Pre loaded cash cards

[Guest]

Hello. I'm thinking of getting my dollars loaded on a cash card that's offered by Thomas Cook. Has anyone done this before and does Disney and everyone else in Florida accept this card ? Thanks

[Dinglebert]

Originally Posted by ianwhite

Hello. I'm thinking of getting my dollars loaded on a cash card that's offered by Thomas Cook. Has anyone done this before and does Disney and everyone else in Florida accept this card ? Thanks

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There have been many threads about these cards. They are very widely accepted as they are seen as either a mastercard or visa card. The branding is just that, branding.

However as easy as they are to use their safety is nowhere near as good as "proper" credit cards or even debit cards or TC.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Probably twice a month I see a post on the Dibb about these cards being frozen, not accepted or other multifarious issues.
I really cannot see any benefit to them at all. Plus you don't have the cover that a credit card provides.

I use credit cards everywhere but if I didn't I would take traveller cheques. Contrary to popular belief 99% of places still take them and they are fully secure.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by ianwhite

Hello. I'm thinking of getting my dollars loaded on a cash card that's offered by Thomas Cook. Has anyone done this before and does Disney and everyone else in Florida accept this card ? Thanks

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Hi Ian, as mentioned currency cards can have limited security of funds pitfalls. One suggestion a cash card user can explain; transferring limited amounts as required and locking the card atween use. Try the search option for cash/currency card for more info

[Scully]

I used to be Mr Cash ... Nowadays I use a Revolut card, life is easy.

[Shroom]

I’ve got one from Thomas cook. It’s a multi currency one and they now have an app to use. Rather than use my actual debit card abroad I take that and limit the amount on it to a couple hundred dollars or enough for maybe two days spend. Then I top it up and and when needed so if anything happens it’s just that one card.

[Elmhurst 5]

Have to agree... personally I would never take or use a pre-paid card. There is currently a thread with a revolute user who had stolen/lost her card and phone and is having a horrendous time with Revolute in getting help and money back.

We take enough cash for our days in the parks, keeping cash and other valuables in a safe in a villa. I have a Post Office credit card which does not make any charges for transactions and offers the inter bank rate, which is always much higher than travel money rates and of course much higher than you would get if you used your normal credit card/debit card which will of course be loaded with a transacation fee. The Halifax Clarity CC is exactly the same. We have back up CC's in case of any emergency. I just would not feel that my money is safe enough with any of the pre-paid cards.

[xmelaniee]

we've tried to use pre-paid cards twice, both different companies and both times something went wrong.

The first time the card randomly would not be accepted, even though we had 2 cards and sometimes one would work and not the other so it can't have been that it wasn't accepted in that place.

The second time my card was cloned, unfortunately for the person doing so by the time they used it there was only $3 on there but they still made a very small purchase and I would've hated to find out what it would have been had I had more money!

The last time we went we only took cash and a credit card (Halifax) and everything was so much easier.

[Talland 2016]

I have a FairFX multi currency card which I have used in France, Malaysia Australia New Zealand and USA without any problems
I load it up as and when I know I will use it and don't leave loads of funds on it, So on a 2 week holiday would probably top it up 5-6 times with smaller amounts
I haven't got a regular credit card so for holiday spends I use a mixture of cash pre paid card and debit card

With my debit card it is for a very basic bank account that I transfer holiday funds into so I do not have any salary paid into it or any direct debits etc set up on it so if it did get cloned it will only have that money in it. I also use this account if I ever need to do a bank transfer to anyone.
I have online banking for this keep money in an online savings account to move it over from. Not much interest but something better than nothing
I also take my main account bank card as backup which stays locked away for the duration

[Andrea1]

Originally Posted by Scully

I used to be Mr Cash ... Nowadays I use a Revolut card, life is easy.

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Iv'e used Revolut for the last 2 years both in USA and throughout Europe. Never had any problems with it.

We like the fact that the exchange rate is the Interbank rate, not the tourist one.
James