What if I don’t have a credit card?
In these tough economic times, many folks don’t have much liquidity on their credit cards — be they maxed out, or have too small a limit for the user’s needs. In fact, many people do not have a credit card at all, using cash or debit for all their purchases.
To book rooms, cars (coming soon!), etc. with Book With Us!, a credit card is required. However, if you don’t have one or otherwise can’t/don’t want to use the one you have, there are options!
The answer? A prepaid credit card!
The prepaid credit card is growing in popularity because of its ease of use and lack of many regular credit cards’ restrictions. You simply purchase one at any one of the suggested locations in the list below, and you add money to it, as you would a debit card. The difference is that this prepaid credit card can be used as an actual credit card, but you can only charge up to the amount that you put on the card.
For example, you buy a pre-paid MasterCard at your local bank or pay advance outlet (for between about $10 – $25, depending on the institution and features of the card ), and put $300 on the card. You now have a limit of $300 on a card that you can use most places a regular card can be used – online, gas stations, clothes stores or restaurants, for example. That’s it, until you reload it and start again. Dilemma solved!
Prepaid credit cards don’t affect your credit in any way, and if you lose one, you call the issuing company and report it, purchase a new one, and have the balance transferred. It is not considered a true loss of identification, as it acts solely as a conduit to spend money (unless you use it on a formal form as a piece of ID yourself).
NOTE: There are at least two places you cannot use prepaid credit cards directly: you cannot use these prepaid credit cards directly at a hotel to book rooms. The only way you can use one to book a room, is through our and other similar services. The same applies to car rentals, unless you use a phone/online rental service such as ZipCar. Be aware that, regardless of the service you use, you are still liable for any damages, late fees, etc. since rooms are still booked under your name. We are simply a throughway for you to get the room or cars (coming soon!).
Sounds good? Then buy and load up a prepaid credit card today, and take advantage of these great hotel rates before rooms are fully booked for the event you want to experience!
Here are some Canadian and U.S. locations where you can purchase a prepaid credit card:
- RBC (Royal Bank)
- BMO (Bank of Montreal’s BMO Mosaik Prepaid Travel Mastercard )
- Scotiabank
- Money Mart
- Cash Money
- 7-11
- Shopper’s Drug Mart
- Citizen’s Bank ( https://www.citizensbank.ca/Personal/Products/VISACards/VISAGiftCard/ )
… and other similar institutions. Just call them or visit to find out if they carry these cards.
Have fun!
- The Book With Us! and 25/8/366™ team
