Wow, that screams theft. I have nothing to say beyond "Screw you hertz"

Why would you be using a debit card in the first place? Use a credit card, that way they can't just steal from your account. If you did use a credit card for the initial package, just go to a different rental place and do a charge back for the price of the rental. Also call the credit company to let them know what is happening.

Unrelated to this story, but my local Hertz office in Toronto (Yonge & Bloor Streets), which I used to rent from almost on a weekly basis, started charging a $10 "parking recovery fee"...to return the car to THEIR OWN LOT.

That was enough for me to stop renting from them. I tried reasoning with them that this was entirely stupid, expensive, and arbitrary, but nope. Just another company to add to the "*additional fees apply" clique.

If it's not their policy, and they won't fulfill her Orbitz order without the $200, then I'd go to another car rental company and give them her business. Orbitz obviously doesn't care. Her trip was most likely booked with her credit card, do a charge back later for the portion of her car rental fees and go to a company who cares.

I haven't rented many vehicles, but it seems like they actually PREFER a debit/credit card in case of damages and such. I know here in NY I've seen signs in the rental places saying that they can't MAKE you use a credit card... but it sure seems like they are.

@Corporate_guy: Perhaps because you don't believe in using debt for personal convenience purposes? It shouldn't be *required* to go into debt, not even a little bit, just to rent a car.

A check? Are you serious? What is Hertz playing at here?

BTW, I can't see the login/profile buttons on the Consumerist bar on the top.

@Billy Mills:

Ban hammer for the schmuck?

This kind of thing is why I don't feel debit cards are a substitute for having a "real" credit card. I get that some people don't trust themselves with easy access to debt, but if they choose that lifestyle they have to accept its limitations.

@Repique: If he has the money to use a debit card he has the money to charge it and pay it off at the end of the month.

It's not going into debt if you pay it off.

I know some people hate credit cards, but they do have their purpose.

I don't work for Hertz or Orbitz, I work for a different tour operator.

But your wife should have planned for the fact that a deposit would have to be left. You always have to leave a deposit, usually a block on an actual credit card (as opposed to debit).

This is basically the same policy for all car rentals, only many times they'll accept a debit card as long as they can get an authorization(read: temporary debit) on the deposit amount. I can confirm that Hertz never accepts debit cards for the deposit.

In any case, they need a cash deposit since they couldn't (for some reason) get the hold on her debit card.

When a cash deposit is made, it gets deposited ASAP because the rental desks don't keep cash around. After the car is returned and everything is good (tank full of fuel, no new damage), someone in an office off-site will cut your check. This can take 2 weeks to a month.

P.S. The company I work for does allow last-minute changes penalty-free (99% of the time), so it's kinda shitty on behalf of Orbitz not to assist in any way with an alternate rental.

I tried renting from hertz a week ago out of JFK and had a similar problem. They wouldnt take my debit/credit card unless I let them run a credit check on me. Needless to say I got a shuttle.

I don't think you should have to have a credit card to book a hotel room, rent a car or book a flight. But, while we are a no credit card family we do have a credit card we use for travel because we have run into this problem too many times.

Credit cards definitely have their purpose, especially in certain cases, car rentals being one of them. Car rental companies and hotels can both bot holds on accounts that will remain there for days, tying up much needed cash. Better off using a credit card where it won't affect you. It sounds like this couple had plenty of available credit though, so who knows what kind of shady business those Hertz guys were trying to pull.

@David Brodbeck: Why should we, a debit card is the same as cash, except with the backing of two financial institutions. Companies should not treat me or anyone different because I don't wish to use debt to subsidize my lifestyle. If this is Hertz's policy, why would I use them. I have traveled all over the world, never used Hertz, but have never had a problem with my debit card being taken.

I worked as an insurance claim rep for a number of years and the number one problem in handling a claim was dealing with the rental car companies. This isn't just a Hertz problem. Each office of any rental company is run like its' own little kingdom. What's corporate policy may or may not be their policy. Hidden fees, made up fees, out in out fraud I've seen it all. They know when you're standing at their counter and you need a car they can pretty much set the rules.

@Cletus: @CletusCorporate_guy: Here is Hertz's policy towards debit cards, they are just as safe as a credit card by the way. Why do we keep perpetrating this mythical legend.

At most Hertz locations, debit cards (sometimes called check cards) issued under a VISA or Mastercard logo which draw funds directly from the cardholder's account may be used to qualify for rental. However, prepaid or stored value cards which have a VISA or Mastercard logo are not accepted to qualify for rental. Debit cards must have available funds for the estimated amount of the rental charges plus a reasonable amount to cover any incidental charges in order to secure the rental. Both debit cards and prepaid or stored value cards issued under a VISA or Mastercard logo may be used as a form of payment when you return the vehicle. Please contact your local Hertz Reservations Office if you have a question about whether Hertz will accept a certain card.

Some religions forbid (or strongly discourage) the use of credit or going into debt. Islam immediately comes to mind. Perhaps these folks have deep personal reasons for not having a credit card?

The bank I work for didn't let customers use their debit cards at car rental companies for about a year. They were having HUGE problems with holds being put on accounts for days on end, customers having no cash available to them and bouncing checks, etc. etc. Our customers were mailed a notice, but many of them didn't read the material and never realized this had changed until they tried to use their debit card to rent a car. I wonder if something similar is going on with their bank? At the very least, they should contact their bank to see if they can give them any helpful information.

@Paladin_11: Or perhaps, gasp, they are just smart. Just saying, unwise, and sometimes even good use of debt has taken this country down the shit hole.

Sounds like this is a scam being done by the employees at the counter

@Collie: At "most" locations? So what do you do if you get a location that doesn't take debit cards?

And I didn't say they weren't as safe. They just aren't as convenient.

And why do you perpetuate the myth that using a credit card is the equivalent of going into debt? I charge absolutely everything and pay it off. I have no credit card debt.

@Corporate_guy: You can do a charge back on a debt card. You can't do a charge back on cash. I would be reluctant to give a cash deposit. Too hard to track, prove and get back. It sounds like the local office doing something that smells like fraud. Checks Hertz off list of places to do business with.

@MyPetFly: Please?

@David Brodbeck: I have no interest is forking over piles of cash in fees for a credit card when a debt card will suffice. Mine can be run as a credit card and the credit card transaction rules apply. Seeing the hell some people end up in with credit card companies creating fees out of thin air, jacking interest rates and lowering credit limits I see no benefit to having a credit card. We also diversify between a couple of separate debt cards from different sources so the risk of being wiped out is nil. Our main bank will do a replace or charge back with the money returned between 1-24 hours.

@SadSam: With so many card companies kicking even good customers off their cards or potentially going out of business I can see this all changing and there being less of a supposed bias against debt cards with a Visa or MC branding on them.

Its the indvidual location that sets the policies. This person failed the credit check (which, if they don't have a credit card, I can see why).

This is directly from Hertz.com

Question
Can I use my Debit Card or Bank Card to reserve a Hertz car?

Answer
At most Hertz locations, debit cards (sometimes called check cards) issued under a VISA or Mastercard logo which draw funds directly from the cardholder's account may be used to qualify for rental. However, prepaid or stored value cards which have a VISA or Mastercard logo are not accepted to qualify for rental. Debit cards must have available funds for the estimated amount of the rental charges plus up to $200 to cover any incidental charges in order to secure the rental. Both debit cards and prepaid or stored value cards issued under a VISA or Mastercard logo may be used as a form of payment when you return the vehicle. Please contact your local Hertz Reservations Office if you have a question about whether Hertz will accept a certain card.

For credit check information when using a Debit Card click here.

Question
What kind of credit check is performed when I use my Debit Card?


Answer
The credit scoring process performed through the services of Equifax are very similar to the type of credit checks that are done when a person applies for credit.

@Paladin_11: It's not credit or debt that's discouraged in Islam. It's interest.

Similar story but a bit different for me. We rented through Advantage in Las Vegas and were surprised at the counter when they asked for 3 pieces of ID including a utility bill and a copy of our lease. Who the hell brings a utility bill and copy of their lease to rent a car? They all have GPS trackers in them, what are we going to do, steal it? Oh, and since we had a debit card they hard charged the deposit for $350 which is higher than a credit card holder would pay, and they wouldn't take cash either.

To me this sounds like the consumer is dealing with a shady clerk at a local shop who wants/needs some fast cash.

The clerk's behavior shouldn't reflect on Hertz at large (well, maybe about their hiring). What will is their handling of the matter now that they know about it.

Sucks for the consumer, though. I hope they apologize and comp her.

@bohemian: Why? Because I probably sniffed out the real truth here? Just because I say something that doesn't align with the group think here I deserve to be banned?

There are two sides to every story. I'm not necessarily being devils advocate, but the guy himself said that his credit is less than pristine.

Banning someone because they don't agree with you runs contrary to the purpose of the internet. At least I was willing to say what so many probably had thought but were afraid to say because of people like you.

@Collie:
Debit cards may be just as safe, but that doesn't mean you should use them in all instances. If you need to dispute a charge, it's a lot easier to take care of it if it was on your credit card. If it was on your debit card, you'd have to file an affidavit at your bank and wait for the money to be refunded to your account, which can be up to a couple weeks. Just avoid the hassle altogether, especially when traveling, and use a credit card.

This reminds me of that post where the hotel put all those charges on the card and wouldn't release the funds. verucalise said they can't MAKE you use a card, but that's what it sounds like.

@Zain: Actually, I think its more about receiving interest from another muslim, not so much the act or the credit itself. A muslim can still use the card, but he is forbidden(?) from lending money to another fellow muslim with the sole intent of getting more than he lent.

Bearded Rapper said:
"BTW, I can't see the login/profile buttons on the Consumerist bar on the top. "

I can't either, and I logged in at the bottom but can't reply. Anyone else having this problem?

I can't state this as fact, but we rent cars often on vacations. And every time it explicitly states that a CREDIT CARD is necessary to rent the car (we always use Hertz because with the various discounts its the cheapest). I suspect that Ryan didn't really pay attention to the rules.

Though I feel for Ryan and his predicament, his trouble started when using orbitz. Rarely will you get a real discount, and they are far less vigorous in explaining the rules. BOOK DIRECT you get far more protection and better service.

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@bohemian: @Collie: If you're paying with a debit card that means you have the cash... meaning you can use a credit card with no fees, as long as you pay it off each month.

Credit card pros:
- some have extended warranty policies
- rewards
- chargebacks
- NO FEES if you pay it off each month (and you have a card with no annual fee)
- holds (like at gas stations, car rentals, and hotel rooms) don't tie up cash in your checking account
Credit card cons:
- none, unless you can't control your own spending

I'm so sick of seeing people say "waah wahhh credit cards are bad! I'm not giving out my hard earned cash!!!" when you don't have to give up a damn cent.

I did have to rent a car with my debit card last year - I travel quite a bit for work and it was my 4th car rental in a month and I had too many holds on my credit card (I had also been staying in hotels as well). They did take my debit card but they held out a bit more than they normally do. I have never had a car rental place ask for cash though - most of them do not even take cash. I do normally rent from Enterprise though.

@Billy Mills: No, you really seem to be missing the point here. It's not that your post had an unpopular opinion, it was that it seemed to lack any thought while blindly casting aspersions at the OP.

Calling the OP a deadbeat is entirely different than disagreeing.

This sounds more like the clerk was pulling some kind of a scam. Really, they need cash?

This isn't necessarily Hertz's fault... Many Hertz locations are privately owned and operated (called Licensees, just a glorified franchise) and they set many of their own policies.

Whether or not that's the case with this location I can't say for sure, but it certainly sounds that way. Nobody in corporate that you're going to reach through a toll-free number is going to be able to do anything about it themselves... and it's likely that even if they tried, it would take quite a bit of corporate hocus-pocus travelling a ways up the ladder before you'd find someone with clout enough to make a difference - and that would take a fair amount of time.

@Billy Mills: No because some of us don't want a word jumble to read. Use vowels... its not a text message

@conquestofbread: Wrong. I've rented from Hertz many times with a debit card.

@s25843: It's most likely that it's a franchise location that doesn't even accept debit cards. That's the danger of booking through third party sites like Orbitz - you have to jump through hoops to get to the fine print.

@TrueBlue63: You must live in a lower-demand area than I do... Hertz come in consistently 10-15 a day higher than Dollar and Enterprise. Plus the only one that's open past 5pm is on airport property so I'd have to pay an additional fee for that. There's an Enterprise about half a mile from the airport that serves me wonderfully.

@bohemian: I've never paid an annual fee to any of my credit cards. If a company decides they're going to add a fee I get rid of the card.

Personally, I like the idea that when someone steals my card number (it's happened), it's the credit card company's money at stake, not mine.

@KStrike155: Well, I'm sick of companies and people telling me I have to use or should use a credit card. They track my spending, and my lifestyle and determine that since I shop at "less" desirable locations, they will lower your credit or raise your interest rate. I don't like my government or my private company tracking me thank you very much.

@skizsrodt: That's what I said, except in more words. Interest is not only forbidden when Muslims deal with other Muslims; it's forbidden in dealings with all people.