Halifax Let Me Down

eDicky

DownTime wrote: »

http://
moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards#monzo

This is your solution (Monzo), card will arrive a day or two after sign up and £100 load on the app, MasterCard rate, no fees, instant loading by debit card as needed. FORGET the Thomson card. Take your normal cards as backup.

doire_2

DownTime wrote: »

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Less than US$1.26 to the £ as compared to the current rate of more than US$1.30 to the £. Plus an extra US$3 per ATM withdrawal.

Considering we are taking £700 each for 6 nights that is a loss of $21 each if we spend the lot.

The US$3 I will have to live with as my debit card is my only other option.

PeacefulWaters

doire wrote: »

Anyone tried the Thompson pre paid card? I know the rate isnt the highest but there are no fees or charges

It's mediocre on a good day.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole because of the hidden costs in the exchange rate.

doire_2

eDicky wrote: »

This is your solution (Monzo), card will arrive a day or two after sign up and £100 load on the app, MasterCard rate, no fees, instant loading by debit card as needed. FORGET the Thomson card. Take your normal cards as backup.

Looks all app based though. Im on pay as you go with 02 and they offer nothing for customers on PAYG in the US

benjus

DownTime wrote: »

http://
santander.co.uk/uk/credit-cards/zero-credit-card

Keep up

Oops, sorry. I've edited my previous post.

DownTime

doire wrote: »

Looks all app based though. Im on pay as you go with 02 and they offer nothing for customers on PAYG in the US

You don't need to be connected every second. The card is not App based. You can use it as and when. The APP can be used for checking transactions etc. That can be done via WiFi when you have a connection.

If your phone is unlocked, pop a 3 Data Reward SIM within. That will get you connected in the USA. Alternative: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5858374 £4.99

I can't imagine that your debit card is worse than the Thomson card, unless it is one of the Cards From Hell.

Get the Monzo immediately, as advised.

DownTime

doire wrote: »

Considering we are taking £700 each for 6 nights that is a loss of $21 each if we spend the lot.

The US$3 I will have to live with as my debit card is my only other option.

How do you imagine that you can "spend the lot" when you will be faced with US$3 ATM withdrawal charges and possible ATM charges from the machines you utilise? Perhaps if you can get someone in the USA to accept anything remaining as part payment, you will be hard pushed and likely to have an amount left ofnthe card, sitting there, uselessly.

Don't be so defeatist that you allow yourself to settle for such a poor 'solution'. It's a horrible choice.

Which debit card do you hold?

doire_2

DownTime wrote: »

How do you imagine that you can "spend the lot" when you will be faced with US$3 ATM withdrawal charges and possible ATM charges from the machines you utilise? Perhaps if you can get someone in the USA to accept anything remaining as part payment, you will be hard pushed and likely to have an amount left ofnthe card, sitting there, uselessly.

Don't be so defeatist that you allow yourself to settle for such a poor 'solution'. It's a horrible choice.

Which debit card do you hold?

Its not defeatist its realistic that I've 7 days to sort a card.
Debit card is a Nationwide Flex account

Charges are here

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/travel/fees-charges#xtab:foreignCash

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/travel/fees-charges#xtab:foreignPurchases

DownTime

doire wrote: »

Its not defeatist its realistic that I've 7 days to sort a card.
Debit card is a Nationwide Flex account

Charges are here

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/travel/fees-charges#xtab:foreignCash

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/travel/fees-charges#xtab:foreignPurchases

You'll already been informed that the Monzo card should be delivered in time.

Anyway, the Nationwide debit card is much better than the Thomson card.

Simply put Thomson; 3% off the exchange rate and US$3 per ATM withdrawal.
Flex; 2% and US$1.30 per ATM withdrawal....and no left over US$ funds you can't utilise.

So you are better of doing nothing than obtaining the Thomson card.

DownTime

....if you do decide to go for the Monzo account, use this MSE link to get it quickly.