Credit card fees for car hire
Credit card fees for car hire
I thought it was not legal to charge a fee for using a credit card. A car hire company seems to do this as a matter of course and it is in their T&C's but that does not make it right. They don't charge a fee for using a debit card. What is the legal situation here?
The fee is 3,30 euros + VAT bringing the total fee up to 3,99. In the past I've had my card issuer refund this amount but as I'm about to complain to the car hire company I want to make sure I'm on solid legal ground here. I'd be very grateful If anybody here could put me right on this matter or share how they went about obtaining redress.
Saludos
The fee is 3,30 euros + VAT bringing the total fee up to 3,99. In the past I've had my card issuer refund this amount but as I'm about to complain to the car hire company I want to make sure I'm on solid legal ground here. I'd be very grateful If anybody here could put me right on this matter or share how they went about obtaining redress.
Saludos
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
For €4 I really couldn’t be bothered. When you consider the legal benefits of using a credit card rather than a debit card then it’s OK by me.
Sid
Sid
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Hola
Are the differences between a debit & credit card the same in Spain as in the UK?
Davexf
Are the differences between a debit & credit card the same in Spain as in the UK?
Davexf
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
This is what the EU has to say on this matter: "Traders in the EU are not allowed to charge you extra for using your credit or debit card. " so technically this is a breach of EU law - interesting! Although the fee might be trivial for some I'm nonetheless surprised this car rental firm continues the practice.
Saludos
Saludos
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Hola
In the interests of we occasional hirers of cars and so that we can be properly informed on our choices, can the OP please advise readers which car hire organisation is charging for use of a credit card? and which location please?
As Sid says, perhaps not worth the bother of seeking a refund, but I would add perhaps a factor in future choices......
Regards
Vincent
In the interests of we occasional hirers of cars and so that we can be properly informed on our choices, can the OP please advise readers which car hire organisation is charging for use of a credit card? and which location please?
As Sid says, perhaps not worth the bother of seeking a refund, but I would add perhaps a factor in future choices......
Regards
Vincent
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Unfortunately in this day and age most car hire companies will use any means possible to gouge a few cents out of you.
My last experience was in May when I hired a car delivered to me at Malaga airport, they charged me by debit card (no fees) then after that transaction they asked for my CREDIT card details, When I asked why they said it's in case of any fines incurred ( parking tickets etc) this I can understand but once they have that credit card number whose to say they won't invent something when you're back home !!
My last experience was in May when I hired a car delivered to me at Malaga airport, they charged me by debit card (no fees) then after that transaction they asked for my CREDIT card details, When I asked why they said it's in case of any fines incurred ( parking tickets etc) this I can understand but once they have that credit card number whose to say they won't invent something when you're back home !!
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
They always want a credit card for fines etc. Vertually imposdible to rent without one
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
The car hire organisation was Firefly Car Rental at XRY. I would imagine the CC fee is part of their general T&Cs and not specific to this location. Another gripe I have with car hire organisations in general is that even if you request to be billed in euros they still convert to GBP applying Direct Currency Conversion without permission. Again something that I have to get my card provider to rectify and as noted above it all adds up.
Saludos
Saludos
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Thanks Screagle - we don't use Jerez, but on the rare occasions we need to hire a car, we'll avoid Firefly online and if they have offices elsewhere. Vote with our feet eh?
As others say, credit cards are always needed for car hire - but not only for speeding, parking or other fines, with sums retained in our experience for long periods against previously un-noted damage, fuel costs, and anything else those less reputable firms might dream-up. These retentions can be for hundreds of euros (beware going over your card limit) and be for several months, and usually only a close read of the T&C's will enlighten the user. Caveat emptor methinks.....
Vincent
As others say, credit cards are always needed for car hire - but not only for speeding, parking or other fines, with sums retained in our experience for long periods against previously un-noted damage, fuel costs, and anything else those less reputable firms might dream-up. These retentions can be for hundreds of euros (beware going over your card limit) and be for several months, and usually only a close read of the T&C's will enlighten the user. Caveat emptor methinks.....
Vincent
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Malagacar lets you use Debit Card or cash. They blocked 1300euros on mine last week, which I was not aware was going to happen. Didn't read small print obviously. They put it back in my bank a couple of days after I returned the car. It still has not come through to my account and is pending for two weeks. My bank tried to blame Malagacar, but then admitted it takes two weeks for THEM to process and is pending at my bank.
When you book a flight, you are not charged fees if you use a Debit Card but are if you use a CC. So I think it is lawful to charge on CCs. Don't know about VAT though
When you book a flight, you are not charged fees if you use a Debit Card but are if you use a CC. So I think it is lawful to charge on CCs. Don't know about VAT though
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
I used Firefly a few years ago at Murcia....never again....they are by far, the worse car hire company I have ever used. I queued for nearly 2 hours waiting to be served, while they tried to browbeat every customer into buying their over-priced excess-cover insurance.Screagle wrote:The car hire organisation was Firefly Car Rental at XRY. I would imagine the CC fee is part of their general T&Cs and not specific to this location. Another gripe I have with car hire organisations in general is that even if you request to be billed in euros they still convert to GBP applying Direct Currency Conversion without permission. Again something that I have to get my card provider to rectify and as noted above it all adds up.
Saludos
I would rather walk than ever use them again.
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
This has changed and you don't pay extra now, At least I haven't when booking with companies such as Ryanair, Easyjet or BA.maureenscot wrote: When you book a flight, you are not charged fees if you use a Debit Card but are if you use a CC. So I think it is lawful to charge on CCs. Don't know about VAT though
Last edited by markwilding on Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Yeah part of the eu ruling.
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
Received confirmation today from my credit card provided that I've been refunded for the credit card fee as well as not being billed in the currency of my choice so happy days. I have written to the car hire organisation to complain about the fee and application of direct currency conversion without my permission but wondering if there's anything else I could do to make the complaint bite e.g. report the matter to the local police at the airport or ask for the "libro de reclamaciones" (?) at the car hire office. Would be grateful for any suggestions or advice.
Saludos
Saludos
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
My understanding is with Easyjet is there is an £8 charge across all bookings.markwilding wrote:This has changed and you don't pay extra now, At least I haven't when booking with companies such as Ryanair, Easyjet or BA.maureenscot wrote: When you book a flight, you are not charged fees if you use a Debit Card but are if you use a CC. So I think it is lawful to charge on CCs. Don't know about VAT though
If we book one flight it is £1, if we book 8 flights its £8 total charge, 9 i do not know...
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
I'm not sure where you got that information from. I have a couple of EasyJet flights booked and didn't pay any extra. Just to make sure I checked their fees and charges and it says both debit and credit cards incur no extra charges.
https://www.easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions/fees
https://www.easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions/fees
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
It is in contravention of eu law, so ask for it’s complaints book. They will soon buckle.Screagle wrote:I thought it was not legal to charge a fee for using a credit card. A car hire company seems to do this as a matter of course and it is in their T&C's but that does not make it right. They don't charge a fee for using a debit card. What is the legal situation here?
The fee is 3,30 euros + VAT bringing the total fee up to 3,99. In the past I've had my card issuer refund this amount but as I'm about to complain to the car hire company I want to make sure I'm on solid legal ground here. I'd be very grateful If anybody here could put me right on this matter or share how they went about obtaining redress.
Saludos
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Re: Credit card fees for car hire
There are various group complaints which our Trading Standards are investigating about a lot of issues re car hiring in Spain. See if you can tag onto their stuff. Also Which? would like to hear these stories. It is out of order and Spain appears to have the most rip-offs acording to thse consumer orgs
Re: Credit card fees for car hire
I'll have some time to kill on my next trip to XRY so will ask for Firefly's complaints book - providing I'm not having the dash for the train into town or my inbound flight is not cancelled by strike action! I'll prepare the complaint in Spanish and English and show it to the staff before requesting the book. I'd better check though that they've not updated their T&C's but I'll get them on Direct Currency Conversion anyhow. I'll also explain to them that I won't be hiring cars from them in the future until the've amended their T&C's.
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