View Full Version : best prepaid travel card
Hi all getting closer to our travel date been looking for the best prepaid travel card with best rates and thats accepted in most places and best atm coverage im also wondering how do you redeem any funds you may have left on your card when back in the uk
Bigblue35
20-06-2014, 02:52
I used the Travelex card and had no problems with it. Not sure how you get money back off it, not that I had much left, but I'm planning on using it next year, so that will give me a wee start!
christhear
20-06-2014, 07:12
I use the fairrax card. If you go through money supermarket you can get it without paying an initial fee.
steph_goodrum
20-06-2014, 07:23
Me too with Fairfx. I top it up over there if need be so there isnt a huge amount on at any time. Used mine for at least 4 years now with no problem. Only time it was declined was in Claires for $16 so think it was their machine as used it in the next store no problem.
This is from their website
"If you wish to withdraw your money we generally recommend that you do so via any ATM that accepts MasterCard®. This is often the cheapest way to withdraw your money as long as the amount isn't too high as you only pay either EUR €1.50 or USD $2.00 plus the 1.4% out of currency fee for the $ or € cards or a £1.50 flat fee if you are using the Sterling card. The exchange rate is the MasterCard wholesale rate. If you have a large amount of funds left on your card it may work out cheaper to refund it through FairFX.
You can also spend the remaining money back here in the UK at shops and restaurants to use up the funds left on the card. You will be charged 1.4% on all point of sale transactions.
If you prefer the money in one lump sum, we will arrange for some or all of the available funds on your FairFX Card to be refunded to you. We can transfer the money to you and you can still keep the card for future use. There is a £10 refund fee on the Euro and Dollar card or 1.4% on the anywhere card (subject to a minimum of £10.) Please email us at enquiries@fairfx.com for further assistance.
Top"
So you can use it to spend at home but transaction will have 1/4% loading (I think thats about the same as some cards take for overseas transactions.
That works out to 19.6 Dollars for 1400 dollar spend (only on refunding or using it up ) there are no charges to use it overseas and they give you a good exchange rate. (1.67 yesterday)
Fairfax is simple. There are no fees if you order on line and load with minimum £200. We don't use it for cash withdrawals at ATM's, only for payments in restaurants and shops. That way we pay no charges whatsoever, and can put more onto it online whilst in US if we need more $.
Very simple.
appinlad
20-06-2014, 10:16
I always use CaxtonFX card and found them excellent. No hassle loading and using abroad is easy.
Dads_Taxi
20-06-2014, 12:24
Another vote for Caxton FX from me. no charges to use anywhere, including ATM cash withdrawals, easy to top up and check balance on line. I've never tried to get unused balance back from it though, I just keep checking the balance and get it down to less than $10 before we come home.
I used to have a mytravelcash prepaid card but got rid of it.
It was really convenient to use and top-up, although the rate was never fantastic compared with the bank rate.
What really made me recoil were the charges they tried to levy to continue to use it past the initial two year validity. Then they tried to charge me for cancelling it. A few screaming phone calls later and they agreed to close it in exchange for the £1.38 credit left on it. I told them it was worth it to get them out of my life.
I now have a Halifax Clarity card and won't get on a plane without it! :)
Another vote for the Halifax Clarity card....or the Santander Zero. Spot rates and no charges whatsoever or loading of the rates. They are credit cards but were so easy to apply for online plus I pay them off in full each month. I think they're brilliant.....and I wouldn't get on a plane without them either!!
I now have a Halifax Clarity card and won't get on of a plane without it! :)
steph_goodrum
21-06-2014, 16:36
Another vote for the Halifax Clarity card....or the Santander Zero. Spot rates and no charges whatsoever or loading of the rates. They are credit cards but were so easy to apply for online plus I pay them off in full each month. I think they're brilliant.....and I wouldn't get on a plane without them either!!
The beauty of the Fairfx and Caxton ones though is that when youu get on the plane to come home, you don't have to worry about whether any other charges have been added, have you overspent and got more to pay than you expect. If you have preloaded then youu know what funds you have available. Ironically whe you use them youu often have to select credit rather than debit option which is a bit annoying, when it is your own money you are spending it isnt a credit imo.
The beauty of the Fairfx and Caxton ones though is that when youu get on the plane to come home, you don't have to worry about whether any other charges have been added, have you overspent and got more to pay than you expect. If you have preloaded then youu know what funds you have available. Ironically whe you use them youu often have to select credit rather than debit option which is a bit annoying, when it is your own money you are spending it isnt a credit imo.
If I ever make any HUGE payments, I make an online transfer while I'm there, just like I used to top up my prepaid card. It also gives you visibility of your balance.
What's wrong with hitting the credit button? I thought it wasn't legal to charge extra for credit cards in Florida? Have I missed out on something?
steph_goodrum
21-06-2014, 18:26
If I ever make any HUGE payments, I make an online transfer while I'm there, just like I used to top up my prepaid card. It also gives you visibility of your balance.
What's wrong with hitting the credit button? I thought it wasn't legal to charge extra for credit cards in Florida? Have I missed out on something?
Nothing rong with hitting the credit button Tony, it's just semantics but credit means I am borrowing someone elses money and debit means I am using my own. When I am using a preloaded card, it is my money on there so to my mind should be a debit rather than a credit which means you have to pay it back to someone.
Dads_Taxi
21-06-2014, 19:42
I fell foul of the Caxton FX card being seen as a credit card in Costco - who won't accept credit cards except AmEx. I walked out of Costco with $1 in my wallet! That's the ONLY time I've had any issue with the Caxton card.
No other charges are ever added.......only what you have actually purchased. As I said, it is a credit card, and like any other credit card, that millions use when travelling, it's up to the card holder to try and control what they spend on it if they don't want a larger than expected bill when they get home. The convenience and the excellent exchange rates make it great for me. I always load it up before I go anyway so I'm basically spending my own money.....which I do try and keep a check on to a degree. But then I've got nothing against spending someone else's money either! It's not for everyone though it seems but great for those who have nothing against using credit cards.
The beauty of the Fairfx and Caxton ones though is that when youu get on the plane to come home, you don't have to worry about whether any other charges have been added, have you overspent and got more to pay than you expect. If you have preloaded then youu know what funds you have available. Ironically whe you use them youu often have to select credit rather than debit option which is a bit annoying, when it is your own money you are spending it isnt a credit imo.
steph_goodrum
21-06-2014, 21:23
No other charges are ever added.......only what you have actually purchased. As I said, it is a credit card, and like any other credit card, that millions use when travelling, it's up to the card holder to try and control what they spend on it if they don't want a larger than expected bill when they get home. The convenience and the excellent exchange rates make it great for me. I always load it up before I go anyway so I'm basically spending my own money.....which I do try and keep a check on to a degree. But then I've got nothing against spending someone else's money either! It's not for everyone though it seems but great for those who have nothing against using credit cards.
Sorry I wasn't tinking of extra charges per se but there have been cases in the past (not necessarily with tha particular card) but where the price paid doesnt exactly convert to the sterling price ) or the exchange rate may fluctuate whilst you are away so the price you think you are paying turns out to be somewhat different when the dayily exchange rate is used. It's not that I am against credit cards or dont use them ,just that whne Ii go on holiday I like to know that I am only spending moeny set aside for it rather than return home "in debt" even for a month. As hubby is self employed and I only work part time, when we go away we know there wont be any money coming in immediately so just like to be sure without having the worry.