Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

Curonianspit

Hello all,

HSBC appear in a rather general way on Martin's list of debit cards that will not charge for buying foreign (Norwegian) currency online from, say, Travelex. Can anyone confirm this?
(I have ordered a Clarity card, but fear it will not arrive in time to order the currency before my departure in four days time, although I am hoping it will arrive in time for me to take it with me, but have PO platinum for back-up!).
It is attached to an HSBC Premier account, if that makes any difference....if I ask in my local branch they read out a leaflet to me in a patronising voice about how it costs nothing to use for purchases abroad...durrr, and I can't find anything on the HSBC website.

Any help much appreciated.

Blakey1982

Hi,

I have accumulated some left over currency in the last years and used to think i could walk into a Post Office and they buy it back at a lower rate.

Is this not the case? How can i get rid of this into £'s?

timefortea

TakeThis wrote: »

For spending, try the Kalixa card, purchased via TopCashBack. Purchase and fund the card via Bank Transfer. You can also use it for larger cash withdrawals.
Will be cheaper than your current cards.

Thanks for this, I've never even heard of this one and I have been looking around for cheaper cards to use. Sorry to be a thicko, but just to check, if I used the Kalixa card in a shop it doesn't charge an additional fee, does it?

And if I have money left on the card after my holiday, can I transfer it back into my bank account?

dzug1

Blakey1982 wrote: »

Hi,

I have accumulated some left over currency in the last years and used to think i could walk into a Post Office and they buy it back at a lower rate.

Is this not the case? How can i get rid of this into £'s?

You can take it to any large PO with a BdeC - or indeed any other exchange outfit - and change it back into ££. Not very good rates usually, but they all do it.

Smaller POs (ie those where you have to preorder currency) will not change it back unless you bought it from them and have the receipt

TakeThis

timefortea wrote: »

Thanks for this, I've never even heard of this one and I have been looking around for cheaper cards to use. Sorry to be a thicko, but just to check, if I used the Kalixa card in a shop it doesn't charge an additional fee, does it?

And if I have money left on the card after my holiday, can I transfer it back into my bank account?

Doesn't charge any fee when spending in a shop, nor take anything from the wholesale exchange rate.

You can get it for free here if you order by Valentine's Day and top up with at least £50.

Perhaps you can give them a call to ask about transferring unused funds.

milliman11

Hi,

My son is travelling to New Zealand and Australia next month and he's been stressing about his finance situation. He's been looking at the Caxton Global card, has anyone any experience of this card? My daughter visited Europe last summer and I was able to top up her pre paid card online, yet I cannot find a comparable card for Australian/NZ dollars. Would anyone recommend using travellers cheques?

He is also hoping to get seasonal work over there for a couple of months. Would he need to set up a NZ bank account? Or could wages be paid into his UK bank account? Help needed!

John_Pierpoint

These are not third world countries - no need to get stressed, they work much like over here and the locals all speak English.:D

Is this "a gap year" situation?

Son gets suitable bank and credit cards over here (you have his details etc. and when you get the "I've been robbed" message on your voice mail, you will be in a position to help out.)

Yorkshire bank and Clydesdale bank are Australian owned, perhaps they have some sort of reciprocal arrangement?

Then the only decisions are about getting a suitable Australian visa from Australia House and deciding if it is a good idea to work in the fleshpots of Sydney or be a Jackeroo on some Godforesaken place in the outback.

Freedom here we come?

TakeThis

milliman11 wrote: »

Hi,

My son is travelling to New Zealand and Australia next month and he's been stressing about his finance situation. He's been looking at the Caxton Global card, has anyone any experience of this card? My daughter visited Europe last summer and I was able to top up her pre paid card online, yet I cannot find a comparable card for Australian/NZ dollars. Would anyone recommend using travellers cheques?

He is also hoping to get seasonal work over there for a couple of months. Would he need to set up a NZ bank account? Or could wages be paid into his UK bank account? Help needed!

Why would you need one in AU$/NZ$ if it's a GLOBAL card?

Anyway, try the Kalixa Card instead. Purchase by Valentine's Day to get the card for free. Fund it via Bank Transfer.
It's better value overall.

Otherwise, Cash Passport Globe

Best of all would be a Metro Bank Debit card.

dzug1

Thos Cook do prepaid cards in both OZ and NZ dollars - but I wouldn't regard them as good value.

But Takethis has good advice

The_Shiners

We're going to USA, Australia and New Zealand. Already got Halifax Clarity card but am looking to get a Sterling pre-paid Global card as back up. The Caxton fx is high up the 'best buy' list but it charges a 2.75% mark up on each transaction. The Escape travel money card doesn't charge for shop or ATM use, does anyone know if there is a catch here? Do they give a less favourable exchange rate?
Also in the small print of the Caxton card, it says it is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.