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Travel Money Cards

andysatherleybell
Posts: 1 Newbie
in Credit cards
Beware! I got a free Thomson (MasterCard) Travel Money Card in Euros and loaded it with €12000. I took it to Austria last week and this is what I found: some restaurants and bars set a 'minimum amount' and will only accept the card after this 'amount' is reached, and other restaurants, bars and some shops do not accept it at all. Sometimes my PIN did not work and I had to 'sign' in the old-fashion way instead. I began to doubt the claims about this type of card. It did work well in all the ATM's I tried and I drew out cash in €'s with only a €2 charge, BUT, it would not show the balance on the card which was very frustrating.
However. Watch out if, like me, you were running out of money and needed to 'top-up' your card abroad!
Before I traveled, I had logged on to Thomson and registered my card, so while in Austria I knew I could top-up on-line. I had been told this in the Thomsom Travel Shop. I was told it was easy to top-up on-line and I could be in control of my money at all times. The hotel I stayed in only had a pay-by-the-minute internet terminal so I logged in to Thomson, entered my details and used my Nat West VisaDebit card to transfer more funds on to the card. It was two days before the end of my holiday and I needed to pay a hotel bill - but the funds did not appear on my card!
I checked the Terms and Conditions folded in the card packaging to see how long the transfer would take. After the info I had been given verbally by a Thomson employee, I had expected instant. The Terms and Conditions were dated October 2009 and did not mention topping-up on-line at all! It did mention going to a Thomson Travel Shop and buying €'s and the amount would be credited immediately, but not on-line topping up. The Thomson Travel Card web page did have a Terms and Conditions button but the internet terminal I was using would not allow me to download the PDF document to read. I checked the card at regular intervals but still no increase in funds.
So, I came back from holiday with no money! I could not even fully pay my hotel bill and had to rely on friends to pay road tolls and fill up with fuel! I couldn't even buy a coffee at the airport!
When I returned to the UK I checked out the Terms and Conditions on-line. The 2010 conditions state that on-line transfers take a WHOPPING 48 hours to be credited!!! In a Thomson Shop its instant - on-line its 48 hours! Why?
After this experience, I doubt this type of card's convenience and would take 'good ol' cash' next time. Cash is far more flexible in the long run and you can be in control of your money at all times.
However. Watch out if, like me, you were running out of money and needed to 'top-up' your card abroad!
Before I traveled, I had logged on to Thomson and registered my card, so while in Austria I knew I could top-up on-line. I had been told this in the Thomsom Travel Shop. I was told it was easy to top-up on-line and I could be in control of my money at all times. The hotel I stayed in only had a pay-by-the-minute internet terminal so I logged in to Thomson, entered my details and used my Nat West VisaDebit card to transfer more funds on to the card. It was two days before the end of my holiday and I needed to pay a hotel bill - but the funds did not appear on my card!
I checked the Terms and Conditions folded in the card packaging to see how long the transfer would take. After the info I had been given verbally by a Thomson employee, I had expected instant. The Terms and Conditions were dated October 2009 and did not mention topping-up on-line at all! It did mention going to a Thomson Travel Shop and buying €'s and the amount would be credited immediately, but not on-line topping up. The Thomson Travel Card web page did have a Terms and Conditions button but the internet terminal I was using would not allow me to download the PDF document to read. I checked the card at regular intervals but still no increase in funds.
So, I came back from holiday with no money! I could not even fully pay my hotel bill and had to rely on friends to pay road tolls and fill up with fuel! I couldn't even buy a coffee at the airport!
When I returned to the UK I checked out the Terms and Conditions on-line. The 2010 conditions state that on-line transfers take a WHOPPING 48 hours to be credited!!! In a Thomson Shop its instant - on-line its 48 hours! Why?
After this experience, I doubt this type of card's convenience and would take 'good ol' cash' next time. Cash is far more flexible in the long run and you can be in control of your money at all times.
0
Comments
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andysatherleybell wrote: »Beware! I got a free Thomson (MasterCard) Travel Money Card in Euros and loaded it with €12000.Are you for real? - Glass Half Empty??
:coffee:0 -
This has to be a troll.
According to the terms and conditions of this card the maximum balance allowed is 5000 Euros.0 -
It's a WHOPPING load of rubbish !0
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