Travel Multi Currency Card Sainsburys

Printer

Hi

I've just received a Travel Mastercard from Sainsburys loaded with Euros for my holiday next week.

Registering it etc very straight forward but i have a question.

When i log on and look at the settings under default billing currency it states GDP.

Should i change this to Euro or leave it as pound? It doesn't have info on the best setting for this.

I'm unsure if it means billing when paying for things, or billing back to my account if i top it up!

Thanks

takman

You may be too late for this but you should look at the Monzo Prepaid Card and apply for it using the link on this site.

You can top it up with money and it offers an almost perfect exchange rate with no fees at all for any currency. You also get the benefit of not having to change a set amount of money and only what you spend.

So if you haven't already paid the fees to change the currency then you should see if you can withdraw the money and put it onto a Monzo card.

bengalknights

The viewing preference is down to you however if your using solely euros probably best to display euros

eDicky

Why didn't you look for the MSE advice on prepaid travel cards before making such a choice, it's a mistake in every way. You would have to ask Sainsbury, if you can get through to them, about the appropriate settings on your account, I don't think anyone here uses it. Also see and be warned by the recent posts on this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72886996#Comment_72886996

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards

Printer

Hang on!!!

I used the search tool for my area which is on this actual website.

It listed a few options, some not open to me and some not convenient and therefor went with the third option listed which was the Sainsburys card!!!!!

For security i opted for the actual card rather than cash. There is no fees to pay at either end as long as i am sensible when i use it.

To say it is wrong in every sense is simply not true!!

Using a nectar card on saturday received a rate of 1.09 which i do not think is bad at all.

If this card so so bad why is it listed as an option on this site?

eDicky

Printer wrote: »

If this card so so bad why is it listed as an option on this site?

Is it the card that is listed, or the comparative cash exchange rates? It's certainly not listed in the prepaid cards article I gave you the link for.

The mid-rate Saturday was 1.114, which is close enough to what you would get using one of the recommended cards in an ATM.

Printer

Okay fair enough, a balls up on my part.

Lucky i haven't loaded a fortune onto it.

So, how do i make the most of this?

If using an ATM say i don't want it concerted?

Is it better to use in restaurants and ask what their charges are and if high i'll use my cash?

Thanks All.

takman

Printer wrote: »

Okay fair enough, a balls up on my part.

Lucky i haven't loaded a fortune onto it.

So, how do i make the most of this?

If using an ATM say i don't want it concerted?

Is it better to use in restaurants and ask what their charges are and if high i'll use my cash?

Thanks All.

Whatever you do don't convert any cash before you go!.

If your quick you can sign up to get a Monzo Card using the MSE link and it should arrive before you go away next week. You then load this up with money (£'s) and use it in cash machines abroad to withdraw cash at an almost perfect exchange rate.

eDicky

Printer wrote: »

So, how do i make the most of this?

If using an ATM say i don't want it concerted?

Is it better to use in restaurants and ask what their charges are and if high i'll use my cash?

Thanks All.

Your card will be recognised as originating in UK and may be automatically offered conversion from pounds to euros. You need to be extra careful to avoid this, as your card holds euros already and if it is debited in pounds you will lose about 10% during the double conversion.

There is nothing to ask about charges when using your card in restaurants etc, but you can say that you want to pay in euros, and be careful to make the right choice on the payment terminal.

An ATM may offer conversion and show an exchange rate. You have to avoid this by selecting 'Without Conversion' or 'No Conversion' or similar. You may still be asked if you are really sure, to which the answer is, of course 'Yes'.

Try to empty you card as far as possible, because there are probably penalties to unload it later, either in a fee or a lousy exchange rate back to pounds, or both. Meanwhile go for the Monzo card or Starling Bank.