Check cards look so much like credit cards, it’s easy to assume they can do everything a credit card can do.
But, as my brother, Hank, found out when he flew into San Antonio from Chicago last Christmas, that can be a bad assumption.
It wasn’t his fault. I was supposed to pick him up, but I got stuck at work, so he decided to rent a car.
National Car Rental accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover check cards, but also requires proof of round-trip travel. Hank could only show his one-way ticket because he was going to drive back to Chicago with our brother.
Avis would have accepted a Visa or MasterCard check card, but also required proof of round-trip travel, a valid U.S. passport, a U.S. military identification card, a current vehicle insurance card or a recent copy of his bank statement or cell phone, telephone or utility bill - none of which he had thought to bring with him to San Antonio.
The Dollar agent told him they would perform a credit inquiry screening on his check card through Equifax Credit Information Services, which might affect his credit rating. Hank wants to buy a house this year with the lowest possible interest rate, so to keep his credit rating pristine, he moved on to Alamo.
The folks at Alamo also required a round-trip travel ticket and would have taken a debit card with the Discover logo, as well as Visa and MasterCard debit cards.
Hertz would have accepted Hank’s check card because he had enough money in his account to cover the rental plus $200, but they also required a valid credit card in Hank’s name.
That’s when I found him, three hours late but just in time to get a drink.

