I have booked several smaller hotels, B&B, etc throughout Italy! all recommended in RSVP guidebooks, but keep running into same problem: they want me to confirm my reservation by sending my credit card info via e-mail! And all but one do not have a pay pal account- how do you handle this?
Thank you,
Shelby
Auto correct: supposed to be RS guidebooks, not RSVP!
RS recommends sending 2 separate emails, one with the first 8 number and expiration date, and one with the other with the second 8 numbers. It is mostly for your own peace of mind. I'm more worried about the cute waitress with the pierced eyebrows.
I used to send it by fax but that gets expensive. Now Ijist shrug and send it by email. Never yet had a problem.
They will understand if you want to send it in two emails for security reasons, just say so. But I am not convinced that offers any additional protection.
I was a little leery at first, sending hotels my credit card information. But I have never had a problem. I would just make sure you look at a website like trip advisor to make sure they get good reviews.
I mostly use a booking service and that means my credit card info gets transmitted at least twice. I just don't worry about it, and in about 200 reservations I've never had a problem. So far.
Just do it.
I too have emailed my info with no problems. But I have also faxed from my computer, which I prefer; the only cost is my usual internet access fee and I don't have to worry about my info being stored on someone's fax machine.
Thank you everyone; I feel better after reading your responses. It just seems so strange compared to our usual type of arrangements.
Shelby
Think of it as part of the charm of dealing with small businesses in Italy.
Actually using the internet is safer than faxing. Have no idea why some think faxing is more secure. And an internet fax sent via your computer is just like an email sent from your computer. Even if you fax, the number is going into their computer. The transmission of the number over the internet is extremely secure, splitting in half adds almost no additional security to the transmission so it is not worth the effort. Security only becomes an issue after the number arrives at the hotel and going into their computer terminal. How it gets there is of little importance. People fuss about sending an number via internet but tonight at dinner will give their credit card to a waiter who disappears for fifteen minutes. I have sent the number dozens of times with no problems. Last year used my credit card at Whole Food and thirty minutes later someone was trying to buy a latte in New Orleans. Probably not related but your card can be compromised anywhere. This is not an issue worth worrying about.
I agree with everybody else here. I just send my CC number by a single e-mail. In 10 trips, I've never had a problem. But, if you're e-mails are accessible from your smart phone (and whose aren't?) be sure and lock your phone. If somebody gets their hands on it, your e-mails containing your CC number will be on display.
Frank, We all know, or should know, that the internet is not secure. I should have said that I prefer faxing from my computer because I don't like faxing from someone else's machine because my info would be stored there...more of a concern to me than what happens at the other else, since I can't control that. I actually think we are too paranoid about our credit card info since there are built-in safety features that should prevent the user from paying for fraudulent charges. But I must say, I am constantly amazed that so many people don't seem to check their credit card bills to be sure they are not being charged for something they did not buy. No excuse for that, in my opinion.
Try using sendinc, a web site designed specifically for this problem.
https://www.sendinc.com
There is no charge for infrequent usage and/or low volume usage ( info on how it works is on the website ) but basically you initiate your email address account, place the info you desire to be "https" protected and designate the email address of whom you want the information to go to. They receive an email directing them to the sendinc website where they create the email address account you had provided and then retrieve the "https" protected information.
I've used it several times with small to medium sized B&Bs successfully after advising them that I am providing the information this way for security reasons.
FYI ... I use pwsafe as a password/secure info program on my PC & Apple products ( it is available on Android also ) for all my sensitive information. You create an account with one password, then add all your account info and passwords that you want to keep secure. It is free and provides cut 'n paste capability and a timeout feature where you select how long you want the program to remain open since your last access.
http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net or see CNET's http://download.cnet.com
If you do decide to do it, make sure you delete it from your sent items in your email. Soon after I sent the informaiton, my email got hacked. So I cancelled my card just incase. I ended up calling the hotels that needed it and giving it to them over the phone. I still would send it over email, but next time I need to rememeber to delete the email:)
Oh and if you use Yahoo, make sure it is in secure mode. You just go into setting and change it. I am sure Gmail has something similar.
One of my VRBO rentals wanted my credit card via email. I asked for a more secure method and they sent to me to their website (which wasn't part of their VRBO listing). I was relieved. Although, I agree that if you are stuck sending via email, delete the email trail once the trx is complete (just print it off first). Also, I am using just one card for all of these transactions, so I can leverage the credit card protection if there is a problem. Finally - make sure that your card will accept international trx and also check on the transaction fees. My first card was declined b/c it was not set up for international trx.
I've also e-mailed my credit card information many times without any problems though I use my credit card for everything (including a lot of on-line purchases) & inevitably every 6 months or so, my credit card gets fraudulently used and I can't trace it back to where it got stolen. I always send my credit card number in 2 different e-mails and as others have suggested, I delete the e-mails out of my sent box & my deleted box immediately. I wouldn't worry too much about sending your credit card information this way.
