New form of Travellers check/credit style cards

[lucywestie]

Up here in the frozen north [well Ontario!] the CAA are starting to offer a new form of travel cheque. Basically it is a form of Visa Card that you can load up with money before you go, or as you save [for a small fee] and then you can withdraw money etc while on holiday. I think the upper limit is $7500 Canadian $ on the card [it saves having to carry around the old style travellers cheques and I guess the idea started with American Express and has started to catch on everywhere else] Has anyone used one of these and can we assume they will be accepted once you get on board?

Cheers

Pete:)

[LHT28]

Check the fees for using the card ...there is a fee to activate it plus

 

I would just use your debit card or open a PC account for travel if you are worried about security just keep a limited amount in the account.

[Sally Forth]

They've been out for a bit. CAA suggested we get them last year when our university-age sons were travelling. As I recall, it was $7 for the first card and $4 for the second one. The reason you want the second one is that if the first gets stolen, you can quickly call the number for customer service on the card, freeze it, and transfer the total to the other card. To me, that's a great feature. Also, if you run out of money, you can phone your mother to call the customer service number or go to CAA and transfer more money onto it. Or at least that's the feature the kids liked!

 

Our youngest son used his all through Europe and the oldest through South Korea without any problem. You can use it as a Visa card or in an ATM for cash. Of course, then the ATM fee gets deducted from the total just as it does for a bank card. The only way that it doesn't work is as a deposit to make a hotel reservation or rent a car.

 

It's hard to find a place to cash a traveller's cheque anymore, so this was good peace of mind for us.

 

Viv

[CaptData]

The Cruise line did not except a friend's card. Check where you are going to use it if they will except it. The cruise line told my friend that they could not put a hold on the money so they would not ecept it. She went to a bank in Miami before sailing and got cash for it.

[johnql]

You have to be very careful with these cards because there are often severe limitations as to where you can use them. I don't know about Visa but here's what's posted on the American Express web site about their Travelers Cheque Card. I couldn't find the terms and conditions on Visa's web site but they may be similar.

 

Since Travelers Cheque Cards are prepaid cards, they are not intended for use in certain industries. You are NOT permitted to use the Travelers Cheque Card:

• To reserve a rental car, or when picking up a rental car. However, at the end of a car rental, you can use your Card to pay for the rental.
  
• To reserve a hotel/motel room, or when checking into a hotel/motel or other lodging establishment. However, at the end of your stay, you can use your Card to pay for your stay.
  
• To pay for gasoline/petrol "at the pump" through automated terminals. However, you can use your Card to pay for gasoline by presenting the Card in the station or to a service station attendant.
  
• To pay for "person-to-person" internet payment products such as "Paypal" or "YahooDirect."
  
• To pay for telecom charges (including cellular, airplane telephones, payphones, home phone service, etc.)
  
• To pay for recurring billing charges, such as health club memberships or subscriptions.
  
• To make installment payments in the future for goods/services received in the present.
  
• To pay for bail bondsmen.
  
• To pay for detective agencies.
  
• To pay for home repair services such as plumber, electrician, or painter/decorator.
  
• To pay for internet electronic services including electronic mail, internet service provider, internet telecom, etc.
  
• To pay for personal services such as escort agencies, introduction services, or massage parlors.
  
• To pay for wholesale goods.
  
• To pay for on-board cruise charges. [my bold]
  
  
• To pay for gambling.

[cruisinbuddy]

Back in Jan. we purchased regular tcs, and we weren't even offered the visa card. I don't think I'd like that, I prefer to see how much I have and not guess and be embarassed if I'm short for a purchase.

[Sally Forth]

The Cruise line did not except a friend's card. Check where you are going to use it if they will except it. The cruise line told my friend that they could not put a hold on the money so they would not ecept it. She went to a bank in Miami before sailing and got cash for it.

That would make sense because it would be like a hotel or car rental where they block off part of the total.

 

Viv

[Sally Forth]

You have to be very careful with these cards because there are often severe limitations as to where you can use them. I don't know about Visa but here's what's posted on the American Express web site about their Travelers Cheque Card. I couldn't find the terms and conditions on Visa's web site but they may be similar.

 

Since Travelers Cheque Cards are prepaid cards, they are not intended for use in certain industries. You are NOT permitted to use the Travelers Cheque Card:

• To reserve a rental car, or when picking up a rental car. However, at the end of a car rental, you can use your Card to pay for the rental.
  
• To reserve a hotel/motel room, or when checking into a hotel/motel or other lodging establishment. However, at the end of your stay, you can use your Card to pay for your stay.
  
• To pay for gasoline/petrol "at the pump" through automated terminals. However, you can use your Card to pay for gasoline by presenting the Card in the station or to a service station attendant.
  
• To pay for "person-to-person" internet payment products such as "Paypal" or "YahooDirect."
  
• To pay for telecom charges (including cellular, airplane telephones, payphones, home phone service, etc.)
  
• To pay for recurring billing charges, such as health club memberships or subscriptions.
  
• To make installment payments in the future for goods/services received in the present.
  
• To pay for bail bondsmen.
  
• To pay for detective agencies.
  
• To pay for home repair services such as plumber, electrician, or painter/decorator.
  
• To pay for internet electronic services including electronic mail, internet service provider, internet telecom, etc.
  
• To pay for personal services such as escort agencies, introduction services, or massage parlors.
  
• To pay for wholesale goods.
  
• To pay for on-board cruise charges. [my bold]
  
  
• To pay for gambling.

Oh, that's interesting. It makes sense, both from a security and a money laundering perspective. I guess they don't want people using cards that can't be traced. Think of it. You could get around the $10,000 international cash limit by getting a bunch of the cards, filling them to the max, and carrying cash over the border.

 

Viv