Travelers Cheques

[Lyn]

Help needed please. I ordered Travelers cheques on the internet from Tesco on Saturday which arrived today. I was very dissapointed to receive $500 cheques. Apart from our initial shop we very rarely spend more than $50 in a single transaction. I complained to Tesco but got nowhere, I was basically told I could have received $1000 ones, very helpfull[msnsad] She suggested I took them into a bank in America to change them (seems to defeat the security reasons for having them in the 1st place.)
My questions are
1. Do you know if the big shops will accept $500 ones
2. If I take them to a bank in Florida will I be charged a commission.

[ellie]

It is getting more and more difficult to use Traveller's cheques, so you may well have problems. I don't think it is reasonable for them to have given you only $500 cheques. We haven't used them for years so I don't know if that is the only denominatinon, other than $1000.

Seems a bit pointless if you then have to change them in a Bank! [msnscared] American banks charge you for breathing, so I expect there will be some sort of charge - am sure there are experts on here who could tell you, and advise you what to do about this situation.

Do you not have a credit card? It is much easier to use one of these - and they are accepted everywhere.

[steph_goodrum]

Lyn
I know Walmart had a sign saying they wouldnt take denominations greater than $100 last time we went and they will only take American Express ones.

[mfairhurst]

I know this is nothing to do with Travelers Checks but to do with Tesco .
We have home insurance with them and we got our new quote and it had gone up quite a bit so we shoped around and got a quote from Liverpool Victoria which was a saving of £45 .11 not a lot i know but they asked what quote we had got i told them and of cours they put me on music and came back abot 4 mins {not a free phone call } and said we will match it and also £1 .50 less .
We went with it but got a feeling this morning wished we had gone with the other company we have 7 days to read all the policy and if it is different stop it and go with the other who we have been with in the past .
Sorry about the rant but it is awful how such a big company take avantage of people .Tesco seem to be the same in all departments ,they are finishing given 2 points per pound on petrol in November it was on the web .
But the moral is shop around[msnmad]
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Laurel Oak]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lyn
Help needed please. I ordered Travelers cheques on the internet from Tesco on Saturday which arrived today. I was very dissapointed to receive $500 cheques. Apart from our initial shop we very rarely spend more than $50 in a single transaction. I complained to Tesco but got nowhere, I was basically told I could have received $1000 ones, very helpfull[msnsad] She suggested I took them into a bank in America to change them (seems to defeat the security reasons for having them in the 1st place.)
My questions are
1. Do you know if the big shops will accept $500 ones
2. If I take them to a bank in Florida will I be charged a commission.
[/quote]

I fear you will have to go to a Bank as I'd be very surprised if any shops will take a $500 cheque.

I had the same problem a few years ago but was able to cash them at the Pursar's Office on the Cruise we were on. For that reason I have stopped taking Travellers Cheques and only take cash. I know its not as secure but fortunately I have a safe in the house as I'm sure do others.

[gpullan]

Yes, the bank is the way to go in my opinion. We took TC's last last year and just went to the bank in Celebration to change them $500 or more at a time. We usually did this en route to the villa so we could put the cash straight in the safe.

It worked well for us but this year we chose to use a FairFX card which worked perfectly and we are doing the same for next years holiday.

[gpullan]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by mfairhurst
I know this is nothing to do with Travelers Checks but to do with Tesco .
We have home insurance with them and we got our new quote and it had gone up quite a bit so we shoped around and got a quote from Liverpool Victoria which was a saving of £45 .11 not a lot i know but they asked what quote we had got i told them and of cours they put me on music and came back abot 4 mins {not a free phone call } and said we will match it and also £1 .50 less .
We went with it but got a feeling this morning wished we had gone with the other company we have 7 days to read all the policy and if it is different stop it and go with the other who we have been with in the past .
Sorry about the rant but it is awful how such a big company take avantage of people .Tesco seem to be the same in all departments ,they are finishing given 2 points per pound on petrol in November it was on the web .
But the moral is shop around[msnmad]
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx
[/quote]We had the same thing with Tesco. Loyal customer and the renewal was £180 more than the previous year. I rang to cancel and they said they would match the previous years price! I politely told them they should have offered me that price in the first place and that i was going elsewhere!!

[Lyn]

Hi Gary, can you remember what the charge was for cashing Travelers Cheques.

[donny]

gary, can you tell me more abut the fairfix card[msnscared]? thanks

[Lyn]

Have just rang Tesco again and asked for the complaints dept. ended up speaking to Travelex who apparently distribute cheques for Tesco, they where much more helpful and have told me to void the cheques, return them in the post and they will re-issue smaller demoninations and hopefully have them with me before 1pm Friday (I leave home Saturday) Watch this space[msnwink] I could end up with no Travellers Cheques at all, thats me, ever the pessimist[msnembarrased]