Changes to preloaded cash cards

[RayS]

I know many fold use these cards when touring. Recently Caxton changed my Visa based card for Mastercard but still advised on the covering letter that top u could be made on-line or by phone.

When I asked whether 'phone' meant SMS as I have been using for top=ups for some years, I was told 'No only smart phone using the app'

This is pretty useless to me as I tend to use rural sites without internet connection and with an ordinary mobile phone. They said it was a Mastercard security requirment but other insurers still seem to be accepting SMS top up - unfortunately their terms are less favorable than Caxton.

Purpose of posting is to warn other users perhaps to check the availability of SMS top ups on existing cards and also to enquire whether anyone know a card which does and has reasonable rates and conditions. Post Office website seems to be down this morning so have not been able to check thiers.

 

[Hutch]

The post ofice money card can be topped up using sms, also to check the balance etc. But normally cant be used at all supermarket fuel pumps. The normal high street pumps are ok though. Used it in Europe and Switzerland over the last 4 years.
Hutch.

 

[RayS]

Following this interchange I've just tried to get a post Office card on line. The Post office website is pretty fussy - mobile phone numbers have to be continuous (without a space) whereas landline numbers do not - why? but the owrst bit comes at the end with a code word/number which you have to read from black characters on a dark grey background and re-enter. you can refresh to get a more legible version only 3 times.
I now have pretty good vision - well able legal driving limit - following cataract surgery. Neither I or my wife who has excellent vision (except when my wine glass is empty) could decipher correctly in several attempts.
Telephone call of complaint elicited the response that PO has thousands of successful applications and that the system could not be bypassed. Very helpful.

Going to the local branch in involves distance time cost difficult parking and resticted amounts which can be taken from the card - anyway, why shoud I when the website claim conformity with the British Standard for accessability - clearly an untrue claim.
Why am I bothering ? because this is the only card I can find which allows top up by SMS rather than on-line or smartphone.

Be prepared for frustration if you fancy this card.

 

[Gafferbill]

You could consider a Nationwide FlexPlus Premium bank account

This current account carries a £10/month charge but if you keep a balance of £2500 then the 3% interest paid almost covers this.
No charges are made at all for foreign currency transactions and exchange rates are always the best available....this applies to your debit or credit card usage in Europe.
If your income is paid into this bank account automatically then there are no problems with loading cards with money.

In addition the account carries inclusive insurance benefits........European vehicle breakdown cover.....Worldwide travel insurance....phone insurance.....etc.

 

[Hutch]

Gafferbill, how true I forgot about this card, used it in Switzerland about a month ago, no fees or charges incurred and a good exchange rate, used my post office cardas, but as it is in Euros and incured a €1.5 charge, nothing really compared to the cost of thing in Switzerland. But fuel and chocolate is cheap.
Hutch.

 

[RayS]

Thanks for the extra info. I already have Nationwide cards, but like the idea of the cash card providing a firewall between anyone stealing it and my main bank account.

The saga with the Post Office continues. In order to file a complaint they need my date of birth and postcode (why ?) and also the last four digits of the Post Office cash card I don't have and can't get, hence the complaint !! Wonderful.

 

[JonnyG]

Gafferbill, how true I forgot about this card, used it in Switzerland about a month ago, no fees or charges incurred and a good exchange rate, used my post office cardas, but as it is in Euros and incured a €1.5 charge, nothing really compared to the cost of thing in Switzerland. But fuel and chocolate is cheap.
Hutch.

fuel cheap in Switzerland! not filled up their in around a decade till of late diesel had become dearer than petrol and the exchange rates, had it on par with Italy which is among the dearest ... on the other hand fuel in France Germany and Austria are all cheaper.

 

[RayS]

Guess what. Having complained to Post Office about the difficulty of using their site, i now have a letter saying changes will be made and a good credit made to my card as a goodwill gesture. Always worth a complaint if service is poor and sometimes a result. Well done Post Office.