>US merchants don't do this. Most of the ones who take a deposit (hotels, car rental) have signs at the counter warning that they may put a substantial hold on

>US merchants don't do this. Most of the ones who take a deposit (hotels, car rental) have signs at the counter warning that they may put a substantial hold on your cash if you use a debit card, which won't be released for quite a while. My company used to send us on work related trips which were paid for in advance, but relied on us to provide our own cards at the hotels for incidentals. After a few (presumably less financially stable) employees used debit cards with low balances to check into hotels (effectively leaving them with no money during their stay), this policy changed so now the company credit card is used for hotel check-ins. I personally hate the new policy because I have good credit and like getting room service, and for some reason I find it kind of emasculating that I'm not allowed to use my own card.