Travellers cash?

[drewins]

What method should I use when I go to England and Europe?

I have been looking at the commonwealth pre paid travel cards. But i'm pretty sure you cant use them at shops and whatnot only ATM's. What can I use to buy things in shops other than cash?

[Pub247]

I had no problem using my standard atm card when i was in scotland. As for cash i suppose it depends what countries you go too. i be inclinded to get cash exchanged at banks over there. I'm not a big fan of traveller's cheques (due to their exchange rates) though thay are handy as they cant be used unless you sign for them

[greenfoam]

eftpos is all you need to go anywhere, I make two accounts one with 99% of your money in it. And the second account which you have the card for. (I actually had 3 accounts when I went to Mexico) two with cards and one main account without one.

So I'd keep a couple hundred bucks in the carded account and everything else in the main account which connot be accessed except on internet banking. I'd use the 200 then net bank some more accross. This means if someone holds you up at the teller machine the most you loose is a couple hundred and I allways left the 3rd card seperate to the 2nd incase one got stolen. These days Australia has got with the times and you can get eftpos card that are also mastercard/visa linked to your small account (debit visa) so that's what you want if you want to go shopping

[Pub247]

greenfoam is right. I should have pointed out in my post that i meant eftpos and atm aswell.

[drewins]

So I can use my Commonwealth bank card throught Europe and London for eftpos purchases? Will there be a fee?

I want to carry cash and have a convenient way of obtaining that cash as well as having the option of using eftpos.

What about Travelex cards?

[drewins]

Keeping in mind that I will not have the internet available much.

[crazyspoon05]

Your normal bank issued keycard should be Maestro & Cirrus compatible anyway so as long as the ATM you are using there has either or both of those symbols there will be no problem at all

[Calaber]

I purchased a travel card today for a trip to the UK in November. The advantage is that I am getting the current exchange rate, whereas this could well drop if our interest rates start going down. You only have to look at the devaluation of the Assie buck against the greenback in recent weeks to see how our currency fluctuates. Its true that the card is a cash withdrawal card only, but I will also have my Visa Debit card to fall back on. If you are going overseas in the near future, converting to the currency of the visited countries probably isnt worthwhile, but with three months to go, it made sense for me to act now.

[CSP]

I never bother with converting cash when I travel. Just withdraw it as I need it in the countries I'm in.

Just use my QANTAS Staff Credit Union card. Free ATM withdrawals from any ATM with Cirrus, Maestro (or both) logos, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! And for non-cash purchases, Amex or Mastercard. Both Amex and Mastercard credit work with the chip and PIN rather than swipe and sign. A lot of European and UK merchants don't even have the option for you to sign any more. Australia is SOOOOO far behind - it's rediculous. We're just getting chips and PINs on credit cards in the last 12 months or so when Europe and the UK have had them for at least 4 years!

One thing though, some people I travelled with in Eastern Europe couldn't use their ATM card a lot of the time to withdraw cash, as some ATMs didn't recognise more than 4 digit PINs. Change you ATM card to a 4 digit PIN.

Something else worth doing is letting your bank know you're travelling. A lot of the automatic anti-fraud systems will put a bar on credit cards if overseas transactions start to appear. If they know where you're travelling and when, they won't bar your card.

There are some fees and charges. I know QANTAS Staff Credit Union are one of the very few who don't charge anything for ATM cash withdrawals and EFTPOS transactions. It's because so many of their members are flight crew and cabin attendants. But some fees and charges can be quite high. Generally, there is a small fee for currency conversion with credit card purchases. Thankfully mine are both platinum cards so there's nothing to worry about there.

It varies. hope this helps.

Cheers!

[vy_storm]

Watch out with Visa debit cards. My credit union issued one would not work in about a dozen or so bank ATM's while in china a few months ago even though the credit union claimed it would. Had to end up taking a cash advance against my NAB visa and transferring the funds back across on the net. From all the expats who live up there with work, they recommended a maestro/cirrus branded eftpos card.

My sister went to Europe recently and used a combo of a travellex prepaid visa (from the post office) and her ANZ visa debit, she had no dramas and was able to get cash in local currencies with the visa and used the travellex in UK pounds while staying there.

[ProphetVX]

So I can use my Commonwealth bank card throught Europe and London for eftpos purchases? Will there be a fee?

I want to carry cash and have a convenient way of obtaining that cash as well as having the option of using eftpos.

What about Travelex cards?

You can use any cirrus based cards (what we use here) in almost every country around the world. It will attract a hefty fee however, up to $15 in some cases... Generally you're looking at around the $3-10 mark.

So just make sure you take out large sums in one hit. Obviously another alternative is to use your credit card, and pay it off when you get the chance over the net if you get charged interest from day one. But low rate generally also attact an international transaction fee, but often lower than an ATM card.

[drewins]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking of getting one of those commonwealth pre-paid card things to use for cash withdrawals at ATMs and just have my bank card as a backup to use for eftpos. I heard the travelex cash passports can only be used for one currency where as the Commonwealth card just draws out the correct currency wherever you are.

[CSP]

You can use any cirrus based cards (what we use here) in almost every country around the world. It will attract a hefty fee however, up to $15 in some cases... Generally you're looking at around the $3-10 mark.

Don't talk crap! Like I said in my post it varies... There are some (like the one I use) that is COMPLETELY FREE!!!

[ProphetVX]

Don't talk crap! Like I said in my post it varies... There are some (like the one I use) that is COMPLETELY FREE!!!

Am I talking crap? Funnily enough, I've actually got a QANTAS staff credit union ATM card (my dad works in finance and budgeting for QANTAS), and attracted a $12 fee on one transaction back in 05 when I was in LA.

In my experience, and I've been to over 15 countries around the world, I've never not received charges for using my ATM cards overseas.

Credit unions attract lower charges, and in some cases no fees due to agreements with other banks around the world. However, you are not guaranteed a free transaction wherever you use it, even though they say you won't be charged. QANTAS credit union in particular is a special scenario, due to the nature of the business they deal with, they offer good rates for international transactions. Unfortunately not everyone can join them. My comments were generalised about cirrus cards in general not limited to any bank, if it wasn't I would have stated specific banks and their related costs.

[CSP]

Am I talking crap? Funnily enough, I've actually got a QANTAS staff credit union ATM card (my dad works in finance and budgeting for QANTAS), and attracted a $12 fee on one transaction back in 05 when I was in LA.

In my experience, and I've been to over 15 countries around the world, I've never not received charges for using my ATM cards overseas.

Credit unions attract lower charges, and in some cases no fees due to agreements with other banks around the world. However, you are not guaranteed a free transaction wherever you use it, even though they say you won't be charged. QANTAS credit union in particular is a special scenario, due to the nature of the business they deal with, they offer good rates for international transactions. Unfortunately not everyone can join them. My comments were generalised about cirrus cards in general not limited to any bank, if it wasn't I would have stated specific banks and their related costs.

Been a QSCU member of 10 years as of September this year... Used my ATM card for cash withdrawlals in Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Polandand and Hungary. I have NEVER been charged a fee for it. It's one of the main reasons for being a member in the first place. Plus 100 free transactions a month (which I wouldn't ever come close to using). So yes, you are talking crap if you reckon you were charged $12 for using a QSCU card overseas.

[greenfoam]

Just another note, I never had to pay any fees, worth asking about that kind of thing at your bank too (I used an ordinary Westpac eftpos debit card) I know they had a deal with Bank of America but it seemed to be fine everywhere, I used it in Japan, The States and Mexico at ATMs. Once in a while the ATM's wouldn't access my account in Mexico and I almost had to sleep on the street one night (atm came good at midnightish?) so it's worth having a little cash incase that happens. I was just walking around with my backpack and finding somewhere to stay at the last minute, for more organised people that wont be a problem :0

[vlv8vic]

oh dear another "mines bigger than yours" match...and the usual suspect is involved.

Let's each put forth our experiences and accept that other people have had different things happen.

Consider this a friendly warning before the thread gets to a point where things have to be deleted.

[ProphetVX]

Been a QSCU member of 10 years as of September this year... Used my ATM card for cash withdrawlals in Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Polandand and Hungary. I have NEVER been charged a fee for it. It's one of the main reasons for being a member in the first place. Plus 100 free transactions a month (which I wouldn't ever come close to using). So yes, you are talking crap if you reckon you were charged $12 for using a QSCU card overseas.

Yawn... You do realise international banks in some countries do add surcharges instead of leaving it just to card supplier don't you? HSBC for example I've found add a substantial cost to the transaction.

No I'm not talking crap, but in any case as I said before its irrelevant, most people cannot get access to these cards even if they wanted to. I have been charged for using the card you speak so highly of, I have also been given free transactions as well. I don't see why you've gone on the immediate offensive. I made a generalised comment about banks that 99% of people use, and an experience that 99% would have. Because you are a minute exception to the rule (which isn't even entirely true in my experience), I am "talking crap" as you put it. Give it a rest.

I could ramble off all the countries I've been too as well, but to be honest, I'm not really interested in getting into a mud slinging match, nor does it help your argument any more. Would you like me to state that I've been with QSCU since I was 18, opened the account at the hurstville branch, my dad works in the sheratton building at mascot in finance, my cards a pretty dark green colour etc etc? I bet none of that interests you, just like none of what you said interests me. In my experience, I have been charged numerous times, in numerous countries using those cards. QSCU just don't charge for the usage of the card at their end, in many cases, other charges are out of their control.

[ProphetVX]

Getting back to the original point of the thread. Watch out for international cash rates. Banks will often given you around 2-3c in the dollar under the current cash rate. So shop around and see what banks offer the best parity with the current cash rate.

[minux]

Prophet, obviously you have trouble reading? Consider this a second warning.


To the OP, get yourself an AMEX, works a treat for me and charges are very very minimal, well have been in the past for myself.

Just to add, go speak to your bank and ask them to discuss what types of charges would be incurred etc, this way it's from the horses mouth.

[ProphetVX]

Prophet, obviously you have trouble reading? Consider this a second warning.


To the OP, get yourself an AMEX, works a treat for me and charges are very very minimal, well have been in the past for myself.

Just to add, go speak to your bank and ask them to discuss what types of charges would be incurred etc, this way it's from the horses mouth.

Problem is with AMEX, its not very well accepted in many areas of europe.

And not sure if you deleted my post or not, but it was gone as I submitted it, but I thought the warning was for Cousin Slow Poke, not me, as I didn't attack him or go into the "mines bigger than yours" type argument vlv8vic referred to.

[drewins]

I have decided to get an ANZ travel card. Only $2.50 fee for atm withdrawals and its free to use for eftpos transactions. You can also draw out a different currency than what you have on it for no fee. Sounds good. What doesn't sound good is this $5500 AU = 2800 Euro