Beware Fairfx prepay travel card

wolfwanderer

Problems arose after we transferred 650 pounds onto our fairfx euro card for a brief holiday in Florence. The money didn't show up on our card but had definitely left our bank account.

Don't worry, I said to my wife, I'll ring the company! No you won't! This firm doesn't advertise a phone number for customer service. Its email only. However, a quick Google search revealed a number for them. I phoned it but they were closed. This firms customer service runs weekdays only, 9 to 5!

The web forums are full of people stuck in foreign countries having problems with their fairfx card and having to wait until Monday morning for the office to open up!

A cowboy outfit. Recommended by Moneysavingexpert.
Thanks Martin.

transient

When did you transfer the money and when did you go abroad?

lil.smartie

Used it for years, never had a problem, Husbands card had fraud on it, sorted without complaint.

2 sides to everything & people are more likely to complain than praise!

Kate

Sagz_2

Im a happy fairfx user too, have used on at least 5 trips so far

So yes, thanks MSE & Martin

bluenoseam

Used mine with no issues as well and would continue to recommend them in the future, it could easily be a temporary glitch - annoying I understand but ultimately it's possible to happen to anyone!

wr1ght

i also have been using these cards for years and never had a problem

wolfwanderer

The problem lies in the total absence of a customer service line.
They operate by email unless you find the secret number online but not displayed on the website.
Emails are not answered at weekends - just Google for hundreds of examples of people left stranded all over the world by this terrible company.

And when you do get through by phone (weekdays only 9 to 5!) They lie through their teeth.
Eventually my bank had to phone them to talk them through the sending of a FAX. They repeatedly told us they had sent it but they hadn't.

Liars and cost cutting the most important aspect of the business - customer service.

SevenOfNine

Useful consideration for me while I investigate which prepaid card to take on my hols (if any). Though this one was already lower on my list than Caxton FX, MyTravelCash and Travelex.

Thanks wolfwanderer - I'll check contact/opening details with my 3 choices - I hadn't even thought of that.

Can't quite understand the 'never had a problem' comments, if you've never had a problem then surely you have no idea what the customer services are like!

Azari

SevenOfNine wrote: »

Can't quite understand the 'never had a problem' comments, if you've never had a problem then surely you have no idea what the customer services are like!

Exactly.

People can be very dumb.

Whenever there is a problem with a company or product people will spring up to say that they haven't had any problems.

But that often isn't terribly relevant. Even if only one person in a hundred has problems but the company in question has a very poor track record for sorting things out they are certainly to be avoided.

trevor2522

Absolutely Avoid Fair FX Cards -- No Cash From ATMs!

Fair FX cards are terrible! Would not dispense me any cash in Thailand, saying my personalised PIN was invalid!

They also charge a "Network currency exchange rate mark-up percentage" when paying a small ticketing charge at an airline office. Purchases are supposed to be 0%! This was never mentioned clearly on signing-up ... maybe hidden away in the small print ... but that's criminal deception as far as I'm concerned.

They also have ABSOLUTELY NO TELEPHONE BACKUP for clients stuck abroad unable to access their cash. Cardholders then have to email all their personal details via unsecure email to identify the problem -- totally compromising their identity and security worldwide!

AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! Pay a little more and stick to regular banks and building societies with a proper infrastructure. FairFX is false economy!

-- Trevor Perry
-- Stuck in Thailand without cash, thanks to FairFX
-- December 9th, 2012

P.S. Not only me; read more criticism of Fair FX at money co uk.

Disgusting company ... don't even reply to emails at weekends, leaving clients stranded and cashless. I will close my account IMMEDIATELY on returning to the UK. Spread the word. And stick to Banks / Building Societies.

P.S. In Thailand you can avoid the £3 surcharge on foreign plastic by using Aeon and Citibank machines. Google it.

yangptangkipperbang

Azari wrote: »

People can be very dumb.

Even if only one person in a hundred has problems but the company in question has a very poor track record for sorting things out they are certainly to be avoided.

Your logic is somewhat suspect..........

Yes - people can be very dumb, so why should one negative comment be taken seriously whereas a number of praising comments are called "dumb" ?

Also if 99% of customers (of any business) have no problems, I would say that the company in question is certainly worth consideration. If all household appliances were 99% reliable I would be over the moon ........:D