Hotel CC blocking

[joeymelb]

Yes a simple solution would be to get a bigger limit or transfer more cash onto the CC, but I made a decision a few years ago to get rid of all my CC's bar one and never get into high CC utilisation again.

My recommendation to those travelers using only Debit Visa/Master Card is to apply for a fee free credit card. Don't use the fee free CC at all, just use it to hotel and/or rental car blocking. This way, you can have best of both worlds, where you don't have to worry about your cash getting hold up and full control of your cash spend.

You definitely won't get into High CC Utilisation at all (since the CC only look pretty in your wallet) and it should be fee free and cost you nothing.

Best of luck.

 

[lovestotravel]

Just get a credit card with a higher limit or increase the limit on an existing one

Pretty simple

 

[Cynicor]

Some hotels will not allow debit cards for pre-authorisations, even those issued by Visa/MC. Not sure how they can tell. I use a charge card. My current rental car has a 2600 EUR pre-auth on it which would be pretty brutal on my 28 degrees limit.

 

[Ewing]

Some hotels will not allow debit cards for pre-authorisations, even those issued by Visa/MC. Not sure how they can tell.

My two debit cards say "DEBIT" below the Visa logo. Maybe that's how?

 

[cmon0005]

Up until this thread I was oblivious to Charge Cards, I always thought Charge card and credit card were the same thing.

Who offers charge cards these days?

 

[burrco]

Had a crazy occurrence at the W Hong Kong several months ago. On a prepaid stay for three or four nights they put a hold on my credit card of $A8,000. I mentioned that it appeared excessive, they looked into it and found an extra zero had been entered. To fix it, instead of releasing the incorrect hold, they placed an additional hold for the extra $800.

The holds were never released by the hotel and dropped of after two or so weeks. I normally have plenty of credit left - but still gives the heart a little flutter when you see a pending unknown charge of 8k sitting on the account.

 

[ric_melb]

AFAIK American Express and Diners are the only two companies offering charge cards in Australia. I think you will find American Express is accepted at more merchants, so possibly the way to go.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Had a crazy occurrence at the W Hong Kong several months ago. On a prepaid stay for three or four nights they put a hold on my credit card of $A8,000. I mentioned that it appeared excessive, they looked into it and found an extra zero had been entered. To fix it, instead of releasing the incorrect hold, they placed an additional hold for the extra $800.

The holds were never released by the hotel and dropped of after two or so weeks. I normally have plenty of credit left - but still gives the heart a little flutter when you see a pending unknown charge of 8k sitting on the account.

lol, way to go to fix the problem!

 

[Mal]

Some hotels will not allow debit cards for pre-authorisations, even those issued by Visa/MC. Not sure how they can tell.

My two debit cards say "DEBIT" below the Visa logo. Maybe that's how?

The first four to six numbers on the card (AKA the IIN or Issuer Identification Number) is also a way they check.

 

[k3nnis]

This is when charge cards comes in handy

 

[Cynicor]

Ah, ok. I've never had a debit card, only charge and credit.

 

[joeymelb]

This is a bit OT. I have a debit card given to me as part of banking package. This is how I play my cards and points game.

Scenario: 1 x Westpac Krisflyer VISA, 1 x AMEX Green Charge Card, 1 x Westpac Debit Master Card

* All my travel expenses goes onto VISA to earn points, complimentary travel insurance... etc
* Use AMEX charge card at check-in or pick up rental.
* Use VISA to settle the bill upon check-out or return car rental
* When there is need for REFUND - e.g. TRS Refund - I get the refund on Debit Master Card. Reason: If I refund back onto VISA, I actually loose valuable points!

Have fun with the card game.