alamo - credit card question

[true_blue_84]

ok just a quick question to see if someone can clarify things for me, we have booked car hire with alamo at sanford airport (booked through holiday autos) recieved our confirmation documents today from travel agents and have been reading terms conditions etc, we know we will have to pay for our tank of fuel when we get there, but it also says we need to leave a credit card imprint for a deposit of $100 per week so $200 for our 14days car hire. My question is, is this just an imprint or do they actually charge you $200? and what is it for? it says u can also pay cash/travellers cheques but we dont really want to hand over $200 at the start of the holiday. can anyone shed some light on this? we usually use dollar car hire and have never had to leave deposit/imprint before so just a bit unsure of what to expect from alamo. any help would be greatfully appreciated.

love annette

xxxxx

[Dzneeprincss]

Annette-
I think this is a security deposit, that will be refundable at the end of the trip. This is their way of making sure any damage not reported is covered by the renter. This is the first I have heard of this, as I normally rent Budget or Hertz for my clients.

[leonaluvspooh]

Hi,

Hope I can help with this one, as we've used Alamo on most of our trips.

When you are getting your paperwork sorted at the Alamo desk, they ask for a credit card swipe for security. (probably to add overstay charges if you don't return the car in time)
They don't physically charge you the money, but I think they do put a hold over the $200 on your account. It's never cost me, and shouldn't do with anyone, in credit card charges because they don't physically remove the money from your account.

Also, they accept debit cards as well as credit cards for the swipe.

We're never had any problems with Alamo at all, so hope you enjoy.

Only thing I will advise is, they don't include roadside assistance in their policies. If you need roadside (like AA or AAA) then you need to ask for this to be added when you are getting your paperwork. We always take this, and we just came back last week (sadly) and it cost $75 for 2 weeks.
If you don't take the roadside assistance, if there are any problems and you need to call them for help, you will be charged. (probably straight away on your credit/debit card)
Just wanted to make you aware of this.

Hope this has helped. Enjoy your trip!!

Leona x

[true_blue_84]

thanks so much for your replies, that def clears things up a bit. not long to go now....so excited!!!!

love Annette xxxx

[jarretth]

They don't physically charge you the money, but I think they do put a hold over the $200 on your account. It's never cost me, and shouldn't do with anyone, in credit card charges because they don't physically remove the money from your account.

Also, they accept debit cards as well as credit cards for the swipe.


Just one word of caution - the hold on your account will affect your credit limit. Not necessarily a problem with a credit card unless they are already close to the limit but might be an issue with a debit card if you are not someone who keeps large amounts of 'spare' cash in the account.

[uscwest]

Only thing I will advise is, they don't include roadside assistance in their policies. If you need roadside (like AA or AAA) then you need to ask for this to be added when you are getting your paperwork. We always take this, and we just came back last week (sadly) and it cost $75 for 2 weeks.

Is this because you are foreign visitor? I have NEVER had to pay extra for emergency roadside assistance with ANY rental company here in the US.

[jarretth]

Is this because you are foreign visitor? I have NEVER had to pay extra for emergency roadside assistance with ANY rental company here in the US.

I'd not seen this whenever we've hired a car in the past but Leona's post isn't the first time I've seen this commented on recently.

I've just priced up a car with Alamo to test this and there is no mention of purchasing roadside assistance.

To my mind, if I hire a car and it breaks down or has a problem, it is up to the company who I hired the car from to sort it out.

[leonaluvspooh]

Is this because you are foreign visitor? I have NEVER had to pay extra for emergency roadside assistance with ANY rental company here in the US.

Not sure if it's just for visitors.

When we arrived at Sanford in 2007, the guy at Alamo desk advised us that they no longer include roadside assistance in their packages, and that it was an "optional extra".
We were told that if we didn't take the roadside and there was a problem with the car, mechanically, they would assist us.

However, if we locked ourselves out of the vehicle, got a puncture, etc, then they would still assist us. BUT our credit card would be charged for the call out, the hourly rate of the person sent to assist and any other charges that would occur to get us on our way.

Like others, you hope not to have to use it. But for $75, to us it's peace of mind.

As for the quote, I've seen it on many websites when I've been getting quotes. The small print states that breakdown assistance is not included in the rental.

Like I said, it's peace of mind for us.

[leonaluvspooh]

Got this statement from our rental agreement;

"In common with most car hire suppliers the insurance coverage does not cover damage to windows, tyres, the roof, underside & interior of the vehicle, towing charges or damage caused willfully or recklessly."

And found this on Alamo's website;

"What kinds of additional coverage does Alamo Rent A Car offer?"

And one of them is;

"Roadside Assistance – Protection for flat tires, keys locked in the car and other on-location services."

I like peace of mind.
Others have their own opinions.

[elsbells]

Hi there all, I love these boards I have learnt so much from them already! Only 5 weeks until we go now on our first ever trip!
I just wanted to double check from this thread that you can use a debit card for quarantee for the avis car hire?? If anyone knows.
This would help us out a bit really as I will have plenty of money in my account as I get piad the day before but I wont have a lot of limit on my credit card as we have been struggling the past 5 months with my fiance losing his job! Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[jarretth]

Hi there all, I love these boards I have learnt so much from them already! Only 5 weeks until we go now on our first ever trip!
I just wanted to double check from this thread that you can use a debit card for quarantee for the avis car hire?? If anyone knows.
This would help us out a bit really as I will have plenty of money in my account as I get piad the day before but I wont have a lot of limit on my credit card as we have been struggling the past 5 months with my fiance losing his job! Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks

As far as I know you can use a debit card BUT they will put a hold for a certain amount of money on the card. I can't remember how much it is but, in effect, it will reduce the amount of money left that you can take out of your account by that amount until you return the car. If you expect to have money in your account all the way through your holiday then that's not a problem but if your account balance will drop as bills get paid, etc then you need to be careful that you don't end up having bounced direct debits.

[elsbells]

Hi, I am sorry to put this here but the site wont let me create a new thread.
I have a huge problem at the moment with the hire car situation and was looking for some help/advice?!?!?
Money is so tight with us at the moment with my partner only bringing in JSA every month and our bills forever going up.
The problem we have is that when we booked and paid for the holiday up front last year we aslo booked a convertible car through avis for the two weeks as we are doing a week on I drive and a week on the gulf coast.
Since speaking to a few work collegaues who have been to Florida it has been brought to my attention that the hold put on the credit cards varies depending on what grade car you have, thus meaning that ours could be quite high. Main problem we have here is that I was planning on using my debit card for the hold expecting it to be in the region of $300 but after trying to contact AVIS and TC, TC finally came back to me and gave me an approximate cost of $650 which we just wont have.
Has anyone else had a similar from AVIS and know what is held or do people know what hold is on an economy car? I am contemplating cancelling the convertible and booking an economy car to make sure we have enough money to cover us.
Your help would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

[corinne]

my sister didn't have a credit card so they just asked her to leave a $50 deposit which she got back despite having bumped the car