I do not know when you stopped traveling a lot, but things have changed quite with renting cars using debit cards:
From Hertz’s
Web site:
Using Debit Cards to Qualify for a Rental
At many Hertz locations, debit cards under a VISA, MasterCard and Discover logo which draw funds directly from the cardholder's account may be used at the outset of a rental to qualify for the rental where the following requirements are met:
- at Hertz Airport locations, you will be required to provide proof of a return airline flight to coincide with the rental and present two (2) valid forms of identification;
- at Hertz Off Airport locations, you will need to be at least 25 years old, present two (2) valid forms of identification and one of the following: (a) provide a Corporate Discount Plan (CDP) number or (b) proof of a return trip travel ticket to coincide with the rental (airline or cruise). However, there are exceptions to this general policy; Debit cards are not accepted at the outset of a rental to qualify for rentals in the New York Metropolitan Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT), areas of Hartford, CT, areas of Philadelphia, PA, areas of Boston, MA, areas of Manchester, NH, areas of Detroit, MI, areas of Baltimore, MD and Atlanta, GA.
From
Avis:
Debit Card Policies
Most U.S. locations accept
bank debit cards with the
Visa or
MasterCard logo as credit identification at the time of rental if you are at least 25 years of age. In most cases, U.S. locations will perform a credit check for debit card renters to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. The renter must meet Avis' minimum criteria in order to rent. Currently, at all U.S. and Canada locations, debit cards are not acceptable as credit identification at the time of rental for all makes and models identified in the
Avis Signature Series and for certain other premium vehicles. Debit cards are also not acceptable as credit identification at the time of rental at locations in the Metropolitan NY Tri-State area, Hartford, CT, Philadelphia area, Mississippi or Louisiana locations as well
as other locations across the country. Canada locations do not accept bank debit cards as a form of credit identification. Debit Cards are acceptable for payment at the completion of your rental.
Also be advised that some Avis locations do not accept debit cards as a form of payment. Upon paying your rental with a Debit Card, Avis will generally request an authorization hold against your account for the estimated charges of the rental but reserves the right in its sole discretion to request extra value based on certain factors as we deem appropriate. Some exceptions may apply.
THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE. When the rental is over we will process the reversal but the bank may take time to post it back to the account.
I'm 48 years old and I have had more than a few credit cards. I paid them all off. I've been fortunate enough to put away enough money in the bank to make cash purchases on everything accept a mortgage and car payment. I "loan" myself money when needed. I also have a near perfect credit score. I now only have one credit card for "emergencies." However, I've only had one "emergency" in the last 10 years that required me to use it.
I already provided a link to National’s policy, but since it seems you did not bother reading it, here it is again:
RENTING A CAR WITH A DEBIT CARD:
Debit/check cards are considered to be any non-credit card bearing the VISA, MasterCard or Discover Card logo. Any other non-credit card without the VISA, MasterCard or Discover Card logo is not accepted.
When renting in the US, Debit/Check cards are accepted for customers with proof they have deplaned or disembarked at the rental location. Customers must have proof of a ticketed return or outbound trip from the location where the vehicle will be returned on an airline, cruise ship or train. For customers not deplaning or disembarking at the rental location and/or do not have evidence of a return or outbound trip, Debit/Checkcards are only accepted as a form of payment at the time of return.
Puerto Rico, a credit card in the name of the renter must be presented at the time of rental. Debit/check cards are only accepted for payment at time of return.
Without a credit card, one cannot be a member of National’s Emerald Club or Avis’s Preferred program.
Other than gas, what places actually give you a discount for paying cash? Certainly no major retailer or grocer. If one pays in full every month, there are no extra fees, only benefits.
That is $50
vs. $0 for most credit cards. In addition, there are different legal requirements, which make credit cards much better for you:
Debit vs. credit: legal protections differ
The law is more on your side when it comes to credit card purchases.
- With credit cards: The governing law is the Fair Credit Billing Act, which is implemented by Regulation Z. The law limits liability on stolen credit cards to $50, and if you report the loss before your card is used, you are not responsible for any charges. Most major credit card companies and issuing banks also offer zero liability protection to consumers. In other words, if a thief uses your account to make purchases, you're not liable for a penny of the charges. Also, credit card users are not required to pay any amount that may be in dispute, meaning the cardholder retains use of the fund for the amount in question until the issue is resolved. While policies have changed in favor of debit card transactions (providing greater protection and in many cases zero liability), you still don’t have the degree of consumer protection with a PIN-based card as you do with a credit card.
- With debit cards: The governing law is the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and its implementing regulations, Regulation E. In the event of a debit card theft, the victim may only find out after the money has been withdrawn from the account. Should you be aware that your debit card is lost or stolen, you can take action. The Electronic Fund Transfer Act gives you the right to dispute an error on your bank statement and gives you some protections. For unauthorized card purchases, your liability is capped at $50 if you notify your bank within two days of realizing your debit card is missing. But between two days and 60 days, you could be responsible for paying up to $500 of a crook’s spending spree. If you wait more than 60 days to contact the bank, you will be stuck paying every cent of the unauthorized charges, which could cause you to lose everything in your checking account.
Actually, the opposite is true, if one is responsible. One pays no interest for using one’s credit card if one pays the balance in full every month, and one gets to keep the money in one’s interest bearing account an extra 20-55 days, in addition to any credit card perks.
Blaming the credit card for irresponsible use is like blaming for the car for drunk driving.
