never thought about getting a prepaid card

photome

When i go to he states next month, I may withdraw up to £1000 from atms,

I used to use nationwide but I now have a halifax clarity to use.

Am i better off applying for a preloaded cash card or withdrawing on my Clarity card and then paying the bill as soon as i get it?

i have read the travel moneymaximer and am still not sure

stilltheone

photome wrote: »

When i go to he states next month, I may withdraw up to £1000 from atms,

I used to use nationwide but I now have a halifax clarity to use.

Am i better off applying for a preloaded cash card or withdrawing on my Clarity card and then paying the bill as soon as i get it?

i have read the travel moneymaximer and am still not sure

That's the one. No need to wait for the bill. Check online and then pay.

zagfles

photome wrote: »

When i go to he states next month, I may withdraw up to £1000 from atms,

I used to use nationwide but I now have a halifax clarity to use.

Am i better off applying for a preloaded cash card or withdrawing on my Clarity card and then paying the bill as soon as i get it?

i have read the travel moneymaximer and am still not sure

Use the Clarity. Tell then you're going so they don't block the card, and as you said pay it off as soon as you get back.

You'll pay a little interest but it'll be less than any pre-paid card charges, assuming you're only going for a few weeks.

ferf1223

I've always wondered how this works in the US - since the ATMs I have used have different fees for debit cards and credit cards...the credit card fees normally being astronomical...maybe I just haven't read them closely enough, and maybe I'm thinking only of ATMs in Vegas casinos...20+ years ago I agreed with myself never to cash advance a credit card unless it was an emergency (at the time it would have been a slippery slope) so it's a hard habit to break...but having read so many people suggesting this option it intrigues me.

zagfles

ferf1223 wrote: »

I've always wondered how this works in the US - since the ATMs I have used have different fees for debit cards and credit cards...the credit card fees normally being astronomical...maybe I just haven't read them closely enough, and maybe I'm thinking only of ATMs in Vegas casinos...20+ years ago I agreed with myself never to cash advance a credit card unless it was an emergency (at the time it would have been a slippery slope) so it's a hard habit to break...but having read so many people suggesting this option it intrigues me.

Yes I saw those ATMs in Vegas casinos with massive CC fees - about 6% if I remember - but they aren't the norm.

If you use a normal bank ATM there is usually no charge other than the charge imposed by your CC company - in the case of the Clarity this is zero but you you do pay immediate interest - which will usually end up being under 0.5% over a typical holiday if you pay it off as soon as you get back.

cubegame

If you can get to London, you're better off opening a Metro Bank account. Only simple to get current account with fee free withdrawals overseas.

photome

zagfles wrote: »

Yes I saw those ATMs in Vegas casinos with massive CC fees - about 6% if I remember - but they aren't the norm.

If you use a normal bank ATM there is usually no charge other than the charge imposed by your CC company - in the case of the Clarity this is zero but you you do pay immediate interest - which will usually end up being under 0.5% over a typical holiday if you pay it off as soon as you get back.

I am like Ferf and have never done a cash withdrawal on a CC it just seems wrong, but it does look like that is the option for me this time.

It is Vegas I am going to and I have yet to find an ATM there that doesnt impose an extra charge even at bank ATM,s but I wasnt aware that the charge maybe higher for a CC than a debit card

stilltheone

photome wrote: »

I am like Ferf and have never done a cash withdrawal on a CC it just seems wrong, but it does look like that is the option for me this time.

It is Vegas I am going to and I have yet to find an ATM there that doesnt impose an extra charge even at bank ATM,s but I wasnt aware that the charge maybe higher for a CC than a debit card

In this case you should consider a back up, having something like Travelex Cash Passport Globe ordered via Top cashback/Quidco at hand for cash withdrawals.

Of course if you live within the M25, you can consider Metro Bank.

ferf1223

photome wrote: »

I am like Ferf and have never done a cash withdrawal on a CC it just seems wrong, but it does look like that is the option for me this time.

It is Vegas I am going to and I have yet to find an ATM there that doesnt impose an extra charge even at bank ATM,s but I wasnt aware that the charge maybe higher for a CC than a debit card

I trust zagfles's assessment that the casino ATM charges for cash advances on a CC aren't normal...but if memory serves there are 3 types of charges from most casino ATMs - 1) Debit card - usually $4.99 or so, with some exceptions you know about 2) Debit card over its limit - a lot more than $4.99 and 3) Credit card cash advances - a lot more than $4.99.

OK - found this which ties in with my vague recollection.

http://coachclassblog.com/2010/06/15/beware-atm-fees-assorted-rip-offs-in-las-vegas

How hard do they hit you? Some charge a $4.99 fee for a standard cash withdrawal from your checking account. (Plus whatever charge your bank levies). And that’s a bargain compared to getting a cash advance from your credit card through these ATMs. Getting $500 will rack up $31.99 in fees, and $250 will cost you $21.99.

Someone on Open Vegas once took a picture of the fee structure on the ATM but last time I looked for it I couldn't find it.

You usually have a car, yes? If so, you should be able to hit a bank's ATM somewhere easily enough. I think I'm going to check it out in September and see what I find, but as we have both a Santander Zero and MetroBank account, this would only really be a back-up for us, but it's an interesting one that we may look into more.

photome

stilltheone wrote: »

In this case you should consider a back up, having something like Travelex Cash Passport Globe ordered via Top cashback/Quidco at hand for cash withdrawals.

Of course if you live within the M25, you can consider Metro Bank.

Is that better than the Fx card? and no I dont live anywhere near London.

Do you still get charged the ATM fee when using a preloaded card, if so then my Clarity card would still be the best bet (I think) unless of course I am going to walloped by a $20 charge because it is a CC.

I do have back ups, for withdrawals like a nationwide debit card not great I know

dzug1

You get charged the ATM fee whatever card you use.

Most ATMs in the US make a charge of some sort - usually a $ or so