Pre-paid Travel Cards

dowie · 12 Sep 2012 at 21:34

[TW]Fox;22757391 said:
You honestly think thats a likely enough scenario that you'd take a pile of cash to avoid it? I mean really?

You're completely missing the point - the other poster stated that he didn't want to carry cash around in case he got mugged. My point is that if you do get mugged its probably better to have cash on you than to not.

Mattus · 12 Sep 2012 at 21:34

dowie said:
that case was to illustrate the point - the point was: if someone holds a gun to your head and asks for cash and you don't have any cash you'd probably wish you did have some on you...

But that could just as easily happen at home in the UK (okay, more likely a knife than a gun in the UK).

Does it influence the form in which you carry currency on an everyday basis? Personally I don't go out thinking 'I'd better get some cash in case I get mugged today.'

dowie · 12 Sep 2012 at 21:37

Mattus said:
But that could just as easily happen in the UK (okay, more likely a knife than a gun in the UK).

Does it influence the form in which you carry currency on an everyday basis? Personally I don't go out thinking 'I'd better get some cash in case I get mugged today.'

neither do I

it was in reply to the idea that 'I'd better not have cash in case I get mugged'

if you are worried about the prospect of being mugged then carrying some cash is probably better than not

Van Hellseek · 12 Sep 2012 at 22:27

The mugging scenarios are ridiculous. But nonetheless pre-pay cards are not the slightest bit necessary for anyone with half a brain.

{{INX}} · 12 Sep 2012 at 23:20

So I booked a last minute family holiday and needed another solution to only having a Visa debit because my bank charges me for using abroad, plus their rates being worse than the pre-paid company offers and that now makes me have less than half a brain?

[TW]Fox · 12 Sep 2012 at 23:35

{{INX}} said:
So I booked a last minute family holiday and needed another solution to only having a Visa debit because my bank charges me for using abroad, plus their rates being worse than the pre-paid company offers and that now makes me have less than half a brain?

Often using a Visa debit card works out cheaper even with the charges provided you make one withdrawl when you get there to get your cash - you'll get the Visa wholesale rate (Which is about as good as it gets) but subject to a 3% loading usually, which often still works out better than a prepaid card, and a per-withdrawl fee (Hence only withdraw once).

dowie · 12 Sep 2012 at 23:35

{{INX}} said:
So I booked a last minute family holiday and needed another solution to only having a Visa debit because my bank charges me for using abroad, plus their rates being worse than the pre-paid company offers and that now makes me have less than half a brain?

their rates probably aren't worse that the pre-paid company - assuming a 2% fee from your bank you'd be getting just over 1.5683 on your visa debit card today, the website you linked to is quoting 1.5585

if you had a clarity card you'd be getting close to 1.6 and would just be paying a small amount in interest

platinum87 · 13 Sep 2012 at 00:00

{{INX}} said:
Dowie, what fee did I pay the travel card company? http://www.mytravelcash.com/
Sorry for keep coming back with these questions and points to people but I am trying to pick up tips for future trips abroad.

oh point taken about the mugging, but as Fox said that is just 1 case.

Withdrawing 500 euro .

1) Halifax = £411.29
2) My travel cash = £413.87

Actual rate

£399.511

Halifax Charges £1.5 + 2.95% (£10.28)

My Travel Cash charges 3.6% (£14.36) In the rate itself

So really not much difference at all..

Lets not add in more middle men, there are already way too many, " are you not bothered to ask guy 1 to ask guy 2 to ask guy 3 to order something, instead ask me and i will pass it up the BS ****** CHAIN.

So really the question is now, why would someone use a prepaid card and what conditions does it need to meet.

1) Anonymous, no linking to phone, facebook or whatever the **** else.
2) Used to buy stuff you dont want traced back to you, so perhaps to hide all the subscriptions to tranny porn from your wife?

[TW]Fox · 13 Sep 2012 at 00:13

platinum87 said:
Withdrawing 500 euro .

1) Halifax = £411.29
2) My travel cash = £413.87

Actual rate

£399.511

And 3), Halifax Clarity - £399.52 (But 2ish% interest per month, though practicality speaking this is virtually nil).

1) Anonymous, no linking to phone, facebook or whatever the **** else.
2) Used to buy stuff you dont want traced back to you, so perhaps to hide all the subscriptions to tranny porn from your wife?

What on earth are you on about?

jas72 · 14 Sep 2012 at 11:55

I used my AMEX for america i didn't need cash for anything really.

You can even buy very small items with your card. Exchange rates were great.

i took some cash for tips etc though.

[TW]Fox · 14 Sep 2012 at 12:02

You pay a fee on each transaction though so using a non travel friendly card for lots of transactions is pretty foolish.