Re: HELLO!!!
 

Also with Credit Agricole.
My card is a Mastercard debit card - not a credit card.
It was perfectly acceptable for a car purchase deposit.
The card comes with spending limits for goods unlike in the UK.
The figure of €4,500 per week (might be a month:o) on each card.
Similar limits for cash per day/week. Cheques are not affected.
In the UK there is no limit on purchases as distinct to cash as long as you have the cash in the bank.
I have been caught by these limits in France when we were furnishing our house but we could use the second card.
Think that it has more to do with anti-fraud control but it could simply just be the french way;).
There is no credit card guarantee in France if for example a supplier goes bust where you can claim against the card company.
Regards

Re: HELLO!!!
 

I choked - literally choked - when I read this post. You do realise that this is a major breach of security, don't you? This is bad news. I hope that you have told your credit card company about it. If not, you really should report it. Think, what if your card had been stolen and the thief had been able to use your card this way?

Re: HELLO!!!
 

Thank you for all of your replies!!!

I am aware that a standard CB (carte bancaire) is not a credit card, this is why I specifically changed it to (an official) VISA Carte Bleu for hiring the car. I had my doubts as when I ordered this card, I explained that I didn't actually want it to act as a credit card (in that I paid for something with the card and actually paid for it with my money at the end of the month), I also explained that I didn't want the option of going below zero.

However, I called the car hire company who informed me that my card would be fine so long as the numbers on the card were 'raised' - obviously, I had my doubts with this information too!!! I called my bank (LCL) who confirmed that I do indeed have a credit card but if I want amounts to be authorised (such as 5000-euro car hire deposits!) than I just give them the date and they ensure that it will be authorised. If I hadn't called them, my deposit may have been refused on the day!!! So, if you are hiring a car, even with a French credit card, it might be worth making a quick call to the bank to let them know about the deposit (that is, unless you are more organised than me with money and happen to have 5000 euros sitting in the bank!!!).

Thank you again!

:thumbup:

Re: HELLO!!!
 

Well it certainly surprised us all - the lady behind the desk looked very surprised, and I was just relieved. It is worrying that security was bypassed though, but then these days it seems identity theft and credit card fraud is already easy enough. My parents have both been victims within the past year with two seperate incidents.

Bellahand -glad you got things sorted. When I first came to France, the bank told me they don't do debit cards, but I found out my carte bleu took the money out from my account the moment the transaction took place, so I was happy. I prefer to know where I'm at.

Re: HELLO!!!
 

I have always hired cars and vans (for moving) in France using my gold master card from CCM - which, according to your above definition, is a debit card. So far, I have not heard of a credit card à la UK being offered in France - maybe I'm wrong, as I've never needed one with extended repayment terms here, so never asked.

In any case, neither my wife nor I have ever had any problems with our CB.
The same, during my 24 years in Switzerland. SBG (UBS) used only to issue what you call debit cards (and later with cash card combined in one) which were debited immediately - practically in realtime - straight from the cash till, so to speak, just like a cash withdrawal from the bank's own machine. The usual arrangement was to have included in your account a limit up to one month's salary in case of "emergency", which, by the way is also available in France as long as your job is salaried and your employer company is solid. CCM (Crédit Mutuel Méditerranée) calls this arrangement a "Compte Sérénité" - which has a nice seductive sound to it... ha!)

Re: HELLO!!!
 

That's handy to know! I have never tried using my CB card yet when hiring a car - always used a UK credit card.

The point about pre-authorising with the bank is interesting. Will have to remember that.

Re: HELLO!!!
 

PS to the above. With the car and van hire companies I have used, the CB guarantee "deposit" was noted, but never actually debited - which it would have been if I had failed to return the car. I always had a receipt for the guaranteed deposit, and on return of the car, the original print from the hire company was always returned to me as "cancelled" as soon as I had paid the actual hire cost. As I have realtime internet accounting with our bank, I always checked the specific account on arrival at home after, just to be sure, but was never "disappointed"!

Re: HELLO!!!
 

they don't take the money its just a precaution and as the others said re your licence just makes sure you take everything you need card and paper version and the same for any other drivers

Re: HELLO!!!
 

I just remembered that the deposit (repaid) taken when I last hired a car was 180 odd euros. I'm surprised anybody would want a 5,000 euro deposit. I'd paid extra for the 'zero risk' option, but she tried to sell me insurance there. I told her I'd already taken and paid for the 'zero risk' option, but they didn't know anything about that in France (I'd used the easycar UK website).

Re: HELLO!!!
 

I'm moving tomorrow and I think it's only just sinking in that I'm doing a 7-hour drive!!! I've never driven over five hours before and that was on British roads...arrgggh! I'm taking the A20 straight down...I think this seems like the best route in terms of cost and journey-length. I'm going to stop about an hour from Toulouse to sleep in the car before tackling the final hour in the morning. Any tips are totally welcome!

Re: HELLO!!!
 

hi bella
good luck with the move! The drive should be fine; the road is straight and easy, if a little boring between brive and toulouse n!!
7 hours is a generous estimate and you should be there a little sooner as the roads will be fairly quiet.
Give me a shout if you need anything buying etc or any help: Im very busy Tuesday at work but have odd bits of availability and am free wed am! :)

just realised you said you would sleep in the car; we have a spare bed if you need one for monday night; dont worry if it is late!
PM me

Re: HELLO!!!
 

As far as I am aware the old style paper licence is perfectly valid for hiring a car in France. Whether all hire company operative agents are aware of this or not is of course another matter. They ought to be as every single customer has to produce a licence and there are still a lot of paper ones around.

If you have paper licence and are something under 60 then there is some advantage in hanging on to it as, unlike the photo licence which only last's for 10 years max, the paper one will not expire until your 70th birthday.

Re: HELLO!!!
 

If you have a Photo License the Gendarmes want the paper bit as well. As this is the part that carries any endorsements.

I wasn't commenting on the Old Style License.

Re: HELLO!!!
 

Thank you very much - it's a very sweet offer. However, my new landlord is on a tight schedule and needs to meet me before he starts work...at 6:15am (!!!!!) plus I'd feel a bit uneasy leaving 'my life' in the car un-guarded so I think that sleeping in it is the best option. I really appreciate the offer though :) Also, thanks for offering to help with other things - I've decided to go for it on the 1st and do the whole Ikea thing straight after I've unpacked the car...the sooner I get it done, the sooner I can relax hahahaa - apart from that, I've arranged for a few second-hand things to be delivered (the bigger items which I wouldn't be able to manage!!!) so I think I'll be ok.

Thanks again! Here I come....