My business Visa debit card is “à debit différé”, and I’ve had no problem using it to cover the deposit. I’ve noticed a doubling in the deposit over the past 20 years or so. Time was, the deposit was only 700 EUR/GBP, nowadays more like 1500 EUR. Certainly, when we last rented in Ireland, the small car that we hired had a 1500 EUR deposit. When my wife looked at hiring in the UK last Christmas, they rental companies were asking for a 1500 GBP deposit.
How often do you use the card?
Maybe you don’t use it often enough?
Edit:
I’ve just had a quick look through Trustpilot and there are quite a few recent complaints about Carte Zero cancelling contracts.
It seems Advanzia Bank has decided to end its business dealings in France.
If that really is the case, I’m sure I’ll be receiving an email similar to yours in the not too distant future!
Yes, it seems that “débit différé” cards are pretty much the same as credit cards and are accepted for car rentals.
If you rent a lot and are a French resident, I highly recommend an annual policy to cover the rental deposit with a company called Serenitrip.
The last time I checked, this was cheaper
Just to answer the question about my use. i have used it as my main card with payments 20 to 30 times per month, total average €300 per month. So nothing suspicious there. But I am interested that you have found a more general statement, indicating that it is not personal!
I think you still have to pay/ringfence the rental deposit on a credit card. The insurance covers the rip off insurance excess they like to charge
@PBS Does Serenitrip also save you having to block the deposit on your credit card?
No, they block the deposit, you have to pay the damage, then they pay you back (very quickly and efficiently I add).
There’s also zest car rental, which is recommended by Which, and includes the excess insurance in the rental fee.
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Just to complete my CZ Card story. I have now received the following from Advanzia Bank:
Suite à la notification de non-renouvellement de vos contrats Carte ZERO, nous vous informons que :
· Votre carte est bloquée et inutilisable. Nous vous prions de bien vouloir la détruire.
So I have cut it up and have had a Bourso Visa card for the past month. Not a credit card but there is little if any difference between a credit card a debit card as far as I am concerned with the current money markets.
I would be interested in hearing if others with Carte Zero cards still have them active, and any suggestions as to why mine has been closed.
My Cartezero is still up and running. I have received no notification that they want to cancel it. I only once by mistake got into the red for 50€, which I paid off in 3 months, so they haven’t made much money out of me, but I use it a lot, and they get a cut from the merchant each time I use it. Don’t know how that compares to your use?
Curious. I used to use mine a lot but always paid at the end of the month. They must have made nothing much out of me, I guess!
My wife applied about a year ago but they turned her down for no reason apparently.
But they get a cut from the merchant every time you use it.
No idea. Perhaps they are just slimming down randomly?
In the UK there is significantly more consumer protection associated with a credit card than there is with a debit card.
For air tickets, etc, but not really for shopping in Lidl.
My CZ card still works, and I haven’t received anything suggesting they are closing my account.
There’s also still nothing on their site or even Google confirming their withdrawal from France.
It remains a mystery.
Well, I got the email this morning.
Carte Zero will not be renewing my contract in June.
Reasons:
"Chez Advanzia Bank, nous sommes au service d’un grand nombre de clients sur plusieurs marchés européens que nous accompagnons avec dévouement et attention. Nos prestations sont basées sur des valeurs de simplicité, confiance et transparence.
Nous regrettons de devoir vous informer, par la présente, de la réduction de notre activité commerciale relative aux cartes de crédit en France suite à une réorientation stratégique."
My commiserations, it’s a good card and the only credit card that doesn’t require you to open an account with another bank. I can understand why this isn’t a good idea for Advanzia but (i) why did they offer it in the first place, and (ii) why didn’t they tell all of us steady payers at the same time. It’s not as if it’s a big job closing the accounts!
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