Travelling for 6 months, What card do I take?

kingrulzuk

Guys relax..............

Check this web site http://www.money.co.uk/prepaid-cards/abroad-prepaid-cards.htm

I have Caxton FX Euro card and its free to use and i have been using it for last 4 yrs now.
It took 2 weeks to come after registering online.

Hope it helps if not Google is ur pal

kieranyeh

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Seems that you didn't read my post.....

You'll come unstuck with a FlexDirect account. You really need to pay attention.
FlexPlus perhaps....but that is a waste of money under your circumstances. £10 per month for nothing and you'll still be hit on purchases.

At least with N&P, worst case is £5 per month.

Have you actually checked out all of the suggested options and costed them?

Honestly, I don't deal with banking very much so a lot of the specifics are lost on me. Take note of the beginner note to the left.

I've said that I'm looking mainly for a card for which to withdraw cash from for free. I believe the forex commission you speak of is only for transactions over the counter (though I can stand corrected because, again, note to the left) hence my omission of the figures as you stated as they don't really matter as such, they all seem to be around the 2.75% for the times I do use it.

N&P sounds like a decent option, and I wasn't sure of the cost of the Nationwide account exactly. Don't assume I'm being ignorant or lazy, I've been online best part of this afternoon researching what I can but again, not easy for me to understand what I'm reading at first glance but I'm beginning to get my head around it.

NiftyDigits

kingrulzuk wrote: »

Guys relax..............

Check this web site http://www.money.co.uk/prepaid-cards/abroad-prepaid-cards.htm

I have Caxton FX Euro card and its free to use and i have been using it for last 4 yrs now.
It took 2 weeks to come after registering online.

Hope it helps if not Google is ur pal

We are relaxed. I'm sure that OP is used to debating at Uni.

Is there something wrong with you?? :rotfl: Are you teasing us?

How would anything within your post help the OP?? Euro card??

benjus

kieranyeh wrote: »

Honestly, I don't deal with banking very much so a lot of the specifics are lost on me. Take note of the beginner note to the left.

I've said that I'm looking mainly for a card for which to withdraw cash from for free. I believe the forex commission you speak of is only for transactions over the counter (though I can stand corrected because, again, note to the left) hence my omission of the figures as you stated as they don't really matter as such, they all seem to be around the 2.75% for the times I do use it.

N&P sounds like a decent option, and I wasn't sure of the cost of the Nationwide account exactly. Don't assume I'm being ignorant or lazy, I've been online best part of this afternoon researching what I can but again, not easy for me to understand what I'm reading at first glance but I'm beginning to get my head around it.

There are no prepaid cards with free worldwide cash withdrawals (after all, how would they make any money?). The best you'll find is the Kalixa Pay card which has already been recommended.

The only current accounts with free worldwide cash withdrawals have some conditions attached, such as a monthly fee or paying in a certain amount each month. N&P is the best option here which, again, has already been recommended.

This lets you see the fees and forex charges for most mainstream debit and credit cards: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money?&_ga=1.220261776.946253611.1398242403#howgood

kieranyeh

kingrulzuk wrote: »

Guys relax..............


I have Caxton FX Euro card and its free to use and i have been using it for last 4 yrs now.
It took 2 weeks to come after registering online.

Hope it helps if not Google is ur pal

Google has been my pal all day, still stumped

The Caxton FX card looks decent, and thanks for giving me a dispatch time as you can see I'm tight for time now.

Are these prepaid cards the same as the "cash card" terms I've learnt about? If so this looks ideal: free cash withdrawals, easy to use app to top up the card.

How do you top up your card? is it like making a payment i.e insert your card details etc? or more of a direct debit?

Thanks !

kieranyeh

NiftyDigits wrote: »

We are relaxed. I'm sure that OP is used to debating at Uni.

Is there something wrong with you?? :rotfl: Are you teasing us?

How would anything within your post help the OP?? Euro card??

But on the page there is a worldwide option too, he was just stating his own was the Euro card.

I'm starting to think there's something wrong with you, this has been the most useful post so far.

I am used to debating, but your extremely abrasive personality is stressing me out.

benjus wrote: »

There are no prepaid cards with free worldwide cash withdrawals (after all, how would they make any money?). The best you'll find is the Kalixa Pay card which has already been recommended.

The only current accounts with free worldwide cash withdrawals have some conditions attached, such as a monthly fee or paying in a certain amount each month. N&P is the best option here which, again, has already been recommended.

This lets you see the fees and forex charges for most mainstream debit and credit cards:

benjus wrote: »

There are no prepaid cards with free worldwide cash withdrawals (after all, how would they make any money?). The best you'll find is the Kalixa Pay card which has already been recommended.

The only current accounts with free worldwide cash withdrawals have some conditions attached, such as a monthly fee or paying in a certain amount each month. N&P is the best option here which, again, has already been recommended.

This lets you see the fees and forex charges for most mainstream debit and credit cards:

I just appear to be going around in circles now. >.<

I'm confused, I thought there were cash cards with free worldwide cash withdrawals and what money they did make was in having a higher exchange rate?

And yes, I agree that N&P sounds like a good option £5 a month to do so, assuming I have enough time to receive the card

NiftyDigits

kieranyeh wrote: »

Honestly, I don't deal with banking very much so a lot of the specifics are lost on me. Take note of the beginner note to the left.

I've said that I'm looking mainly for a card for which to withdraw cash from for free. I believe the forex commission you speak of is only for transactions over the counter (though I can stand corrected because, again, note to the left) hence my omission of the figures as you stated as they don't really matter as such, they all seem to be around the 2.75% for the times I do use it.

N&P sounds like a decent option, and I wasn't sure of the cost of the Nationwide account exactly. Don't assume I'm being ignorant or lazy, I've been online best part of this afternoon researching what I can but again, not easy for me to understand what I'm reading at first glance but I'm beginning to get my head around it.

Not a problem. I am happy to help you. But you have completely ignored the link to the Kalixa Pay card.
I can only help you if you are willing to help yourself.
I don't post something for no reason.
Get a Kalixa Pay card asap.
This will be your backup for purchases worldwide.
There reason for this particular card is that it passes on the full Mastercard exchange rate with no deductions.
No other Prepaid card does this.
You will be making purchases. Paying for hotels/guesthouses/dorms, in supermarkets etc.

It has a fixed charge to withdraw cash of £2.25.
Compare that to the best of your current cards.
Withdraw the equivalent of £100 using Kalixa Pay. Total cost: £2.25.
Using HSBC, you lose £2.75 for the forex fee and £2 for the cash withdrawal fee. £4.75 in total.

Purchase value of £100 via Kalixa. No charge.
HSBC £2.75

Forget about silly ideas to do with UKASH. It doesn't make sense to pay to change your money to US$, only to have to pay to change it again each time you need to use it outside the USA. Ditto for the Euro card.
So that 'recommendation' doesn't make sense at all for you.

N&P is a good account, but you have to pay £500 per month into the account to avoid a £5 per month charge.
So bank on having to pay £5 per month for this account.
Other than this, they charge no Forex fee or ATM withdrawal fee.
So even for £5 per month, it is worthwhile under your circumstances.
Again, there is no guarantee that the account will be set up in time.

So apply for the N&P Gold Classic account now and do the same with Kalixa Pay(just top up with a minimum initially until the card is received and activated). So at least you have a sure and cost effective method of payment method to hand.
Do it now, instead of wasting your time.

benjus

kieranyeh wrote: »

I just appear to be going around in circles now. >.<

I'm confused, I thought there were cash cards with free worldwide cash withdrawals and what money they did make was in having a higher exchange rate?

And yes, I agree that N&P sounds like a good option £5 a month to do so, assuming I have enough time to receive the card

Right now US$100 is worth £63.33.

If I used a "free" card to withdraw US$100 from an ATM (assuming the ATM didn't impose a charge of its own) then my account would be debited £63.33.

This is what I mean by free - no fees, no messing with the exchange rate.

The problem is that some cards charge fees, some cards load the exchange rate, and most do both. So you need to account for both things when deciding which is cheapest.

kingrulzuk

kieranyeh wrote: »

Google has been my pal all day, still stumped

The Caxton FX card looks decent, and thanks for giving me a dispatch time as you can see I'm tight for time now.

Are these prepaid cards the same as the "cash card" terms I've learnt about? If so this looks ideal: free cash withdrawals, easy to use app to top up the card.

How do you top up your card? is it like making a payment i.e insert your card details etc? or more of a direct debit?

Thanks !

I use the Caxton FX Euro card so its very easy to use and top up.
What i do is whenever i see a good rate on the website i do the bank transfer.
IE: Today on XE it shows the rate is £1 = 1.26 and on Caxton FE i will get 1.2330 which is way better then bank or post office or high street.
and

kieranyeh

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Not a problem. I am happy to help you. But you have completely ignored the link to the Kalixa Pay card.
I can only help you if you are willing to help yourself.
I don't post something for no reason.
Get a Kalixa Pay card asap.
This will be your backup for purchases worldwide.
There reason for this particular card is that it passes on the full Mastercard exchange rate with no deductions.
No other Prepaid card does this.
You will be making purchases. Paying for hotels/guesthouses/dorms, in supermarkets etc.

It has a fixed charge to withdraw cash of £2.25.
Compare that to the best of your current cards.
Withdraw the equivalent of £100 using Kalixa Pay. Total cost: £2.25.
Using HSBC, you lose £2.75 for the forex fee and £2 for the cash withdrawal fee. £4.75 in total.

Purchase value of £100 via Kalixa. No charge.
HSBC £2.75

Forget about silly ideas to do with UKASH. It doesn't make sense to pay to change your money to US$, only to have to pay to change it again each time you need to use it outside the USA. Ditto for the Euro card.
So that 'recommendation' doesn't make sense at all for you.

N&P is a good account, but you have to pay £500 per month into the account to avoid a £5 per month charge.
So bank on having to pay £5 per month for this account.
Other than this, they charge no Forex fee or ATM withdrawal fee.
So even for £5 per month, it is worthwhile under your circumstances.
Again, there is no guarantee that the account will be set up in time.

So apply for the N&P Gold Classic account now and do the same with Kalixa Pay(just top up with a minimum initially until the card is received and activated). So at least you have a sure and cost effective method of payment method to hand.
Do it now, instead of wasting your time.

Very useful, so this forex fee is applied to cash withdrawals as well?

I thought the forex fee was just for transactions aside from cash withdrawals.. for some reason