Ryanair Refusing Mastercard Prepay

tobiascurious

A lot of people are reporting problems buying flights with Mastercard prepaid cards

Maybe Ryanair are playing silly beggars and only letting each card number work a few times

Maybe it's just best to play the game and get a different prepaid Mastercard

Bob_the_Saver

tobiascurious wrote: »

A lot of people are reporting problems buying flights with Mastercard prepaid cards

Maybe Ryanair are playing silly beggars and only letting each card number work a few times

Maybe it's just best to play the game and get a different prepaid Mastercard

I reckon I've used this one with them 200+ times, how many more times before they stop letting it work according to your daft theory?

bertietrouble

tobiascurious wrote: »

A lot of people are reporting problems buying flights with Mastercard prepaid cards

Maybe Ryanair are playing silly beggars and only letting each card number work a few times

Maybe it's just best to play the game and get a different prepaid Mastercard

There do seem to be a lot of people experiencing similar problems. It seems to be a fairly recent thing, and once you start to look online the same issues crop up time and again. I can't account for the people who have thus far not had it happen to them, but for those of us who do feel they have been lead a merry dance, it is useful to know you are not alone!

The estimate I had from the customer service rep at FairFx was that they were seeing cards with permanent bans cropping up after approximately 15 uses. Once the card has been blocked in this way it becomes defunct and only the issue of a new number will work. My instinct is that the way things are going, there will be enough pressure brought to bare soon on multiple retailers, not just the airlines, who try to make a profit from debit card charges, when the cost to them is negligable. It will hopefully make the necessity to use these Prepaid cards redundant and a return to using a more straightforward means of paying for things.

mhaddog

I too am having these same problems using Fairfx with Ryanair. Has anyone who has been having these problems found a way around it? I have checked my account on the Fairfx website and the account is active. Ryanair started by declining my requests but it now says I have keyed something in wrong. I'm very sure that this isn't the case.

bertietrouble

mhaddog wrote: »

I too am having these same problems using Fairfx with Ryanair. Has anyone who has been having these problems found a way around it? I have checked my account on the Fairfx website and the account is active. Ryanair started by declining my requests but it now says I have keyed something in wrong. I'm very sure that this isn't the case.

I am afraid I had all the same problems...three days of trying and being declined, told I had entered details incorrectly, saying payment was pending but then getting no further. In the end I did what I assume most people are forced to do and incurred card charges. When I used my debit card it went through first time. I have reported the situation to Trading Standards and it may be useful for any ongoing investigation for others to do the same, if they suspect any company is making it impossible to use cards they advertise as a free option...

mattbee12

When this happened to me last month I phone FairFx who told me that they now charge a small fee for processing ryanair flights and because I had the exact amount of money for the flights on my card it would get declined (because they couldnt collect the £3 (I think) charge).

Sounded a bit suspicious but when I put a little bit extra onto my card the transaction went through and there was a small charge added.

bertietrouble

mattbee12 wrote: »

When this happened to me last month I phone FairFx who told me that they now charge a small fee for processing ryanair flights and because I had the exact amount of money for the flights on my card it would get declined (because they couldnt collect the £3 (I think) charge).

Sounded a bit suspicious but when I put a little bit extra onto my card the transaction went through and there was a small charge added.

I think this is just the way these cards operate! If you read Martin's article on them, you will be reminded that they are not free to use and will always charge a percentage of the payment-" The only charge you should face is 1.4% of the transaction amount "....that is how they make their money and they will do that regardless of which company you are trying to purchase from.

They are still substantially less expensive than incurring an airline's card charges. A family of four flying with Ryanair and paying by debit card for example would be charged £48 just for the privelage of making the booking and regardless of the cost of the flights. So as long as you have enough on your Prepaid card to cover the flight AND the fee, in theory it should go through smoothly. For many people, however it appears to not be the case, hence this thread.

Barnetbear

bertietrouble wrote: »

I think this is just the way these cards operate! If you read Martin's article on them, you will be reminded that they are not free to use and will always charge a percentage of the payment-" The only charge you should face is 1.4% of the transaction amount "....that is how they make their money and they will do that regardless of which company you are trying to purchase from.

They did not seem to charge me just 1.4% when I used an ATM abroad, charge was £5.84 instead of the expected £2.98
- please see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3368204
and if you can explain to me what I have misunderstood about their charges I would be grateful (I will check back tonight to see, am very curious on this). Thanks

Barnetbear

mattbee12 wrote: »

When this happened to me last month I phone FairFx who told me that they now charge a small fee for processing ryanair flights and because I had the exact amount of money for the flights on my card it would get declined (because they couldnt collect the £3 (I think) charge).

Sounded a bit suspicious but when I put a little bit extra onto my card the transaction went through and there was a small charge added.

Fair FX now charge a fee for payments of Ryan Air flights? Oh terrific, yet more expense for me

( To clarify - by "fee" I mean have they applied a new fee instead of or in addition to the 1.4% )

bertietrouble

Barnetbear wrote: »

They did not seem to charge me just 1.4% when I used an ATM abroad, charge was £5.84 instead of the expected £2.98
- please see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3368204
and if you can explain to me what I have misunderstood about their charges I would be grateful (I will check back tonight to see, am very curious on this). Thanks

I can't explain this, sorry, as I have only ever used their Prepaid Mastercard to pay online in the UK. When abroad or for foreign purchases online I have a Zero credit and debit card. If you think you have been overcharged for a foreign cash withdrawal perhaps give them a call and ask them to explain why it is higher than their charges would indicate...