WHICH World MasterCards cover Ireland for car rentals?? WHICH banks issue these cards?

Melissa5 · Guru

WHICH World MasterCards cover Ireland for car rentals?? WHICH banks issue these cards?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

It's a crap shoot! You may get one, you may not. Various banks supply World MasterCards but not all of them cover Ireland. I suggest you call 1-800-MC-ASSIST. Tell them what you are looking for and if they can point you in the right direction. Even though my "business" platinum MasterCard covers Ireland the car companies argue with me about it so I just use the World MC instead even though it has a "foreign transaction fee".

I got an offer for a World card in the mail. Although I did not know if the offer was for the one covering Ireland I thought I would give it a go. Turns out it was the right one! I have heard of people trying 5 or 6 times before getting the right one.

It is a process. Start now and you will probably have one by Sept. Another homework assignment!

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

That's interesting to Know that there are different versions of the same card and only some limited ones are accepted.

I suppose it also helps if you get a confirmation letter in respect of the cover before you leave and an email confirming acceptance from the Hire companies head office before you get to the collections desk.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

That's why declining CDW is so difficult. Several years ago Visa covered CDW in the USA (still does in Canada) and all MasterCards did. Then Visa dropped out completely. Now only a very limited number of World MasterCards and some business MasterCards cover. But the clerks in Ireland are not very knowledgeable. Even though my business platinum MC covers CDW they don't want to hear about it. Rather than spend my time trying to educate them I have given up and now use my World MasterCard.

Even though the terms of my card do not change, each time I visit Ireland I make sure to phone them and ask for another letter of coverage. In 38 years of visiting Ireland I only had to show the letter once. But its there if I need it.

I put my car contract, MC coverage letter, etc. into an envelope and in the front zip pocket of my carry-on bag. When I get to the rental desk I have everything ready to go.

Michele

P.S. Some Diners Club cards cover too. But few car companies in Ireland accept them.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Boy, reading my own reply makes it sound soooo complicated. But it is!

williemyers · Newbie

Michele Erdvig wrote:
Even though the terms of my card do not change, each time I visit Ireland I make sure to phone them and ask for another letter of coverage. In 38 years of visiting Ireland I only had to show the letter once. But its there if I need it.

Michelle, is that an actual letter (as in "in the post") that you ask for from MC? Or will just an email do?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

An email coverage letter is fine. MasterCard sends it as a printable attatchment. In my 13+ years, NO Agent has ever asked to see the letter.

Bob

williemyers · Newbie

Bob, many thanks. Yes, I got my printable attachment email from MC-Assist yesterday and am looking forward (just kidding) to heading over and trying to decline.
I'll offer a couple of notes re: my MC-Assist experience in the hopes that they may assist others in wading through this mire. Apologies in advance if these points have been covered before.

First off, yes, I think it's *mandatory* to phone 1-800-MC-ASSIST before going to Eire to attempt a "I-decline-the-CDW" rental. It's the only way to find out for sure if your particular MasterCard will give you coverage in Ireland that may allow you to attempt to decline. Having read all of the above, you're thinking, "yeah, I know that... I know that I need a *World* MasterCard". And you'd be right...partially!
What you'll find, by phoning MC-ASSIST, is that not only do not all MasterCards provide coverage, not all *WORLD* MasterCards provide coverage (in Ireland, specifically)! This one came as a shock to me. I told the guy I had an Ameriprise World MC, he checked it and came back to tell me that it would *not* cover rentals Ireland. However, I also had an AT&T one , and that one *would* provide coverage - - and I got the letter!

So, letter in hand, off I go in to the intriguing world of trying to decline over-priced car rental insurance in Ireland!

JeanneV · Member

Williemyers: Please let us know how you make out with your plans for declining the CDW in Ireland and using your credit card for coverage! I am using easytourireland.com for my upcoming trip as it covers ALL insurances! It will be interesting to see how you make out. I tend to err on the side of being as safe and secure as I can be! I have learned over these many, many years above ground, however, to Never Say Never about my decisions!!!

williemyers · Newbie

h'lo all, just back from a great 12-day trip to Eire and can report that I was successful in using my AT&T WORLD Mastercard with Avis/Ireland to avoid having to pay for CDW coverage. In fact, I was hand-carrying an email from WORLD Mastercard customer service, specifying that the card would, in fact, cover CDW, but when I offered the email to the lady at the Avis/Dublin counter, she said that there was no need for it, the card was fine for covering CDW. I di, however, have to sign a seperate doc, basically stating that I was *SUPER*-responsible for all kinds of stuff, as I was not taking their coverage. And I did note that they put a 4000+ "hold" on my card, but as soon as the actual rental total was completed, the "hold" went away. So, all in all, not a problem declining CDW, but be sure and rad my note above about *which* WORLD MC's will cover for Ireland....all don't...

Michele Erdvig · Host

Willie,

Glad to hear you had no problems using your World MasterCard for your car rental. Was the 4,000 a "hold" or an actual charge? We would love to hear more about your trip if you are up to writing a Trip Report! biggrin

Michele