How to travel for work??

[AreSoonParted]

As I inch toward the inevitable, I'm trying to get things in order. I travel a lot for my job, often with very little notice to get an advance. Can you rent a car on a cash payment basis? or a hotel room? If I make it into Ch7, I guess after the discharge I can get some CC's. But what if I'm stuck in Ch13?

I'm sure I'll have more of these ?'s as the weeks progress. Starting next week we do the consult scene, wait to find out my pay raise amount, and take my son in to an orthopaedic dr....He's just diagnosed with scoliosis(sp) curvature of the spine....so we're going to see where that ends up before we make a final decision on timing of filing. Obviously the health issues are more important than the BK, but better to really know where we stand before coming up with the healthcare/month number.

thanks, I'm sure I'll post more as things develop.

[SamanthaJones]

Do you have health insurance?

If not that scoliosis, if surgically treated, will cost minimum $100,000, mayne more with physical therapy. I think you can use a debit card somehow, to reserve rental cars and motels, etc?

[AreSoonParted]

Yes I have health insurance thru my job so we're ok there. The initial GP didn't think surgery was required but definitely PT.

I guess with a debit card would work. I may get one when I open a new account soon. I'll be depositing my paycheck rather than autodeposit into Chase checking...who I also owe about 25k on CC bills.

[SamanthaJones]

Might think about a new bank for your checking account.

?

[SinkingFast]

You can rent a car on a "Cash" basis, BUT,.......... Not all of the Rental Car companies that allow for that type rental. AND you have to apply in advance. I remember reading the process at a couple. You complete the application. They mail you a "Member" card that allows for the cash rental. It takes a week or 2 to get thru the process. The card is good for so long. Like 6 months or a year. Then you have to renew. If you don't have the Card, you won't be allowed to do a Cash rental at any of the outlets is pretty much how it works.

Some Car Rental Agencies will take Debit Cards. I used a Debit Card last summer to rent a car for a family funeral. We were getting a smaller, lower priced car and Enterprise took my Debit Card that time. Then at Christmas, with the whole family traveling, we needed a bigger car. That rental required a CC. I don't know if it had to do with the price/day or the value of the vehicle or what. But I had to have a CC.

Hotels, from our experience, will take a Debit Card and not bat an eyelash. You can't make a "guaranteed" reservation on a Cash Basis where your room will be held for late arrival. But you can use your Debit Card for that. Then you can run the Hotel Charges on your Debit Card or pay Cash. Either way.

Definitely a smart move to wait until after you've seen the Doctor about your son. You wanna know what kind of expenses you'll be getting into there so your attny can include that on your Schedule J.

[CindyLou]

All hotels with take a cash deposit and you can tell them you will not use phone service and they can block. They will return your cash deposit when you check out. Rental car companies vary even within their own company and seem to be a little more lenient at airport locations. Be safe and check before you travel. I would be EXTREMELY hesitant to rent a car on a DEBIT card; because if you have even the smallest fender bender they will charge your card FIRST and do an insurance claim second. You eventually get your money back, but they do have access to the full amount of "available credit" whether on credit or debit card. Many large cities offer cash only rentals and they are very easy and prices aren't too bad. Good luck.