Need a C.Card (not debit!) to rent a car... ?! Where can I get?

[PatColo]

Around 8-9 years ago I paid off and terminated my former credit card from the credit union I 'bank' at. Thinking at the time was, can do everything with debit/ATM card; why have the CC at all? It's just a trip wire each month if you/I use it; it's needless; and one less point of stress just not to have.

Now, enter the car rental dilemma. It was until very recently, that with SOME agencies incl Budget/Avis, I could use the debit card-- they run a quick pass/fail credit check with equifax, then they also put a "hold" (but not actually transfer) a couple hundred dollars as deposit. Neither of these are nec when using a CC. I rented a car as recently as ~2 months ago from Budget with my debit.

So yesterday I went to rent a car again at Budget/Avis' airport location, with expedia-made reservation, and they've recently changed policy such that if I have a local permanent address & want to use debit card, I need to show a flight itinerary showing my departing schedule, or some such shite... short version was, couldn't rent! Next went on expedia & reserved a car from Alamo, and thought I'd beat this debit card obstacle coz Alamo required pre-paying through expedia, which I did with my debit card. Walked to Alamo's desk at the airport to pick up my car, and they still required a CC to fulfill my pre-paid reservation!! :( Went to Hertz desk just to inquire what their CC/debit policy was, and was told that they changed policy as recently as Jan 9, where they no longer accept debit at all. FOX car rental was same story, very recent policy change, though I didn't get the date it went into effect.

Add, recall I said the car rental co's which accept debit, also run a pass/fail credit check? Well, try having zero debt or open lines of credit for 8-9 years... not even monthly util bills in your name... it actually "hurts your credit score", and there was one agency with which I apparently failed their undefined threshold of credit worthiness, and couldn't rent from them. :(

"So duh, get a new CC from your credit union then!" you say? Well, they require to see some sort of regular monthly income, like from a job, or I guess SSI/pension for the oldies. I don't have! There's my late father's estate/trust story, but short version on that is, I don't see any of that monthly (mostly rental property) income for another decade or so-- plus the property is in the name of the trust-entity, not my own name... my own "personal books" show "no income." It appears that someone can be worth 6/7/whatever figures, debt free, piles of PMs stacked/secured; but if unable to show "monthly income", still be unable to get approved for a simple say, $500 or $1K monthly limit CC. Tried calling my CU today to ask advice on getting a CC from them in my situation; they're "closed for the (guess who?!) holiday."

So my GSUS brain trust: anyone know of some (((agency))) which will give a bum like me a CC, with whatever embarrassingly low limit and highway robbery interest%, "fully secured" IE I pay them a wad on deposit and they give me a CC with limit </= my deposit? But then it still functions as a CC, with equifax/etc agency score keeping? All just in order to get a CC for car rental purpose, as well as begin to put some monthly credit activity back on my score?

I should learn more WRT tricks to get a CC from my CU tomorrow when they're open again. Thankfully my older bro, an accountant, is the administrator of my pop's estate/trust, not some 3rd party (((XYZ Trust Co))) or (((law firm))) or ... sucking our blood. So could be that bro & I can brew up whatever's nec to give my CU's credit card dept the appearance they need to see that I've got monthly income? Will see; could take a while though, depending on what I learn is necessary. :rolleyes:

IOW, help, I need to get back in the matrix!! :o lol

[vacuum]

Can't you use a debit card as a credit card? Just tell them its a credit card, and they will treat it like a credit card, and it should work.

https://wallethub.com/edu/can-i-use-my-debit-card-like-a-credit-card/25527/

That's been my understanding.

[midnight rambler]

try having zero debt or open lines of credit for 8-9 years... not even monthly util bills in your name... it actually "hurts your credit score"

One must be a good producing debt slave with a track record of racking up debt in order for one to be *worthy* of bankster credit.

I checked my 'credit score' a couple of years ago and got a "We don't know you!" I'd much rather have Jesus know me than some shit-eating banksters.

[madfranks]

Set up an LLC and you'll get credit card offers immediately. Tell them your anticipated income from the LLC is $xxx, and they'll issue you a card based on anticipated income. As far as I know, they don't verify that you actually get any income from your LLC. If anyone asks later, tell them business isn't very good.

[PatColo]

Can't you use a debit card as a credit card? Just tell them its a credit card, and they will treat it like a credit card, and it should work.

https://wallethub.com/edu/can-i-use-my-debit-card-like-a-credit-card/25527/

That's been my understanding.

Besides my CU's "Mastercard" debit/ATM card saying "Debit" on the face of it; when they swipe it and their 'system' seeks to do its thing, system knows it's a debit based on... dunno, 16-digit number, or something in the mag-strip info, or...? Whatever the deal is, it comes back insisting on a CC.

I know what you mean though about running it as "credit"; I get that option often at small-purchase shops/restaurants; saying "debit" requires me to enter PIN on their little keypad, sometimes with the option to get some "cash back." But not so with the car rental agencies.

Madfranks, your LLC idea sounds like more to-do than I'm willing - whatever state filing fees, fictitious biz name/DBA notices, filing returns, etc. :(

[midnight rambler]

whatever state filing fees, fictitious biz name/DBA notices, filing returns, etc.

From what I gather Wyoming is very friendly regarding LLCs. Dunno about Wyoming specifically but in other states if there's no income there's no reporting requirement. You would have to hire a registered agent if you're not a *resident* of the state where the LLC is. You may find other useful benefits with a LLC besides getting a CC.

[cheka.]

they advertise something called prepaid credit cards. they target low/no credit people.

i'm thinking you'll get something out of your cu. although they might require you to make a deposit or something.. be creative and negotiate

[Down1]

Secured credit card.
No need to report any steady income.
You will need cash on hand when you apply.

[Jewboo]

... I could use the debit card-- they run a quick pass/fail credit check with equifax, then they also put a "hold" (but not actually transfer) a couple hundred dollars as deposit. Neither of these are nec when using a CC.



Amazon did this during a cancelled $500 computer order which never shipped. It took Amazon ten days to lift their $500 "hold" on my related checking account while my local bank said tough shit...nothing they can do.

[PatColo]

too bad it's not still last Nov/Dec; I prolly coulda grabbed an "extra Christmas staffing" retail job, applied for CC, shamelessly chased all the young hottie employee/customers whilst biding my time, & then quit job upon getting CC in hand. :D

Bay Area unemployment is phenomenally low; "officially" 3% - 4.5% (https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/Unemployment_BayArea.htm) depending on which city. If I put down the crack pipe, showered, shaved, & got a haircut, I could prolly pick up a job somewhere, lol.

http://www.shadowstats.com still has national unemployment hovering around 22.5% -- so I'd guess SFBA's real unemployment is in the mid teens % somewhere. It's been a crazy boomtown here at least since I returned from asia last July, if sky-high real estate (exceeded past '06 peaks), & rental & short-term (ie motel) accommodation prices are any indication. Most restaurants are doing a brisk biz too, as far as I can see. More cognitive dissonance time for this aging & confused doomer. :|~

[PatColo]

Secured credit card.
No need to report any steady income.
You will need cash on hand when you apply.


that's what I'm wanting to find, basically. Didn't know where to start looking. Shlomo Shekelstein's Payday Loans shop?

[Jewboo]

Secured credit card.

Debit card is already a "secured" card since the funds instantly are transferred from the checking account balance.

:(??

[monty]

prepaid credit cards . .

http://www.doughroller.net/credit-cards/free-prepaid-credit-cards/

[Down1]

that's what I'm wanting to find, basically. Didn't know where to start looking. Shlomo Shekelstein's Payday Loans shop?
I would just google and see which one is the best for you.
I got one along time ago from Bank of America.

I believe prepaid and secured are 2 different terms.

[Hitch]

Madfranks, your LLC idea sounds like more to-do than I'm willing - whatever state filing fees, fictitious biz name/DBA notices, filing returns, etc. :(

Start up a "prepper's/survival" product review business, LLC. Get a credit card. Charge all your preps and you can use them as a business expense, as well. Write some BS reviews on your website. You could probably get a credit card and a couple years of more prep items all taxed as a business expense before the LLC goes under. Who knows, maybe if you are sharp and write good reviews and a fancy website you'll get ads to fund the business.

[Glass]

Get a Visa Debit enabled ATM card from your bank. Works through the CC terminal but debits from your bank account instead of being a credit charge. So if you don't have funds in bank account it doesn't work. I was very dubious because I don't like or have a CC. I even spent weeks arguing with bank because I didn't want the tie in with a CC company on my bank account BUT they said all their cards come branded with the Visa thing. On the plus side I was able to geo lock the Visa side of the card so it would not be usable outside of where I am.

My main worry was skimming in other countries. All I needed to do was tell the bank I was traveling to such and such a country between x dates. They said, ok we will open it up for those countries and put a monitor on it for those dates in those places and block anything outside that.

Now... I am not really sure that is what they actually do but it made me feel a bit less concerned. Given it's a debit card... I didn't want my money/fiat/bananas getting cleaned out.... if it's the credit card companies money/fiat/bananas getting ripped off then that's another story.

[Horn]

I was looking into the payoneer card no address to send to here though, they send rapid prepaid cards..

applepay or paypal cards should not work or steal one off someone else.

Ask if they can increase the insurance rate on the vehicle, what you are covering there are unseen damages, tiny theft.

[PatColo]

Get a Visa Debit enabled ATM card from your bank. Works through the CC terminal but debits from your bank account instead of being a credit charge. So if you don't have funds in bank account it doesn't work.

That sounds like the CU-issued "Mastercard" debit card I have now. There's no "open line of credit"; either your checking has the funds or not. I/merchant can "run it as credit" as described above; I gather merchant usu gets joowd for a little higher % fee when running as credit. I just know one little shop near me has a $5 min purchase for debit, $10 min for credit.



On the plus side I was able to geo lock the Visa side of the card so it would not be usable outside of where I am.

My main worry was skimming in other countries. All I needed to do was tell the bank I was traveling to such and such a country between x dates. They said, ok we will open it up for those countries and put a monitor on it for those dates in those places and block anything outside that.

My CU's debit card has a "geo-lock" I guess, or really just an "anomalous/suspicious activity" flag; seems to work intermittently & at the worst times. Like ~2.x years ago, I made my first venture into Malaysia from TH, & tried to pay for a guesthouse on Sat afternoon there. Card was declined, "for no apparent reason" from my view. My CU was closed, was late Fri night in Calif, so I couldn't call & inquire, & have the temp "suspicious activity" block lifted. Long story short, I also didn't have my PIN # for this debit card - I'd always been going into banks in TH & getting cash as needed from the teller, presenting my debit & passport. Well that's not possible in MY; not at banks, money changers, anywhere. :( I only had enough cash for about 1 night at this guesthouse, not 2+, and I'd also have little cash left over for food. I was looking at late Mon night local MY time, IE Mon morning in Calif, before I could talk to a human at my CU and get the block lifted. Had to call big bro in Calif and have him Western Union me some cash to bridge... :rolleyes: Oh WU delivers alright, and for a seemingly nominal < $10 fee on my bro's sending end. Where WU jooz you, is on the pirates' rate of exchange at the receiving end...>:D think, 8-10% lower than virtually any other local entity would pay for USD's.

[Glass]

It can be difficult Pat. Had similar experiences with the thing being declined in a couple places late at night. At one point I was getting them to run the card before I ordered anything to make sure it would go through.

I've always preferred cash when traveling but hire cars are a problem because they want to be able to put a hold on funds before they give over the keys. The visa debit thing uses the Credit facility of the machine rather than cash withdrawal so it looks like a credit transaction but draws from available deposited funds. The main thing it enables me to do is pay online for things instead of needing a paypal. Only other option might be dodgy car hire no questions asked does it have working brakes kind of place? or pay the hire in cash and use a friends CC for the hold amount. .... or buy a banger at one end and sell it at the other... abandon in airport car park on the way out....... what ever is cheapest

[PatColo]

At one point I was getting them to run the card before I ordered anything to make sure it would go through.

heh, I was doing that too in that Malaysia story above. That Sat night I went to the pizza/nightclub joint next door to the guesthouse, and had them test the card for the pizza I wanted... viola, it approved! So that was my diet for the next ~48 hours. :) Fortunately they had a more diverse menu than just pizza, and open all afternoon before they turn noisy/nightclubby in the evening. :cool: Returned to gh & told reception the story, requested they try to run the card again for next night's fare, was declined. :-[ So like I said, card has intermittent/inconvenient "fraud protection"...

[ximmy]

Funny to watch you supposed preppers who can't get it together,

i.e. prep for freedom and live in the matrix...

(insert rolly eyes here)

[TroyOz]

Funny to watch you supposed preppers who can't get it together,

i.e. prep for freedom and live in the matrix...

(insert rolly eyes here)

One foot in, one foot out. Credit Cards are issued to people without jobs all day long, students as an example. Get a pre-paid Credit Card, charge it up, pay it off - rinse and repeat. Then start filling out applications, and in short order you will have a pocket full. Be careful what you wish for :)

[ximmy]

One foot in, one foot out.

Thank you. Half of prepping is working with the system.

[PatColo]

Went to Costco today & bought a "Gold Membership" (their lowest level, actually, $55 fee); and saw there they offered their own "Citi" affiliated credit card. Don't remember if it was Visa or Mastercard, doesn't matter I guess, but it was a real CC... just for Costco members; didn't need a (((Citi bank))) account. I entered some "annual income" (I wiild-arse-est'd $30K, which wouldn't appear anywhere they can verify anyways, coz of that papa's trust entity thing) & "monthly household expenses" which I lowballed @ $1K, also not verifiable coz I've been living in motels/hostels the past several mos & paying everything with cash & debit card... much more than 1K/mo. This was all entered direct to their terminal, and it instantly came back with a phone # and app ID # and said I need to call them for some additional questions. I called; there were no questions; I was just told that it was declined... :( Welcome to having lived life outside the "credit tracking/ratiing/score matrix" for nearly a decade; ~5.5 years of it outside the country, paying cash for nearly everything!

So after the above CC attempt FAIL; I spoke with my CU, and they do have a pre-paid credit card program... which was really good news, coz I can keep it all "in house (CU)", pay off monthly balance with a few keystrokes... and get this: APR for any outstanding balance 6.25%... whew! Go Credit Unions! --H H-- Beat that, Shekelstein's bagels & bad credit 'assistance' >:D kiosk!!

Barring unforseen, I should have that hot little piece of RFID microchipped plastic in hand when it comes in the mail next week. Prestigious $1K credit limit, I'muh gon' rent me a convertible mustang... WHOOO HOOO!! :D (not... prolly get a toy yaris or hyundai or some shite...:cool:)

[PatColo]

Funny to watch you supposed preppers who can't get it together,

i.e. prep for freedom and live in the matrix...

(insert rolly eyes here)

I could live off the canned food, dry beans/rice in my storage locker for... at least a couple months. Would still need H2O from somewhere though... :rolleyes:

[Horn]

I thought there were snow in Colorado?

[osoab]

Sounds like a good deal PatColo. Drive that rental into the mud.

[Glass]

Sounds like a good deal PatColo. Drive that rental into the mud.

Thats it. Drive it like you stole it. or like Jeremy Clarkson.