Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

andyk123_2

Thanks for the info baldur

reddoggybag

Hi we're going to Thailand on 9 Dec for 3 weeks and was wondering how to take our money, will take about £300 cash but don't know how to take the rest, i must be thick as i don't understand how the pre-loaded cash cards work do you load them before you leave and use them to just withdraw cash from ATM's also what currency would we load them with for Thailand. What happens if theres any cash left on the card or can we load more cash onto them from Thailand. Your help is much appreciated as we only have halifax debit card and they seem to be very expensive to use abroad. Thanks

lee_the_flee

luci wrote: »

I don't think you can open an e-savings account at the branch as it is an online only account. You need to open a FlexAccount and transfer the money from there to open an e-savings account.

Re the 1% Visa fee passed on by Nationwide, you will need to check what exchange rate you will get with the Santander Zero card to see if it has any loading above the Interbank rate that you would get from Nationwide.

I went into nationwide this morning to open up my e-savings flex account, and after an hour of sitting with the account manager and going through the credit checks, I only qualify for a cash card. I told him i would come back in 4 days and let him know my decision.

From what I understand, the cash card is only different from the Visa Debit in that I cannot do any transactions (so I can only withdraw money)... but even better than the e-savings as there are NO fees (not even the 1% Visa fee) for withdrawals? Did I understand correctly? I checked quickly online if there are Cirrus ATM's in the countries I am going to in Asia and South/North America and there are so I should have not problems findind any ATM's....

Is there anything that I am missing? Or for cash withdrawals a cash card is even better than a VISA debit for international withdrawals?

Thanks for any advise!

luci

I think you are confusing two different account. The FlexAccount and e-savings account are two different accounts. An e-savings account is just that, a savings account that is operated online only.

You can open a FlexAccount at the branch and yes, I believe the 1% Visa fee doesn't yet apply to the cash card only account.

Baldur

lee_the_flee wrote: »

.... for cash withdrawals a cash card is even better than a VISA debit for international withdrawals?

On the face of it, yes - the Cash Card will not attract the 1% VISA fee as it (as you have already discovered) is operated by Cirrus/Mastercard; see http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/foreigntransactions.htm#q3

Poshweare

I am heading around the world in 3 weeks is it too late to apply for a Santander Zero card? if so what is my next best option? I assume it's apre-paid card but these are only available in dollars or euro's so is this useless for Oz & Nz?

dzug1

Poshweare wrote: »

I am heading around the world in 3 weeks is it too late to apply for a Santander Zero card? if so what is my next best option? I assume it's apre-paid card but these are only available in dollars or euro's so is this useless for Oz & Nz?

You can get the prepaid cards in various currencies, Oz dolls for certain, not sure about NZ. Try a different provider, but check the charges. Getting them in ££ is the fallback - they are never useless.

You might get the Zero card if you apply for it but it's not guaranteed either that you'll get it or that it and the PIN will arrive in time.

anna42hmr

Poshweare wrote: »

I am heading around the world in 3 weeks is it too late to apply for a Santander Zero card? if so what is my next best option? I assume it's apre-paid card but these are only available in dollars or euro's so is this useless for Oz & Nz?

my santander card and pin arrived within a 3 week timscale (think it was just over 2 1/2 weeks), but a lot of people have been experiencing huge delays (see the threads on the credit card forum)

I would recommend that you try the post office credit card as free foreign usage as well, and i got my card and pin within 6 days of applying (callender days as well, not working days!) i applied on the friday am and had both by the wednesday

bowner

Hmm, I've applied online for a Zero card but I leave at the beginning of next month and after reading the horror stories on the CC forums re Santander I've just rung the Post Office and applied over the phone for their CC. The Santander Zero sounds like a good card but useless if you never actually receive it or have hours of hassle chasing up an application :rolleyes: I decided that the PO card sounded like less hassle without losing out on too many benefits versus the Zero card. I don't want to be stressed out waiting for a card or wrangling with a poor customer services department.

Also, here's a tip of my own, I asked how much the call to the 0800 number would cost me and the PO offered to call me back on my mobile...which they did immediately. No complaints there :beer:

lee_the_flee

Baldur wrote: »

On the face of it, yes - the Cash Card will not attract the 1% VISA fee as it (as you have already discovered) is operated by Cirrus/Mastercard;

Thanks Baldur! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

As that's the only card Nationwide will allow me to get, I'm going to go ahead for that one.

My last step is to try to get a Credit Card from the post office. I went into Santander to try there and they suggested I come back when I'm on the electoral role, as apparently my credit rating is very good but i need to be on the electoral role for them. Hopefully the post office aren't that strict....