Fairfx for dummies

[disneybumble3]

We're off to florida next April and just starting to think about spends.

I'm thinking of taking a bit of cash and then a prepaid CC. We're going to have around $4000 for the 2 weeks.

Can someone explain the fairfx card to me?

Can it be used the same as a normal CC?

Can you use it in all the parks and restaurants?

Any hidden charges or anything I need to know?

[Gasman66]

Hi,
we use FairFX, and it has been accepted everywhere the same as a normal CC, topped up from your bank a/c via the app (free) and I believe WAWA gas stations ATM does not charge but normal ones are $2.00 a pop.
We have a Friends & Family card for DW and it adds a level of security for you. The F & F card can only be topped up from the main card holder (done easily and free with the app) so the main card is left locked in the villa safe...we transfer a rough amount for the days spend to the F & F card and off we go, so if the card is lost/stolen/cloned we don't loose all our money..Go the Fair FX website and check out the FAQ's..

[Dr.JumbaJookiba]

I have a fairfx card and like it, they work well.

But here are some things to be aware of :

1. They don't work in target stores
2. cash withdrawal at atm is charged $2.50 by fairfx and sometimes an additional $2/3 by the machine operator.
3. try not to use the card where an authorisation may be applied - hotel check in, car hire etc - it will restrict your available funds.
4. you may see double authorisations in restaurants when they run it for the total, then run it again for a different amount if you add the tip. One will drop off but again will hold funds for a day or two. To avoid this we room charge on site then pay the hotel account with the Fairfx.

[RickT]

I have only ever used fairfx.

Good card.. Works well apart from in target stores as detailed above.

[Ds4ljs]

I too loved my Fairfx card. Just be aware that it isn’t like a credit card, in that if your card is cloned and you have your funds withdrawn there is very little you can do about it. We had another card to transfer small amounts on via the app. Easy to do, easy to use.

[Yordaman]

We used FairFX last year fine.

Other useful tips...

You can use in the UK too. We did this at a normal UK ATM before we left to change the PIN to something I could remember, much as you can do with any debit or credit card. You can also use for purchases, albeit that the transaction is converted into dollars at the current FairFX rate.

What this does mean is that if you have funds left on the card at the end of your holiday, you can use them up back in the UK. The app won't let you transfer funds back to your UK account, but if you call FairFX they will do it for you, but will charge £10. Better, then, to use up what you can with UK txns (including cash withdrawals, with the usual small charge) back home.

My last tip - to avoid the potential risks with the restaurant and other areas mentioned previously, we only used at sites with Chip and Pin machines, so the card never left our site, or our hands, even. I know that's still no guarantee of security, but still better than risking cards being taken away for processing (and potential cloning?), which I saw happening in some restaurants... the processing, not the cloning!

[coinneach]

We've also used the Fairfx card without any problems over the last 5 years of so.
We don't like handing over our cards on holiday so we just take out cash from ATMs.
As mentioned above WAWA are fee free and also Regions bank as well.
The Fairfx charge is about $2.50?

[MickeyMolzeza]

We have used twice now, I have the main card which we tend to keep in the safe and then I transfer money across to the hubbys card for spends each day, so we don’t have a huge amount of cash on us. We also got the kids (teenagers) a card each last year as it was much easier than carrying dollars around. Very easy app to transfer between cards and keep track of your spends. The only time we were charged was to draw cash out of an ATM, and if your not planning another visit (as if) you need to withdraw the funds left over before you leave, just makes it a lot easier to change the money back once home. Never had any issues with FX would use again.

[Guest]

I’ve used it three times and never had any problems. It’s nice to top it up when the rate rises during the year.

[amandajane10]

We have used this twice now. Just got a F&F card as well so we can transfer money onto it each day