Travelling with cash - safety/security tips

jy808 on 07/02/2014 - 09:47

I will be travelling to the states for over a month, taking along with me my 28 degree’s credit card as well as some cash.
It’s unfortunate that 28degree’s now charge for any cash withdrawals, so I cannot benefit from the free withdrawals from ATM like they have in the past. Withdrawing money from ATM through 28degrees will be costly.

I’m looking for some tips or advice as to how I can keep my money safe. Any methods through other credit card company’s which I can benefit from internationally?

Thanks in advance.

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2014 - 10:00
    +1

    Travel money card from one of the banks - works like a debit/eftpos card. They'll waive the joining fee if you ask.

    For cash - I found that using a Paksafe theft-proof bag gave me peace of mind, even in pickpocket havens like Rome. My husband kept his cash in his front shirt pocket. I can't recommend the paksafe bag highly enough.

    Keep an eye out - don't travel late at night in dodgy areas.

  • mooseaus on 07/02/2014 - 10:04

    If you're with Westpac, free withdrawals from Bank of America.

    http://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/services/overseas…

    Travellers cheques although theres a small fee involved.

    or this perhaps

    http://www.statravel.com.au/cash-card.htm

    • jy808 on 07/02/2014 - 13:57

      I am with Westpac, did not know! Thank you. I guess keeping money in my Westpac account will be the safest option!

    • jy808 on 07/02/2014 - 14:00

      How are the rates though, through Westpac?
      I believe 28degrees used the rates on xe.com.

    • PissLUR on 07/02/2014 - 14:44

      The Westpac Foreign Transaction Fee (based on the value of the transaction) is payable and will be incorporated into the $AUD transaction amount shown on your statement.

      • jy808 on 07/02/2014 - 16:07

        I see.
        So there's a withdrawal fee ($5-waived) and another Foreign Transaction Fee for currency conversion.

  • PissLUR on 07/02/2014 - 14:45
    +1

    Citibank Plus is the answer.

  • MITM on 07/02/2014 - 16:50
    +2

    Open a second account (same bank) so you can transfer funds from one to the other and back (should be instantaneous), half funds in each account.

    Get a duplicate card(usually for partner) for both accounts - total 4 cards can access 100% of funds - so if the ATM swallows your card, you have 3 back up cards.

    Check www.ING Bank for international usage.

  • Bill 2014 on 07/02/2014 - 18:23
    +2

    Avoid Qantascash. A real rip off!!
    I was overseas in November - January on holiday in Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. Holiday of a lifetime. I thought I would use the Qantascash facility. My Qantas frequent flyer card was due to expire in November but the Qantascash linked to the card was not due to expire until January. I was travelling so would not be able to get my frequent flyer card. I was worried about putting cash on my card so I rang and they told me it would not be a problem because the Qantascash expiry date would not come into effect until end of January when I would be home. So I put $5000 on the card losing money on the exchange rate putting money into those currencies. But then when I went to use it in Japan the card would not work.
    My frequent flyer card expired so I couldn't get the cash out.
    I was frozen out of the account so couldn't get in to do anything. Extremely frustrating trying to get through to their help desk, especially because their computer system thought my account was expired just because my frequent flyer card was out of date. The help people kept telling me that my Qantascash card was still valid but it was unusable because my frequent flyer card was expired. They did not know what to do and gave me bad advice.
    I had to get friends to pay my bills using their credit cards over the phone. Massively embarrassing.
    Finally got them to release all the money via a Western Union outlet in Bangkok losing money on the exchange rate because the Japanese and Malaysian currency had to be converted to Thai.
    I complained when I got back and asked whether I could get a copy of the tape recording because their operators stuffed up completely giving me wrong advice that lost me hundreds of dollars. They said they would respond within 14 days. After two weeks they came back with the following comment;"I would like to explain that for our cardholders security, all call recordings are encrypted. We are currently working with our Telephony team towards a resolution which will enable you to listen to the calls in full." Do you believe that? Neither do I! They could type it out oif they like. Justy trying to hide their errors.
    They told me I could complain to the Ombudsman. I sent back an email asking them to confirm some of the details so that I could write to the Ombudsman with exactly what happened. That was a few weeks ago and they have not responded.
    I have lost hundreds of dollars, had my holiday ruined because my frequent flyer card was out of date, and ignored by their complaints people.
    They have lost their way as an airline and now they want to dabble with banking.
    My advice is to stay away from them.

    • JediJan on 08/02/2014 - 11:39

      Thank you for your advice. Would love to know how this turns out, good or bad, and especially how helpful the Ombudsman actually is.

      I actually thought the Frequent Flyer and Qantas Cash card was the one and same card. My "one and only" card says it is valid to end 2018, or is that only the Qantas Cash "MasterCard" component end date? Actually I didn't know that Frequent Flyer component has an expiry date; have been with them for five years at least. Confusing .. much.

      Perhaps Frequent Flyer needs to respond here, if nowhere else.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2014 - 11:57

      Do go to the Financial Ombudsman Service and don't bother to wait for a reply from Qantascash. FOS is probably able to obtain any necessary details from QC in the course of their investigation of your complaint. Sorry to hear about your money woes.

  • MITM on 09/02/2014 - 12:33

    QANTAS should stick to their knitting.

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