We've had to leave credit card details in the past when hiring a car abroad. They wouldn't accept a debit card only credit.

Hi hotel just replied and say it has to be a credit card. I am thinking of using a prepaid c/c for the imprint as we are not expecting to charge anything to the room and pay as we go as are booked for bed and breakfast.

x

We've only ever had to do this in Malta at the timeshare place my parents had. It was a breakages deposit, but they just swiped the card for an imprint and at then end of the stay they just handed the blank slips back to us.

Personally, I think it's a cheek if you're on B+B and I think I would tell them that you will pay cash if you order anything within the hotel rather than charging it to your room.

I've never had to do that, and I don't own a credit card so what would happen then?

We've often had to give a credit card swipe - haven't had any problems to date

Hi

I am just trying to find out if the 'reserve' a certain amount off the card, as i dont hold a credit card - so will have to get a pre paid one.

cheers Louise

YEs same for me I don't own one so what do they do?

I have emailed the hotel (they do reply quite quickly) and also thomas cook. I am glad i found this out 3 andhalf months before the hols! i dont know what i would of done if i got to reception and they wouldnt let me check in? i didnt relise this would be difficult! i only wanted to take my daughter away after she lost her boyfriend 5 months ago to give her some good memories!

They just swipe your card number, so if you charge anything to the room, such as meals/drinks, then it's charged to this card. I'm sure that either a credit/debit card will do.

Thanks helen, thats sounds ok, i just thought the reserve a bit for just in case. I usally i stay in villas so am unsure on hotel processes. but that sound better!

thanks x

Many hotels that I've stayed in have asked to swipe my CC when I'm checking in, but often when I have said I will not be charging anything they have just let it go. There are still many people who do not have CC's so what happens if someone checks in without one? Briggsy's hotel says definitely a CC not a Debit card. It's not something that appears on a hotels web site so many people wouldn't know about it until reaching the hotel.

I've been asked more than a few times for a credit card imprint when checking in to hotels (even AI!!) whilst abroad outside Europe- I always tell them that I will settle any extras bills in cash,pretending that I haven't got a card - only once has this caused a "problem" - one officious jobsworth suggested he couldn't check me in without it - a quiet chat with the Reception manager and the Thomson rep. soon sorted it. Too many stories of fraud to hand out my long card number without some form of security, and too easy for someone to run up a bill on the room.

EDIT Is f.r.a.u.d considered a swear word now??

Hi
just to let you know that i received an email from the hotel that they will take a one euro from the card for the imprint. So that puts my mind at rest a lot. I am going to get a prepaid cc (which is a lot cheaper than the normal cc) and just put so money on to get a car rental etc.

brewerdave wrote:

EDIT Is f.r.a.u.d considered a swear word now??

Not a swear word as such, but to protect us from libel, in certain circumstances.