Basic Car Rental Ripoff, Scam, Shady, left me stranded five miles from home. Los Angeles, California

   A debit card (even with a Visa logo) is not the same as a credit card.    They are treated differently (as you belatedly found out) and operate under a different set of rules.  

   When a merchant asks if you want to use the card as "debit" or "credit", that does not mean that your debit card is also a credit card.    When you chose "credit" it is merely a different type of transaction (more commonly referred to as "offline debit") that will not take money out of your account in real time.    It really has very little similarity to a real credit card transaction.

  So, next time a merchant requires a credit card, make sure you actually have one. 

Why thank you for that info Flynrider - Phoenix (USA)
I know its safer to use a credit card than a debit card especially when dealing with big deposits or any type of business. 
Im sure that people understand that a debit card cannot be charged the same way a credit card is and that a debit card is linked to a bank account while a credit card operates in a completely different manner. Im also positive that they know that a credit transaction on a debit card means that the funds will still be credited from the bank account at a later time and not that they miraculously have a line of credit.  
Too bad my confusion was that because I was using the credit option once in a while on my debit card, that I figured that's merely what the car rental office wanted. 
In fact, I learned that the company accepts debit cards but they prefer credit cards and they prefer them because it protects the company and the consumer. wow. 
You're completely right on having an actual credit card when requested for one. Credit card companies offer consumers many protections and give them peace of mind on transactions (good) but they also offer headaches and stress by providing most people with a big chunk of change in debt (bad). 
Next time a merchant asks for a credit card, i will gladly give him cash or my debit card and they will gladly take it. They will gladly accept the fact that they wont be charged a fee for credit purchases. They will be happy to offer me services and I will be happy to pay. After all, these merchants work for the people. We pay their wages. They count on us for their future. 
"Next time a merchant asks for a credit card, make sure you have one" or what? Risk being saddled with exorbitant fees? Risk being trapped into giving a higher deposit and paying double the fees? Start paying interest on that credit transaction? I think not.
A misunderstanding between a credit or debit transaction does not warrant a company to leave a customer stranded, it does not justify almost double the fees, it should not cause anyone to get tricked into purchasing a service at a higher rate.  A debit transaction would have required a simple deposit and payment for the first week of service which they could have done but didn't feel like because they'd rather run a credit card (according to another employee who works there). Next time a merchant requires a credit card and is as friendly as a pack of hungry wolves...talk to the other employees who do the same thing there...you'll find that the person behind the counter is a bitter and disagreeable individual whom the other employees dislike. Next time a credit card is required and is the only form of payment, a debit card will likely be okay (just as long as the cashier/sales person isn't in the mood for blood)


  

" Next time a merchant asks for a credit card, i will gladly give him cash or my debit card and they will gladly take it. They will gladly accept the fact that they wont be charged a fee for credit purchases. They will be happy to offer me services and I will be happy to pay. After all, these merchants work for the people. We pay their wages. They count on us for their future.  "

   Good luck with that approach.   While you say that "everyone" knows the difference between credit and debit cards, I wonder if you do.   For most purchases it really doesn't make a difference, but it makes a big difference when it comes to rental car deposits (as you found out).    Worse case would be that the funds in your bank would be frozen by the large "hold" that would result from putting the deposit on a credit card.  

   I agree that they should have given you a ride home.    At the same time, I think you created this whole situation by telling them that you had a credit card when you didn't.

   BTW - I haven't paid a penny in credit card interest in decades.   Having a credit card does not automaticallly bind you to high interest and fees. 

Ive had pretty good luck so far, thank you. Like i said, I believe I'll continue to have good luck with that. The only problems I've ever had (debit card or credit card) has been with companies with exceptionally bad customer service.

There is really no need for you to wonder whether I know the difference between a debit card or credit card. Im sure that after using credit cards and debit cards for many years, that the millions of people using them are smart enough to pick up a thing or two about them. I know I did. After reading your posts, I know you did.

You seem to know a great deal about credit card purchases v. debit card purchases. Thank you for the lesson plan but frankly I dont need it. You seem to underestimate the the knowledge I have on my own financial transactions. Most people reading this post, if any haha, im sure have more than a basic understanding of how they spend and use their money. This post is stating the fact that the customer service at the company was horrible. The post is trying to show how some individuals will greedily tack on fees instead of try to help the customer out. The post was made to highlight the effects a bad customer service experience can have on a consumer. 

Im sure it's a blast teaching others the ways of the credit card, but everything that you explain, I already know. Credit purchases or debit purchases are not a new fangled, weird science, out of this world technology. I was okay with a large hold on my account. I needed a rental car, I was okay with paying for the fees on the spot. I wasn't okay with having extra fees tacked on. No one would be. The misunderstanding originated when I was asked if I had a credit card on the phone.  I said yes thinking they just wanted a card that they could electronically take funds out of. 

I dont know why I even bother to reply to messages like this but I dont want the essence of what this post is about to get lost in these comments. However small or big the mistake it, no customer or person should ever be treated that way. Yes, they should have given me a ride back home. They insisted on bringing me to their place of business, they should have been kind enough to have taken me back. That scenario shouldn't have happened in the first place. You sound like you're trying to justify the merchants actions by implying that a consumer's mistakes makes it okay to treat them badly. 

Like I said earlier, this post is meant to show the poor customer support this company has. No one, including you, should be treated in this manner. This post is written to show others the inefficiencies of the support staff and is written to show others the situations that can arise from a simple misunderstanding. 

BTW - Good for you that you haven't paid a penny in credit card interest. You must make your payments on time, pay more than what is asked for, and have such a good credit score. I dont think anyone cares really. Most other people who do have a credit card probably have some form of interest that they pay on it or a annual fee that comes along with it. Again, this post is not to display your exceptional knowledge of credit cards or your illustrious relationship with your finances. It is not written to show (as it seems you believe) my obvious shortcomings involving my knowledge of credit or debit. I just want others to protect themselves from bad people who believe that the wrongdoings they inflict are somehow justified. I hope customers come across this post and take precautions to minimize any problems they might come across. I write this post to show others that they might encounter this at this car rental place or somewhere else they do business at. 

"Good for you that you haven't paid a penny in credit card interest. You must make your payments on time, pay more than what is asked for "

   This tells me that you haven't a clue how credit cards work.    It's all making sense now.  

Its good to see that this story affected you so greatly. My intent was to offer other people who come to this site a look into the shady and underhanded business practices of this company. To show someone what can happen and to offer an experience that will help the customer to protect themselves from things like this.

It seems like you took so much away from this story. You finally get it. It didn't take much drive the point in did it? Good for you :) You should treat yourself to dinner on that magic credit card (or credit cards) of yours. Me and the millions of people out there who own or have owned at least one credit card have no idea how they work. They're just magic plastic cards that offer free money right?

As I said before, I dont care and Im almost positive that no one else cares about your cards with little to no interest rates....Unfortunately, I am to blame for even replying but its okay, Im sure that you love the little attention that you do receive on here. Many attention seekers I've met like to turn the spotlight on them in any situation good or bad. Maybe you should start a blog. Im thinking that credit cards would be a good subject, dont you?

I have explained to everyone out there the miscommunication that took place. I have explained the horrible service I received because of that and I believe, as you do, that the company was wrong in what they did. People come to this website to read reports and experiences of ugly and bad business practices and thats what I came here to offer. The point isn't about credit cards vs. debit cards and the way they work. It is about a misunderstanding that led to a horrible customer service experience. People dont need to deal with a company who ignores and mistreats customers at the first hint of a problem. This was a situation that should not have happened. Whether a mistake, a misunderstanding, or a miscommunication, takes place at a place of business, people deserve an honest, understanding, and level headed company who will sort things out to the best of their ability.