debit card and him as driver, though they took a deposit of maybe £800? Same pickup location etc and actually ended up slightly cheaper.

Agree, WISE and Revolut allow you to join very quickly within a few hours via your phone and you will get virtual debit cards as soon as you are approved. Revolut is probably slightly easier. They are also both very good travel cards that allow currency conversion at mid market rates.

Ah it depends on a few different things to get a revolut credit card.

I just applied for a revolut credit card there now, and it declined me because it said that i havent worked in my current wotkplace for long enough.

Sorry OP, this is off topic (but you've had some really good answers)

tbh don't understand WHY an adult, other than those with gambling/spending issues, don't have an emergency credit card, even if they never use it.

I was on another thread where some posters were really smug about never ever using credit. I find it really weird. As long as you're sensible there are lots of instances when using a credit card is beneficial and sometimes financially more prudent than any other type of payment, including paying in full in cash (when you want Section 75 protection, if you're in a position to stooze, have a 0% deal and want to build up a good credit rating, an emergency if your main bank account got hacked/locked out etc.)

I forgot my credit card once and found an app called Turo that lets you use someone else car a bit like Airbnb but for cars. All paid for online
see if they have similar where you’re going

Tesco bank used to give credit cards with a small limit to students with zero credit rating back in the day so I'm sure you can get one with enough for the rental. Good luck!

I’m the same, don’t have any debt, don’t have a CC, and have savings. I hire cars a couple of times a year, and they usually just take a deposit using my debit card. I assume you have a debit card, will that not do? If not maybe try a different car hire place.

It’s worth buying questor (or similar) hire car insurance- it covers you for excess if you have a collision.

Yay!

Hope your holiday is fab.

Agree 100%.

I’ve hired using a debit card. They do put a hold for a high amount £1000 if i remember correctly but it was released on return

Sometimes the rental company will offer you their insurance if you do not have a credit card I would call them and ask them if they have any options if your card doesn’t arrive

This has definitely been a lesson learned! I wasn’t very responsibly with a credit card in my early 20s (now in my 40s) so deliberately avoided credit for a long time, kept meaning to get one again and just never got round to it ……never again!!

will also be making sure that my full name and not just my initials are on the card when it eventually arrives, thanks to this thread!

Autoreisen
You do not need a credit card, just pay for the hire

ALWAYS get your excess insurance BEFORE you travel. This will be your bond against any incidents, damage, accidents. You can do this online or with your current insurer. NEVER do it with the car hire company as it will cost you far more. You will then not have to leave your credit card with the company in most cases.

How likely is that as the issue is they don't have a credit card😂

Because millions of people on fixed budgets have overspent in the past to meet some need or want and spent years paying them off due to high interest rates and low disposable income. They don't ever want to be in that situation again so don't have them.
If you are continually juggling finances it becomes exhausting and you don't have to be an addict or spend thrift to dip into credit if it's there instead of denying your children something yet again. Then it becomes a vicious circle of paying high interest and less disposable income.
You are in a privileged position of being able to manage your credit card to your advantage, but can you really not understand why some people don't have them as an adult?

DH also forgot his credit card once on business in the US. He was able to hire the car on his debit once he could cover the significant deposit. I think it was about $7K

Aqua but still need wait on card coming.

I use Revolout and they do instant ‘online’ card which can use immediately. Can also order a physical card but can take upto a week to arrive. Great for withdrawing cash abroad from ATM (no fees).