Simple payg credit card

NiftyDigits

Exactly right, you should simply top up her bank account by whatever means necessary. That way she can get the best card for her needs, rather than the one that is the least hassle for you.

You top up her bank account, she can do online transfers from her bank account to her Revolut account. You can pay into most UK bank accounts via the Post Office, so that shouldn't be an issue.
That way she gets the best exchange rates and no charges.

Apart from that...

You do know that bank transfers can be done via the telephone, don't you?

If that is still "too much hassle for you"

Lebara Prepaid

If other people want to help out, they can also apply for their own cards and then give her the spare card.
Then they can go to the Post Office, top up their card and then transfer it to hers by telephone, if you/they are incapable of simply topping up a normal bank account over the telephone of via the Post office.

eDicky

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You top up her bank account, she can do online transfers to her Revolut account.

Assuming that her bank account gives a debit card, she can use it to top up her Revolut instantly at any time, anywhere.

Or, if OP and family members have their own Revolut accounts (smartphone required), instant transfers can be made any time and free of charge.

lee111s

Get her to apply for a Halifax clarity card. Spend on it and pay it off using online banking.


You or any other relatives simply transfer funds to her current account which she can use to pay off the balance of the credit card.


I can't think of a simpler way.

eDicky

lee111s wrote: »

Get her to apply for a Halifax clarity card. Spend on it and pay it off using online banking.

You or any other relatives simply transfer funds to her current account which she can use to pay off the balance of the credit card.

I can't think of a simpler way.

We don't even know whether the neice has a bank account, maybe neither does the OP know, (my question unanswered). She may not be eligible for a Clarity credit card, or ready to take on the responsibility of using it and paying regularly to avoid debt and interest while travelling for six months. I suspect that the OP may not be in a position to ask her to 'get' anything. So I am afraid that this may be another 'simple' non-starter.

Anthorn

I take a different view to most of the above posters:

To go with the OP's requirements I would go with N & P Gold Classic current account. Free overseas POS transactions and withdrawals with the debit card and the card doesn't have to be presented when paying into the account. Minimum £500 per month credit or £5 monthly fee.
http://www.nandp.co.uk/current-account/

Robin9

One thing in common re the above is that your niece should have a bank account.

Can I add that she needs to have more than one source of funds while abroad - in case a CC gets blocked

I wish her well with her travels - I never had the opportunity

eDicky

Anthorn wrote: »

To go with the OP's requirements I would go with N & P Gold Classic current account. Free overseas POS transactions and withdrawals with the debit card and the card doesn't have to be presented when paying into the account. Minimum £500 per month credit or £5 monthly fee.
http://www.nandp.co.uk/current-account/

Yes, this is also a very good solution for anyone travelling overseas and wishing to avoid all fees. I use it myself, along with Clarity and Revolut.

In this case, if the travelling niece and the non Internet banking OP feel able to manage the £500 monthly funding somehow to avoid the monthly fee, and the niece is eligible for the Gold Classic account, it should be considered.

Anthorn

Robin9 wrote: »

Can I add that she needs to have more than one source of funds while abroad - in case a CC gets blocked

Just to add that in my relatively long experience of U.K. cards used in France including Monaco it's prepaid cards that fail although not really frequently while cards from established banking institutions such as banks and building societies never fail. But probably the only sure-fire way is cash.

slink85

eDicky wrote: »

Can you indicate any such instance of this'habit'? There is a 17-page Revolut thread on the Overseas board where I don't think you will find one. In fact there are few reported instances of unreliability compared to other prepaid travel cards, perhaps you are confusing Revolut with one of those?

In any case, nobody should rely on a single source of funds when travelling. Any card can be stolen, become blocked or otherwise unavailable.

Another possibility is the FairFX card, which the OP could have with a secondary 'Family and Friends' card in the neice's name, which can then be funded through the main (OP's) card. But there are fees involved (Revolut is totally free).

you will notice if you visit their facebook page that there's no longer the option to leave reviews for the service, this was removed because the reviews section was full of people having cards blocked for no reason, people having accounts locked down and being unable to transfer THEIR money without any kind of explanation, they were essentially stealing peoples money and then ignoring them.

Rely on this card as the sole means of payment for your child abroad of you want, i'd rather dig my eyes out with a rusty spoon after it happened to my younger brother, and the explanation given, was that I had topped up the card from the UK, whilst it was being used in Brazil.

[Deleted User]

mchale wrote: »

have had a google & it seem that card has to be present to top up via PO or paypoint etc, don't really want hassle of bank transfers as I don't do online banking (& other family members will be helping her out as well)

Just apply for a second card on the account, and keep that one at home, for use when topping up.