Prepaid Travel Cards guide

YogiOdie

Thanks ReadySteady

I am looking for a prepaid card and do not wish to open a bank account for personal reasons.

I did initially look at the page that was linked and read the section referring to charges which states this:

Outside the UK, you will be charged for using your card. For details of the charges that apply to your account please see the question 'What are the interest rates and charges?' of this help section or refer to your terms and conditions. The exchange rate for overseas transactions is determined by VISA on the day they receive the transaction.

I would prefer not to be subject to fluctuating exchange rates each time I use the card and to rather work directly with the currency of the country I am in.

Thanks for your input and time to check on what I have posted - appreciated.

YogiOdie

eDicky - your link was correct but as I was looking for a prepaid travel card and that is the thread I was posting under - I assumed you had linked to VirginMoney's homepage and I would navigate from there which I did to find the prepaid card option.

Thanks for the suggestion but for personal reasons I do not wish to open a bank account.

ReadySteady_2

YogiOdie wrote: »

Thanks ReadySteady

I am looking for a prepaid card and do not wish to open a bank account for personal reasons.

I did initially look at the page that was linked and read the section referring to charges which states this:

Outside the UK, you will be charged for using your card. For details of the charges that apply to your account please see the question 'What are the interest rates and charges?' of this help section or refer to your terms and conditions. The exchange rate for overseas transactions is determined by VISA on the day they receive the transaction.

I would prefer not to be subject to fluctuating exchange rates each time I use the card and to rather work directly with the currency of the country I am in.

Thanks for your input and time to check on what I have posted - appreciated.

The Essential Current Account is a basic bank account with no overdraft facilities. So not the same burden as a current account.

If you want to lock in a rate then WeSwap via MSE is attractive on paper. Though you should not depend on just one card.

If you lock in a rate now and the rate improves, you would still be subject to currency fluctuation...

YogiOdie

Thanks ReadySteady - appreciate the advice.

eDicky

YogiOdie wrote: »

Any advice re Travelex vs WeSwap?

With your limitations, I would use both...

ReadySteady_2

eDicky wrote: »

With your limitations, I would use both...

I sense mild irritation.....

eDicky

ReadySteady wrote: »

I sense mild irritation.....

Mild would be the word. With no use of mobile phone or bank accounts and a compulsion to convert to CAD in advance, Yogi's original pair of cards to choose from was appropriate and my original suggestion was not.

YogiOdie

There was never any intention to irritate - I merely posted for advice under my personal circumstances which given I am only aware of.

I am no techie - grew up in an era without computers and choose not to be fried by a mobile - I too do not wish to be encumbered by the intricacies of finance and desire simplicity with the hope of not being fleeced too greatly.

Apologies for anyone's time I may have led to being wasted - I will cease to use this forum for I sense I am communicating in an arena I am too naive and uneducated in and do not wish to further cause any negative reactions.

Thanks for any time taken on behalf of my posting.

(Afterthought - few years back was forced to declare bankruptcy which makes it difficult to open any new bank account or to get a credit card - I know as I have tried - thus the "compulsion to convert to CAD in advance" as I have been able to easily obtain a prepaid card.
I had not mentioned the bankruptcy as I am embarrassed by the fact having grown up in a place and time when it was judged as a stigma and that unfortunately has stuck.)

eDicky

YogiOdie wrote: »

There was never any intention to irritate - I merely posted for advice under my personal circumstances which given I am only aware of.

I am no techie - grew up in an era without computers and choose not to be fried by a mobile - I too do not wish to be encumbered by the intricacies of finance and desire simplicity with the hope of not being fleeced too greatly.

Apologies for anyone's time I may have led to being wasted - I will cease to use this forum for I sense I am communicating in an arena I am too naive and uneducated in and do not wish to further cause any negative reactions.

Thanks for any time taken on behalf of my posting.

(Afterthought - few years back was forced to declare bankruptcy which makes it difficult to open any new bank account or to get a credit card - I know as I have tried - thus the "compulsion to convert to CAD in advance" as I have been able to easily obtain a prepaid card.
I had not mentioned the bankruptcy as I am embarrassed by the fact having grown up in a place and time when it was judged as a stigma and that unfortunately has stuck.)

Hey, it's no sweat! Don't feel you've wasted anyone's time, others see advice even if it's not relevant to yourself. Don't be put off using the forum.

You should be able to get a 'basic' bank account even with the bankrupt history, such as the Virgin Money, you can get advice from MSE articles and the Banking forum board.

I'm also something of a tech dinosaur, but now I travel with a smartphone and no computer, using the latest cards by phone app and saving plenty of money.

Be sure you don't travel with only a single source of funds, such as only one of those cards, because if it is lost or fails, and they often do, you'll really be fried...!

ReadySteady_2

YogiOdie wrote: »

There was never any intention to irritate - I merely posted for advice under my personal circumstances which given I am only aware of.

I am no techie - grew up in an era without computers and choose not to be fried by a mobile - I too do not wish to be encumbered by the intricacies of finance and desire simplicity with the hope of not being fleeced too greatly.

Apologies for anyone's time I may have led to being wasted - I will cease to use this forum for I sense I am communicating in an arena I am too naive and uneducated in and do not wish to further cause any negative reactions.

Thanks for any time taken on behalf of my posting.

(Afterthought - few years back was forced to declare bankruptcy which makes it difficult to open any new bank account or to get a credit card - I know as I have tried - thus the "compulsion to convert to CAD in advance" as I have been able to easily obtain a prepaid card.
I had not mentioned the bankruptcy as I am embarrassed by the fact having grown up in a place and time when it was judged as a stigma and that unfortunately has stuck.)

I already had an idea as to the why.
Which is also why the Virgin account was suggested.
There was no irritation towards you. I was just surprised that eDicky recommended the Travelex card here, so sensed desperation. Just humour, nothing against you.