Post office travel money card

Graham54_2

Has anyone used the Post Office Travel Money Card in Crete. and did you have any problems with it. Also, is it a better option than using the cards recommended by Martin as I have not seen any reviews by him on this topic.

Ch4rlieB

DO NOT DO IT

my wife was give very little option by the post office staff, but to get one!

When we got to our destination (Italy) We couldn't withdraw anymore than 50 Euros from the card (We only put 100 on it) and got rest in cash. I ended up having to get more money out on my credit card to cover the money I couldnt get out.

ITs a rubbish idea.. Just use a credit card

Mossy0447

I have just used the new Post Office Travel Money Card Plus...really good card to travel with.
I topped up via SMS and the money was ready to spend in seconds. worked in shops, bars and at ATM's with no problem.

definately worth getting one

Nile

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

stilltheone

Mossy0447 wrote: »

I have just used the new Post Office Travel Money Card Plus...really good card to travel with.
I topped up via SMS and the money was ready to spend in seconds. worked in shops, bars and at ATM's with no problem.

definately worth getting one

Doesn't look any good to me.

Lancastrienne

We've just returned from a month travelling round Germany. Just before going I put money on the new PO Travel Money card, it sounded perfect - but in the first week we tried to use it for fuel, in a couple of restaurants, in a shop and paying for a camp site. NONE of their machines would take it, even where a Mastercard credit card was OK (that in itself was rare!). It did work for drawing money out - but so would the credit cards that we've always used. I think these cards are potentially a very good idea, but it's no use if they aren't accepted. I'd love to hear positive experiences.

jollyrodger1944

SOUNDED GREAT IDEA SO APPLIED IN MAIN POST OFFICE PLYMOUTH AND TOOK OUT TRAVEL MONEY PLUS CARD GIVEN SEALED ENVELOPE WITH CARD AFTER PARTING WITH £50 POUNDS (MINIMUM STARTING FEE)ALL SMILES AND TOLD RING ENCLOSED NUMBER-O8457 223344 NEXT DAY TO OBTAIN PIN NUMBER. UPON READING SMALL PRINT FOUND THAT THESE CARDS ARE USELESS ON AUTOMATIC FUEL STATIONS AND PEAGE POINTS IN EUROPE .BACK TO PO TO CANCEL AND OBTAIN A REFUND.& FOUND CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED VIA CALL (CLYDESDALE BANK PLC)CENTER SO RANG AND CANCELLED CARD- TO BE TOLD WILL TAKE 15 DAYS TO OBTAIN BAR-CODED LETTER TO BE PRESENTED AT THE P-O TO GET MY MONEY BACK !WHAT AN ABSOLUTE LIBERTY OF MY TIME AND MONEY HAVE BEEN WAITING 3 WEEKS AND COUNTING! FOR REFUND CALL CENTER TOTAL RUBBISH BE WARNED!:mad::mad::mad:

dzug1

Well it says be nice to newbies but - you've resurrected a year old thread and worse you've posted in block capitals which I can't be bothered to struggle through reading

So whatever message you had is wasted

POTMCP

We too ordered the PO TMCP for use in Canada recently. Topped up with Canadian dollars (CAD) when rate good before travel.

We wanted to use it to spend rather than draw out cash via ATM (not recommended as expensive). The only issue we found was
that it shows only the available balance and the current balance but not pending. These will only show up after a few days but you cannot see them online.

The other issue was that you must not use them to check in at hotels as they don't tell you what the holding deposit is and ping you between the hotel and the PO TMCP (bank) if queried. We used it at different hotels and found out later that the first hotel had kept some $200 holding deposit (HD) without notification nor explanation. Then you find that your available balance is far less even when you know that you have not spent that much. Keep all receipts to tally amount spent when checking online to compare. You contact the bank and they fob you off and eventually we found out that the pending transaction was the HD. The bank then wants the hotel to fax the details that the money is released on check out so that the balance can show back into your account. The hotel tries to fob you off by saying that it will go through the system and back into your account after 5-10 days. No one explains that the bank is dealing with another bank who can only release after this period. To speed things up the fax needs to come from the hotel to the bank otherwise 'tough'. In hindsight, the easy solution would be to take some cash to present to hotel after asking how much they will hold back, get a receipt, then get the cash back on check out to take to the next hotel. The other option would be to use a credit card which you will not need until your return home as it takes this period to go through the system before it balances out. You have to bear in mind the deposits can add up so need to take this into account before presenting it instead.

Please note that it is a debit MasterCard so can only be used to spend as a result, and it worked fine at restaurants, petrol sites and shops, in some cases by swiping it instead of using a PIN code to authorise transaction. In Canada you have to add a total of about 15% (Federal and Provincial Tax) to anything you buy, along with any tipping that is presumed customary either as a % or a figure you choose. You do not have to to do that but the server is not happy with this if you decline.

larrytheone

My card worked well in Florida with the exception of petrol stations, long story but suffice to say do cash for petrol or other credit cards. My biggest grip is their login system. I have been computing over 25 years & have never come across such a 'money making' system, especially trying to login from abroad. Having tried several time with the system telling me my details are wrong when I know perfectly well they were correct.
Then needs a phone call (0844) (24 hr service) most of it automated, the 5 min wait while password is reset. Ok tried to login again, failed wrong details, applied for new password, failed again, getting really !!!!!! off now. Rang again only to be told it was my fault I should have waited at least 40 mins.
Back in the UK I decided to cash the card in at a ridiculous exchange rate & waiting 2 weeks for a letter of authorisation to draw money from the PO.
2013 , PO unable to credit the account they originally took the money from, unable to issue a cheque, only this letter.
So the US Card is dead, I still have the euro one which when I tried to check on tonight.....guess what locked out 0844 again.
Sorry to bore you with this, but I feel better already, no operator the other end to patronise me, (rant over)

marvin

dzug1 wrote: »

Well it says be nice to newbies but - you've resurrected a year old thread and worse you've posted in block capitals which I can't be bothered to struggle through reading

So whatever message you had is wasted

Whilst I can't argue with the newbie shouting (all caps) I take it you would have preferred they start a new thread on exactly the same topic?

Personally I applaud them for using search finding a thread that is on the subject they want and posting in it. This is something so many seasoned posters cannot manage thus we have lots of threads on the same subject.