Hotel doesn't accept debit cards? Help!

[Jobs4kids]

I have tried emailing the hotel but no reply so far so grateful for advice while I wait.

I booked an Ibis hotel through booking.com using my debit card. Booking.com are scheduled to take the full payment a few days before I arrive. I just re-read the booking.com confirmation email and spotted the following at the bottom and had a panic as I don't own a credit card!

Important Details
Please note that this hotel is no longer accepting cash payments, only card payments.

Please note that guests can not make a reservation with a debit card.

Please note that 3 rooms are available upon request for guests with reduced ability.

Please note that guests are required to show the credit card which has been used to make the booking, upon arrival. If this is not possible, guests should have an authorization form, signed by the credit card holder if he/she is not travelling along.

However, my rational head tells me that this is for people who have booked with them direct and plan to pay on arrival. I will have already paid! I see booking.com have copied the wording directly from the hotel website.

I travel next week so have little time to find another hotel or apply for a credit card (that I don't want!). Please tell me it'll be OK and I won't be turned away 🙏

Thanks!

It looks like your reservation and booking are managed by booking.con so there should not be an issue.
This all sounds a bit odd for an Ibis though!

Just offer to pay on debit card on arrival, I can’t see how they would have a problem with that? Ring them to ask maybe?

Is it a Mastercard or visa debit card?

Because loads of people have zero money for debit cards and it will get denied or stopped.

Credit cards on the other hand are rarely a problem. It also allows charging for damages etc

How odd.
However this is going back almost 20 years ago but me and my husband went to stay at a Holiday Inn or Premier Inn (I forget which) and they said the same thing when we were at the reception checking in.
They weren't going to accept the debit card and asked for a credit card.
We said we didn't have one and they said they'd take the debit card but to remember the "payment would be taken straight away".
We were like "Err....ok. Isn't that the point of a debit card? We are here to stay and we would like to pay".
Edit: when using Premier Inn now I pay when I book. Isn't that the norm?

I won't need to pay on arrival as I will have already paid!

Visa debit

It does seem odd.
Also what if you weren't the one paying?
My mum has booked me a room before -for me in my name but she is the one who paid (so her bank details).
I expect that happens a lot with spouses too.
One is staying but the other just happened to be the one who booked and paid.

That's what I'm hoping!

It’s to take the credit card to use as deposit. Worst case scenario is they’ll ask for an actual deposit then refund you. Why don’t you have a dédit card even if just for this type of thing?

Most hotels take a credit card from you on arrival for any drinks or charges to the room and in case of any damage.

Well if it’s paid I don’t imagine there’ll be an issue…it’s an ibis so I’m imagining charging extras to the room won’t be possible or you’ll pay upfront

FWIW…I’ve never had a credit card and I’ve never had issues using my debit. Sometimes I pay upfront and sometimes not.

Is it for a deposit? Like a pending amount on arrival?

Otherwise it sounds like you don't have anything to pay on arrival. Unless you still have local fees to pay at the desk?

By the way, I wouldn't trust booking.com because they don't confirm their reservations. I recommend ringing the reception at the hotel to confirm you have a reservation at all. And then ask if you've got anything to pay on arrival.

I do have a debit card, but not a credit card. Used to have a credit card years ago but never used it so cancelled it, think it was when they started charging for them. Don't want a credit card. Have booked and paid for many hotels on my debit card, never had an issue.

The difference between a debit and credit card is that they'll still be able to force charges onto a credit card irrespective of the actual balance. A debit card will only let you charge for what is available to spend.

If you do decide to get a credit card to use for a deposit, a prepaid one isn't suitable for a pending transaction because it doesn't drop off. It could take a very long time for that money to become available again.

Yeah, don't plan on ordering room service etc and, if I do, will pay upfront.

No, the bill will be paid in full before arrival. Used booking.com many times for hotel bookings, some paid in in advance, others not. Never had an issue.

I stayed at an Ibis booked through booking.com in Jan. same concern. I had no problem, took my booking.com invoice etc. Nobody batted an eyelid. You have paid through a booking platform, all is fine.

The only thing I can think of is a deposit. Is there anything on the hotel website about whether they take deposits on arrival?

Credit cards aren’t charged for - some our most aren’t!
anyway I would check whether they want to put a holding charge when you arrive - pending charges are different for debit (you cant spend the money) to credit

It's different everywhere.

The Hilton in Canary Wharf always puts something silly like £3 on my debit card as a pre-auth. Most places pre-auth £50-100.

Hotels I've stayed at in the US recently won't let you check in without putting $100 for every day of your stay on a card 🙃

If they insist on a card but you don't have a CC, they'll just pre-auth your debit a set amount, so as long as you have enough cash on it you'll be fine.

Phew! Yes, I will take my recept email to confirm payment. Thanks.

Not that I can see. Reading it back, it says RESERVATIONS can't be made with a debit card. Otherwise, it says they take card payments, but not cash, so presumably could use the debit for drinks etc.

A deposit is the first part of a payment, Op has already paid in full so no deposit needed