Which prepaid money card?

[Stewart J]

A few have mentioned having issues with prepaid cards at fuel stations etc. How common is this? Got a Caxton card for use in a few weeks but was intending to use it for as much as we could, including fuel. Do I need to think about another type of card as well. My ‘UK’ ones have fees which rule out using them.

Some fuel stations will not accept prepaid cards due to the way the transaction is carried out, so I would consider getting a credit card. As said I have a Halifax Clarity card which I only use for fuel it’s always a good rate and no charges for using abroad. I don’t bank with Halifax they issued me with the card and a second for the missus no problem. I have also read there can sometimes be an issue paying at motorway toll booths with a prepaid card but cannot vouch for that.

 

[Viennese]

I liked the old PO credit card which could be loaded up. Can't load up my Halifax Clarity, so use Caxton for cash abroad.

 

[cmcardle75]

I use Wise. You can have multiple currencies, not just Euros and GBP. Load up your Euro balance whenever you like. Spend it. No debit card fees. It doesn't count as pre-paid, so should work everywhere.

 

[DDJC]

Starling card, with a euro account
Halifax Clarity, with a couple of hundred pre-loaded
And a Nationwide debit card in case the Peage machine gets arsey with the other two.

 

[scotzsue]

In honesty i just don't really want another card, will need a bigger wallet and more hiding places

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[15isto2]

I use revolut due to the ability to exchange when rates are good, currently I hold Euro, Dollars, Dhiram and Lira. I have a Nationwide card that I use mainly for anywhere that wants a credit card hold. Additionally I have a USA based bank account and a Starling Euro account both of which I can transfer to from my Revlout card. I promise I dont run an international money laundering ring.

 

[kevenh]

don't want the hassle of new bank accounts

don't really want another card

But it sounds like you need to overhaul your bank & cards to optimise them - for cheaper travel expenses if nothing else
and you've asked for prepay card details.

Go on, look at bank & card comparison websites - lots of changes are rewarded (like my First Direct current account for e.g.)

 

[scotzsue]

Have looked, will have another look next week when we get back from our hurricane tour.
know my Virgin CC is ok for abroad, as is another I have. Have one i dont use but you can only cancel it by phoning, on a premium number. Hoping if i dont use it they will get the message, but doubt it. decisions decisions. Like the idea of a bonus for changing banks but it wont be first direct had a bad experience with them.

 

[Gaston aires]

Revolut if you travel around the globe or even just Europe.
Anywhere, any currency saves all that pesky currency changing.

Phil

 

[gus-lopez]

few have mentioned having issues with prepaid cards at fuel stations etc. How common is this?

Never works in "pay at thr pump" scenarios due to wanting to ring-fence 120€ before you fill. Never had a problem paying when there's a cashier.

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[The Wino]

We gave up on our Caxton card because of the dormant fee and haven't really missed it we just take some cash some sterling cash to change if we run out of cash and a Halifax clarity card that we pay for more or less everything on. We also have a couple of cards to use if one of us gets our wallet/ purse stolen we take a different one each and leave the other in the safe at home. It means we can cancel all the lost /stolen ones and still have one to use.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I use Revolut for everything now and have had no issues until this week when I put a deposit down on a new motorbike and they declined it!
They messaged me and asked to confirm I had authorised the payment so all was good and it then went through again.

 

[Spara4042]

I liked the old PO credit card which could be loaded up. Can't load up my Halifax Clarity, so use Caxton for cash abroad.

I make a payment to my Clarity card, putting me in credit, then use that to withdraw cash. Never been a problem before, so hope things haven't changed since I last used it two years ago

 

[3 cabbages]

Lots of posts on this thread mention Starling.

Starling is a bird!

Sterling is a British currency

 

[Stewart J]

Interesting thread some very informative and knowledgeable advice

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[The Wino]

Lots of posts on this thread mention Starling.

Starling is a bird!

Sterling is a British currency

Starling is also the name of a bank!

 

[cmcardle75]

Lots of posts on this thread mention Starling.

Starling is a bird!

Sterling is a British currency

Starling is my bank! Although I do non sterling stuff using Wise. I'm sure Starling would be better than a high street bank for that, but I haven't even looked, having used Wise since before I got Starling.

 

[Minxy]

In honesty i just don't really want another card, will need a bigger wallet and more hiding places

Have a shuftie at Curve:

What is a Curve card and how does it work?

Curve's main appeal is providing a free all-in-one payment card that links to most credit and debit cards, so you only need to carry one. Yet its tiered plans mean you can only link two cards to it for free, so it's relying on its other features to win you over. We take a look at everything on...

www.moneysavingexpert.com

 

[Brains]

Lots of posts on this thread mention Starling.

Starling is a bird!

Sterling is a British currency

The online bank I use to convert into Euros from Sterling is Starling !

(Having looked at Revolut, Monzo, Wise, Clarity, Caxton etc, Starling came out on top on the majority of reviews)
i

 

[somertonion]

We use a PO card and load it when the Euro/£ rate is good. No further charges when used abroad and the PO rate of exchange is often better than that offered by banks. Easy to top it up online whilst you are away, if needed.

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[Minxy]

We use a PO card and load it when the Euro/£ rate is good. No further charges when used abroad and the PO rate of exchange is often better than that offered by banks. Easy to top it up online whilst you are away, if needed.

Are you sure about no charges? That only seems to apply for purchases but not for ATM (cash) withdrawals:

A cash withdrawal fee will be charged when withdrawing cash from a UK Post Office branch or from any ATM globally that accepts Mastercard. We have listed each available currency and their associated withdrawal limits and charges below:

EUR – Euro
Max daily cash withdrawal – 450 EUR
Withdrawal charge – 2 EUR

 

[Viennese]

I make a payment to my Clarity card, putting me in credit, then use that to withdraw cash. Never been a problem before, so hope things haven't changed since I last used it two years ago

Knowing I was going to have a big debit I tried to load my Clarity and it wouldn't let me! (2 weeks ago)

 

[EzeeRider]

I have a Caxton FX card and have used it on many trips. However for the last couple of years I have not been anywhere to use it and it has just sat there with about £130 credit on it. Shock, horror, I got round to checking it a few days ago ready for a trip only to find they have been charging me what they call a "Dormant Fee" of £2 a month! So far this totals £26 and I have shot off a compaint to them about it being daylight robbery. (No response so far)They know what they can do with their card. Its going in the bin after I withdraw what ever Euro balance is left. We will manage with the Clarity Card and debit cards on future trips.
ezee

Update, Following my complaint, Caxton refunded all they deducted,
ezee