WARNING - Excess Baggage Fees, Thomas Cook, Travelex and Egg Cash Advance fees

Geedoubleu_2

Just got back from my holiday where Thomas Cook charged us £80 for excess baggage fees and checked my statement to find cash advance fees and cash interest charged. Nightmare as I pay the card off each month. (Discovered at checkin we had accidently purchased our holiday with 15kg limits!!!)

They told us we had to go to Travelex to pay the charge and gave us a ticket.

Off we went with my Egg Money Card and paid for it, got the reciept and took the ticket back to checkin, all ok but £80 lighter.

However, Travelex processed it as a cash advance. Egg have told me to get lost because the computer says no!!!! Egg have said that even if Travelex refund the £80 and process it correctly then their cash advance fees and interest charges will still stand, because.....their computer says no!!

Although its only about £6, I'm furious because it's just blatent theft.

How the hell can I sort this out, can I report it as fraudulent transaction, is there any protection under law?

I did not receive any cash as part of these transaction.

YorkshireBoy

Geedoubleu wrote: »

Although its only about £6

You may find that, when faced with 8 weeks of dialogue and a potential FOS referral, making a formal complaint may deliver a result.

I suppose it depends on how much effort you want to put in for the sake of £6?

Geedoubleu_2

I know it doesn't make sense to chase as it's only £6, but I'm furious as it's just blatent theft and Egg haven't just written off as it's only £6. I've got a really painful neck so I need to take it out on someone else :-)

I doubt they will sort it out and I will stop using the card (have to wait until March for the cashback) and will close it just out of principle.

I turnover a couple of thousand each month, they must be doing ok in transaction charges from retailers.

YorkshireBoy

So Travelex use the wrong Merchant Category Code (MCC) and you close your Egg Money card in "principle"?

Unless someone else comes along with a 1% cashback card you're saying goodbye to around £200 per year cashback with your current level of spending.

Your "really painful neck" seems to be affecting your ability to think straight.

Geedoubleu_2

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

So Travelex use the wrong Merchant Category Code (MCC) and you close your Egg Money card in "principle"?

Unless someone else comes along with a 1% cashback card you're saying goodbye to around £200 per year cashback with your current level of spending.

Your "really painful neck" seems to be affecting your ability to think straight.

Yep, you are right, I might just write off the £6. I have over £100 cashback already and have emailed travelex to get them to sort it out too.

I was thinking I'd get a AMEX card paying 5% for the first 3mths, but I've got three other empty cards so probably wouldn't get it and then is limited on who will accept AMEX so am best to stick with Egg.

Glittermonkey

Its not a charge by Travelex. it is a charge issued by Visa. There is an article on here somewhere which shows which cards are treated as a cash advance but cant find it.

DesG

Travelex have made the error causing you additional expense, why should it be egg that you blame?

Cheers, Des.

rkcl

I purchased a travelex card 3rd may, using my debit card, they charged me 2%, my bank charged me another 2% because Visa makes a charge for cash purchases.
When I looked in the Credit card section, I thought that a debit card did not incur the extra charges.