Qantas Cash card trap for the unwary.

Qantas Cash card trap for the unwary. I just found out after returning from holiday not to use Qantas Cash card for hotels pre-authorisation on check in. After speaking with Qantas Cash today as to why I have a negative balance when I should in fact still have a credit balance I was advised not to use this card for hotels on check in, use a credit card. The pre-authorisation lasts for 30 days until it is cleared whereas a credit card lasts for 5 working days. I did want to load some more money for a trip next month but will now just use my credit card instead.

Thanks for the heads up, I'm travelling soon and would probably have used my Qantas Cash card for this type of thing.

This applies to any form of Debit card, not just travel cash cards.

When booking or checking into a hotel always use a real credit card but then when you check out present the travel card to pay.

Good to know, I've never had a debit card before so it came as a bit of a surprise to see my debit balance.

For foreign cash I pre-load my Ozforex debit card. Have used it in HK and London and found it problemfree. I did some research and found this was the best card. Would never use any cash card to pre authorise hotels etc- you need that cash! Use a CC you have left at home for pre-authorisations, and pay with the cash card.

Thanks for the tip!

It's your money, but they (bank, hotel, Qantas?) get it for up to 30 days interest free. Sounds like a good deal for someone...

Thanks for the tip.

I was planning to go to NZ with the QCC, now I will have to take along another card, for hotels pre auto.

Bugga.

Not to mention that hotels aslo tack on that cc surcharge for paying with a card, 1.5%, which defeats the point of earning points by paying with any (credit purchase) cards.  I did several stays at holels over the past year, and they all say, 1.5% credit card surcharge!

We have been back from the US now for 3 weeks and still I have an almost $2000 negative balance on my card. We go to Singapore next weekend and I had hoped to load a thousand or so dollars but if I did I'd still have a thousand negative and wouldn't be able to spend!  The card won't be clear until half way through our trip. If only I had known beforehand.  

A travel cash card is quite different to a credit card! As far as I know an accepting business does not incur merchant fees, so should not demand any surcharge for its use. I would strongly challenge any such attempt.

Interesting.