Travelex Supercard

The_Groat_Counter

Cheers adindas, I've now corrected the link in my earlier post!

The new Supercard also has the conventional landscape layout of a credit/debit card, rather than the unusual portrait layout of the pilot card - I can imagine some merchants probably didn't like the look of that.

mihaid

csgohan4 wrote: »

So best to pay it off on the day you withdraw the cash.

absolutely excellent advice. that's what I have been doing for years. in fact it's even better to pay in the 100 pounds before you withdraw 100 pounds of euros or whatever.

vettecarl

So I recently got this card for a 2 week trip to the states. Mainly due to the terrible exchange rate at the moment.
Anyway, I used the card as my main way of spending and was gobsmacked by the results.
The exchange rate when I left was around £1-$1.32.
However, when I checked all my spending I got exchange rates varying from £1 = $1.30 - $1.61!!
How it can change that much in 2 weeks I don't know.. But I'm not complaining in the slightest!
And here's an even more strange thing...
Since I have been home (around 1 week) I've had money put back onto my debit card from the supercard!!
Two days ago I got 8 lots of £30.22 refunded into my account. Around £240.... And I have no knowledge as to why!
Bonus?

Pistol1

Does anyone know how long a Supercard typically takes to arrive?


I only found out about it this week, applied via the app and got my email saying the application was successful on Tuesday 16th, and that it could take 14 days to arrive. We leave on holiday on Sunday the 21st, leaving only four days - is there any chance it'll arrive in that time? Just wondered if anyone had experience of delivery times!

glentoran99

mine took 5 days

Pistol1

glentoran99 wrote: »

mine took 5 days

It arrived today, so only took 3 days! I'm impressed, hope I benefit from using it on holiday!

sp4rklehorse

Beware if relying on Supercard whilst on holiday. Because it is a foreign currency card, there is no effective way that I am aware of for checking that it works before you go - and mine didn't.

We are just back from a week's holiday in Majorca and we have not yet been able to use the card. Tried to use it on day 1 to pay the local holiday tax at our hotel - PIN accepted but transaction declined. Called customer service who advised that they could see no problem with my card or the linked account and to try it with another merchant. Tried to use it to pay for lunch on the same day - PIN accepted but transaction declined again. Called customer service again who said they'd escalate the issue but as it was Saturday, not to expect a response until Monday or Tuesday. They did say they would refund charges from the back-up credit card we had with us.

Monday and Tuesday came and went with no contact from customer services, so I called them again. Despite the escalation, no issue could be found and they didn't know why the transactions were being declined, just that they were. They would have to escalate the already escalated call to "technical" and they had no idea when I could expect a response. They did (at my request) send me an email with a ticket number and confirmation that they would refund my card charges.

On Thursday I emailed customer services for an update. No response. On Friday I emailed again, still no response. So eight days after the initial problem, we are home from our holiday and my card still doesn't work. We have had no contact whatsoever from customer services except when we have contacted them, and even in those cases, Supercard don't always respond.

We go on holiday reasonably frequently and we also often buy online in $ and €, so if it worked, it would be a really useful option. But unless the customer service model improves, I'd advise avoiding Supercard, or at least not relying on it as your main (and definitely not as your only) travel spending option.

I'll update this thread if there are any developments and I'll also advise if I ever get my card charges refunded.

csgohan4

sp4rklehorse wrote: »

Beware if relying on Supercard whilst on holiday. Because it is a foreign currency card, there is no effective way that I am aware of for checking that it works before you go - and mine didn't.

We are just back from a week's holiday in Majorca and we have not yet been able to use the card. Tried to use it on day 1 to pay the local holiday tax at our hotel - PIN accepted but transaction declined. Called customer service who advised that they could see no problem with my card or the linked account and to try it with another merchant. Tried to use it to pay for lunch on the same day - PIN accepted but transaction declined again. Called customer service again who said they'd escalate the issue but as it was Saturday, not to expect a response until Monday or Tuesday. They did say they would refund charges from the back-up credit card we had with us.

Monday and Tuesday came and went with no contact from customer services, so I called them again. Despite the escalation, no issue could be found and they didn't know why the transactions were being declined, just that they were. They would have to escalate the already escalated call to "technical" and they had no idea when I could expect a response. They did (at my request) send me an email with a ticket number and confirmation that they would refund my card charges.

On Thursday I emailed customer services for an update. No response. On Friday I emailed again, still no response. So eight days after the initial problem, we are home from our holiday and my card still doesn't work. We have had no contact whatsoever from customer services except when we have contacted them, and even in those cases, Supercard don't always respond.

We go on holiday reasonably frequently and we also often buy online in $ and €, so if it worked, it would be a really useful option. But unless the customer service model improves, I'd advise avoiding Supercard, or at least not relying on it as your main (and definitely not as your only) travel spending option.

I'll update this thread if there are any developments and I'll also advise if I ever get my card charges refunded.

That's why you always have spare card in case one doesn't work which happened with me.


Get the Halifax clarity card and Revolut as well.

Roger1

csgohan4 wrote: »

That's why you always have spare card in case one doesn't work which happened with me.


Get the Halifax clarity card and Revolut as well.

Yes, though I'd say get any of the fee-free credit cards mentioned in the MSE guide.

Revolut is not a credit card. It may have other virtues but they don't appeal to me as a satisfied fee-free credit card holder.

csgohan4

Roger1 wrote: »

Yes, though I'd say get any of the fee-free credit cards mentioned in the MSE guide.

Revolut is not a credit card. It may have other virtues but they don't appeal to me as a satisfied fee-free credit card holder.

Non of the current credit card for abroad are fee free if you want cash from ATM.

Revolut is up to 500 per month. Plus I find the rates are only so slightly better than the others. Easy to use via their app.

Best to take all of them tbh, I have revolut, Halifax and Travel ex and will use them in that order too.