I have lousy credit and no credit cards (so I won't get in that mess again). I need to rent a car for a trip home and they bill my debit about $350 hold if I don't have a credit card. So, I guess I'll get a credit card just for this purpose only and then get rid of it. Any ideas for a good place to get one? I don't want to pay a fee and my credit is lousy so I may get turned down from the big places . . . . help!! Thanks!
Judy

You might be surprised what you can get - even with crappy credit!! Does your bank offer a credit card? You might be able to get one through them if they do.

I wonder if a debit card that is either Visa or Mastercard would work as the credit card for reserving?? Not sure. Maybe someone in that field of work could answer that part.

I had totally crappy credit 5 years ago but just found out while getting a new car that my score is around 730ish now! It takes some work but you can do it! It isn't any fun, but the sense of accomplishment is so worth it! GOOD LUCK!!!!

Do you not have $350 that you can tie up temporarily? I would look at building that up - that's really quite modest in the grand scheme of things - rather than getting a credit card. Scrape up your change....sell a few things, donate platelets , etc but get some cushion going.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Totally in agreement! I would not get a credit card for one thing you might find it tempting to use and anyway applying for a card affects your credit score as does getting rid of one.

Just leave the money in your debit account and use that and try to keep it there and add to it every payday.

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Faith + Love = Happy

I think the other right thing to do in this situation is to take the bus - Go Greyhound! - or the train - Go Amtrak!

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Not all rental companies require the same amount. You could try calling a few to see if the set-aside is smaller. I know I just did that for a rental for my son at Newark Airport a few weeks ago. They only required $250. You might have better luck with a smaller company than with one of the big ones.