gyuri@cvl.UUCP (Gyorgy Fekete) (03/09/84)
I don't particularly believe in credit cards, and will resist applying for one for as long as possible, although the pressure is there. Radio Shack will not take my checks without a MAJOR credit card, but I never shop there anyway. So far the only time not having a card hurt is when I want to rent a car for a trip. Avis and Hertz, and as far as I know others too require major cards. Does anyone know a way to get around this problem? Please send me mail. UUCP: ...!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!gyuri ARPA: gyuri@cvl -George
stanwyck@ihuxr.UUCP (Don Stanwyck) (03/09/84)
Not directly in response to the query, I have a slight flame. On a recent trip to New Jersey (on business) I used Avis. I rented the car with my Visa. The car was reserved for 1 day, and was returned on time. Total charge, < $40. Avis, when I rented the car, got a charge guarantee for > $200! And they took three weeks to get the charge through, which meant that $160 of my charge limit was not available for my use. (I had to call an get my limit temporarily bumped when a car repair charge ($400) was not accepted when the repair place called on my card - and I knew I had sufficient room.) With regard to the original question, I know that certain companies (AT&T among others) have agreements with some companies that we can use cash and the company guarentees the payment. It requires company i.d., but no credit card. I have used that means, and will again. Next time I will tell them it is cash, and not let them run a voucher until the exact charge is known. -- ________ ( ) Don Stanwyck @( o o )@ 312-979-3062 ( || ) Cornet-367-3062 ( \__/ ) ihnp4!ihuxr!stanwyck (______) Bell Labs @ Naperville, IL
wyse@ihuxq.UUCP (Neal C. Wyse) (03/09/84)
I'm not sure of a "normal" way around giving them plastic, although I managed it once. When I was looking for a job just before graduating, I interviewed out in LA. The company was supposed to have a rental car there for me, but no car. I must have looked sufficiently upset/scared/I don't know, because they gave me a car without a credit card (I didn't have one). When I called them later, I've forgotten why, they were somewhat flabbergasted that I had a car. (Turned out that the company had made all my reservations one day off.) Neal Wyse ihnp4!ihuxq!wyse
werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/10/84)
x (I can spit and hit a bug at 10 feet) RE: how to rent a car without plastic cards: many years back, it was possible to leave a deposit in form of travellers' checks. I did it once, without double-signing the checks, pointing out to an understanding person, that he had a contract, my checks, and did not need more to sue me. But if I countersigned the checks, I would then receive them back and be no longer protected should I lose them. Anyone know if that is still possible today ???
ron@brl-vgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (03/14/84)
It seems to me that if the Rent-A-Car company had a legitimate claim they could get the Travelers Check company to pay off on the checks even though you hadn't signed them (there is even a legal basis for this, but I don't want to call my free legal service (dad) to find out exactly). -Ron
zemon@felix.UUCP (03/16/84)
The rent-a-car companies don't actually require a credit card although in practice they do. You are always free do post a (LARGE) cash bond when you rent a car instead of leaving a credit card chit. No one can require a credit card. Remember what all our cash says, "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." -- Art Zemon
rees@apollo.uucp (Jim Rees) (03/19/84)
The rent-a-car companies don't actually require a credit card although in practice they do. You are always free do post a (LARGE) cash bond when you rent a car instead of leaving a credit card chit. No one can require a credit card. Remember what all our cash says, "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." I don't think that is necessarily true. There is a tool rental outfit in Seattle (Cain's) that will not rent to you unless you either drive a car or are in the military (both of which are taken as signs of great responsibility). I called the Washington State Attorney General about this and was told that as long as he is not discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or other legally prohibited criteria, he is free to do business with whoever he wants. The stuff about "legal tender" was discussed in net.misc a while back. I think the conclusion was that you could "tender" (offer) US currency in good faith all you want, but no one is obligated to do business with you (except perhaps the government itself).