Caxton FX - useless and unreachable

seldum

Has anyone any experience which might help please? My son is in the US and took a Caxton FX card with him having loaded all his saving onto it. It didn't work, not at ATMs, not in shops, nothing. Rang Caxton to be told they don't work weekends, call back Monday!! Rang back Monday and they said they would send an emergency card to the home address as it would take 15 days to send to the US (I got it there in 5) Now the emergency card doesn't work and Caxton customer services "don't open until 8am". Incredibly poor availability for a service based around travellers and there sems to be far greater expense involved in a card with no fees that doesn't work from a provider who is not there to help. I have wired some cash by Western Union already but I can't afford to keep doing this (he is away for 6 weeks) Any ideas or experience anyone? :mad:

Donnie

Did you test the 'emergency card' here before you sent it out?

Maybe he needs to use the correct machine.

Donnie

Since seldum has made six posts in five years, it might take a while before they check this thread again.

seldum

Firstly thank you to the responders, yes the card was activated, we double checked the PINs and are still trying. Having spoken to Caxton at 8am again yesterday, I was promised a call back, didn't happen (surprise surprise) and called them again this morning. Was told to tell my son to walk into a bank and request a cash advance. Haven't heard yet whether this has been sucessful so fingers crossed.

Cheers Donnie, just because I don't get carried away with trying to advise others on topics I am not an expert on does not mean I don't appreciate the help and advice of others, I am a tad surprised at having to defend myself when requesting help but it just goes to show.

Caxton Card Services, yes someone answers the phone 7 days a week, but let's be honest here, outside 8am - 5.30pm Monday - Friday, unless you are reporting a stolen or lost card, they are unable to help in any way, shape or form and advise calling back Monday or 8am .
I requested a card be sent direct but what I posted is what I was told, because you have an account with a particular courier and they said delivery could not be guaranteed in less than 15 days, I then requested it be sent to me and I got it there in 5. Please PM me your name and extension number and I will be delighted to discuss the entire thing with you

Donnie

You are only defending yourself against your own mind. I stated a fact. It certainly wasn't a personal attack. So you are only surprising yourself.
Anyway, I hope you can get it sorted. Seems like an oddity.

whatusername

Im very surprised to hear this, Im just back from the US and found the cards very good

seldum

whatusername wrote: »

Im very surprised to hear this, Im just back from the US and found the cards very good

I have to be honest I had not heard a bad word about Caxton and that is why I convinced my son to take out this card so I'm not feeling particularly great about all this
The worst part about it has been that when something has gone wrong (as I accept they sometimes do) the backup just hasn't been there. Still I live in hope that the "cash advance at a bank" idea will work, just waiting to hear

Donnie

seldum wrote: »

I have to be honest I had not heard a bad word about Caxton and that is why I convinced my son to take out this card so I'm not feeling particularly great about all this
The worst part about it has been that when something has gone wrong (as I accept they sometimes do) the backup just hasn't been there. Still I live in hope that the "cash advance at a bank" idea will work, just waiting to hear

Even if you were dealing with a full service bank, what do you think they would have done differently?
In other words, what would you like Caxton to do?
Hope it works out ASAP, but it doesn't sound like a case of poor customer service.

ferf1223

I'm curious about what you mean when you say it doesn't work? What error message is he getting when he tries to use a cash point?

Sorry that you're not having the best of luck with it, but I have to agree that if you had a problem with a debit card or credit card you would probably run into the same thing in most cases in terms of timing to get a replacement - some won't send a replacement card anywhere but the registered address.

I don't have a Caxton card (but do have a FairFX card) but also have 2 forms of back-up for cash withdrawals + a credit card. I'm way too paranoid to go away with only one source of withdrawing funds.

MissGina

I read this thread after a horrible day, arriving exhausted in the Czech Republic. Got here yesterday morning.

I received my Caxton FX Global Traveller Card months ago and transferred a few amounts as spending money. To test it (after all, they advertise UK ATM machines as having a £1.50 charge) I tried looking up my balance whilst at home. Living in a major UK city centre with ATMs everywhere I turn, I thought it would be a doddle.

Nope, twice my PIN was refused. Tried it again a few weeks later elsewhere and still no joy. Caxton emailed me back when I asked what was wrong, and they said something vague about "old" ATM machines. "Only more modern ATMs provide balance checking", they replied. (?) That didn't answer my question!

So, I'm on holiday now. To my delight (also in Prague's city centre), an ATM machine read my card, but I couldn't work out how to check the balance; it offered "Money Services" or "Other" (which is mobile top up, etc).

No biggie, at least I had confirmation it worked. Went into M&S on Wenceslas Square and to my great embarrassment my PIN read as incorrect! Tried it twice and left it; too scared to use an ATM machine for the third attempt.

Emailed Caxton last night, but I'm really upset.

I've looked up the ATM locator and there's 500+ locations in Prague.

I took English notes (you'd cry if you knew the rates I got offered for Scottish Pounds) and exchanged them for Czech Korunas, the rate is awful right now. But at least I have something to spend. I wanted the security of not carrying cash nor worrying about the rate.

To put the tin lid on my day, I gave an assistant 500 CZK and got 100 CZK change for a Sub Of The Day and Coffee from Subway (that should cost around 140 CZK). I keep reading about tourists being ripped off here. Minor niggle but it put me in a major grump..I'd spent two hours trying to find a decent currency exchange rate in the numerous booths.

Can't remember the last time I was shortchanged in Scotland!!

PS: I do know my PIN is the last few digits of my Caxton account number.