In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I vaguely remember when these cash cards started up there was a snag with them, high charges or commission or something. What about Nationwide cards which I believe are commission free? Whatever loophole for saving money on Ryanair will be plugged in record time you can be sure (perhaps he has a mole watching this site?)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have used a Travel card for some time now. They are a debit card and you can only use the value remaining on the card. The rate I was able to get from my Bank for what is, for them, a cash free transaction were better than the rates for standard transactions. No costs in keeping and accounting for stocks of a worthless commodity - worthless as far as the Bank in UK is concerned. They can be obtianed either in Dollars or Euros.
The cards worked in the machines and outlets in Italy and I was able to top up my card by phone from Italy very easily. I was In Siena for a month and it worked a dream. When I first tried a Post Office card the only way that I could top it up was to go to a Post Office - that might have changed by now.
I now don't travel without it and wouldn't dream of using any other method of obtaining Euros.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I would imagine perhaps that if you can buy the card online then you can also top it up online. You need though I think to register online first.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ryanair does say somewhere in it's blurb that the offer on Electron cards is for a limited period only. Once we all have one to prevent the £5 or € 5 transaction Charge he'll stop the offer no doubt. Still love them for flying to Perugia though!!!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
caxtonfx offer a pre paid card for free, good exch rates and you can top up on line, only problem is you need a uk address but sounds really good for people with holiday homes.
Pre paid cards..double check the terms!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/07/2009 - 07:03In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=herealready;110300]caxtonfx offer a pre paid card for free, good exch rates and you can top up on line, only problem is you need a uk address but sounds really good for people with holiday homes.[/quote]
These cards sound great but be furbo when choosing one. They are not always as advertised. See this report.[url=http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/Public/TF_ADJ_43978.htm]Caxton FX Ltd[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I also looked into getting a PO card or a Thomas Cook card with a view to using it for Ryanair flights but with the charge for loading the card and having to choose between sterling or euros ( what if i want to book a flight from uk in sterling and a seperate one way flight from italy using euros) i decided not to... my nephew then told me to open a Halifax account where you receive an electron. Its the basic account and you can sign up online and view the statements on line, have had it a month and booked 4 flights!!!! :laughs:
O'Leary
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 07:46In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Lisa J-C;110221]I was astonished/gobsmacked/ annoyed at the card charges when I booked flights with Ryanair the other day and was, therefore, very interested in your ....... I have no doubts that Mr O'Leary will come up with another cunning plan to relieve me of my cash !![/quote]
I have moved my post to: [url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/tra...d-luggage.html[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Please note the main reason for this thread was not to complain about Ryanair but about the convenience of having a card in reserve as ordinary debit cards issued in the UK usually present difficulties in Italian ATMs.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sally Donaldson;110478]Please note the main reason for this thread was not to complain about Ryanair but about the convenience of having a card in reserve as ordinary debit cards issued in the UK usually present difficulties in Italian ATMs.[/quote]
Fair point, could a moderator move my post to a more suitable location and remove this one and the one before that please?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
When someone takes a thread off topic - it's annoying Sally isn't it?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Can't we just fix this thing before the whole thread gets mucked up.
I would still like my moan about Ryanair moaners to reside somewhere though.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=sdoj;110487]Can't we just fix this thing before the whole thread gets mucked up.
I would still like my moan about Ryanair moaners to reside somewhere though.[/quote]
You can copy your anti Ryanair moaners post, then delete it here and add/ paste it into this thread
[url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/travel-holiday-advice/11597-ryanair-30-charge-if-you-cant-fit-duty-free-your-hand-luggage.html[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We've both had Fairfx cards for the last 5 months. I believe they are issued by a UK Building Society.
Can use as a normal debit card easily, and can withdraw cash from ATMs (€1,50 fee).
Seem to be much better rates than usual debit card from a UK sterling bank or credit cards or bureau de change.
Very easy to set up on-line. We can top-up on-line with only a few hours delay in funds being available simply by using our sterling UK debit card (with no extra charge).
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We had problems using our UK Switch/Maestro cards the last time we were in Italy. I don't know if there was some kind of network problem at that time but the only place I could finally get any money was at Pisa airport ATM which had an extra step of identifying if you had an Italian or foreign card. In the end we were ok but it could have been very difficult. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? We've always used our Switch cards before without a problem.
If there has been a change in the ATM system in Italy, I would certainly look at one of these preloaded cards instead.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Licciana, there was a thread on this subject recently - [url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy/11154-cashpoint-cards-not-working-italian-atms.html[/url] Yes the problem appears to be throughout Italy.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Unfortunately, it seems my preferred option of getting cash in Italy, a Nationwide bank card, is now to be charged for at a rate of 1%. Details in this article from this mornings Indy.
[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-over-nationwides-travel-money-uturn-1637860.html]Fury over Nationwide's travel money U-turn - Business News, Business - The Independent[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sibillini;112711]Unfortunately, it seems my preferred option of getting cash in Italy, a Nationwide bank card, is now to be charged for at a rate of 1%. Details in this article from this mornings Indy.
[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-over-nationwides-travel-money-uturn-1637860.html]Fury over Nationwide's travel money U-turn - Business News, Business - The Independent[/url][/quote]
It does specify that the charge will be applied "outside Europe" so in Italy you should still be ok, at least for the time being!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sibillini;112711]Unfortunately, it seems my preferred option of getting cash in Italy, a Nationwide bank card, is now to be charged for at a rate of 1%. Details in this article from this mornings Indy.
[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-over-nationwides-travel-money-uturn-1637860.html]Fury over Nationwide's travel money U-turn - Business News, Business - The Independent[/url][/quote]
[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Yes Sibillini if you go the Nationwide site it clearly says that in Italy you will not be charged. Whether you can get your money out of an Italian cash machine is another matter - see the thread mentioned by Sally above. We had major problems on our last visit in February. [/FONT]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Just back from the UK where I read this info. which may be useful to those using cash machines for withdrawing money in Italy?
Cheapest oveseas spending: Nationwide Debit still wins for "in-Europe" spending.
The best used to be Abbey Zero but it was withdrawn for new customers on Wed 4 March. The new top card is now Post Office's credit card, which doesn't charge an excess anywhere.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Welcome back Noble. I'm sure I read somewhere that Nationwide is about to charge for cash withdrawals in Italy from ATMs. Yes I'm rght - [url=http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-3280--nationwide-to-charge-for-card-transactions-abroad.html]Nationwide to Charge for Card Transactions Abroad :: The Travel Magazine[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Sally Donaldson;113512]Welcome back Noble. I'm sure I read somewhere that Nationwide is about to charge for cash withdrawals in Italy from ATMs. Yes I'm rght - [url=http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-3280--nationwide-to-charge-for-card-transactions-abroad.html]Nationwide to Charge for Card Transactions Abroad :: The Travel Magazine[/url][/quote]
Sally, read the article again! As has already been pointed out in two previous posts in this thread, the new charges will only apply OUTSIDE EUROPE so will NOT apply to Italy or any other European country.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Anne, thank you. Sorry I don't have time to read everything but I will try to read articles fully before posting links next time.
I was astonished/gobsmacked/ annoyed at the card charges when I booked flights with Ryanair the other day and was, therefore, very interested in your post, however having looked at the Post Office website I understand that they charge 1.5% commission ( I know that doesn't compare to £4.75 per passenger ,each way, that the thoughtful Mr O'Leary charges), but an alternative that you may be interested in is the Halifax Easycash Account , which I have opened online, you can also maintain online and most importantly they will supply you with the magical Ryanair fee free Electron card.
I suppose my euphoria will shortlived , I have no doubts that Mr O'Leary will come up with another cunning plan to relieve me of my cash !!