Use a Citibank Plus Visa Debit card. No forex fees (i.e. the actual interbank rate not 2% cash rate or 3% credit card rate). Just put AUD on it and withdraw your own cash in local currency from any Visa labelled ATM globally. The worst you will pay is an ATM fee but that is country and ATM specific. My cross checks over the years have shown that you get foreign currency at ±0.1% of the direct interbank rate. Withdraw unused cash for free at any Westpac ATM in Australia.
[/QUOTE]
I agree the 28 Degrees card is tops for international purchases with no fee's added. I don't think they've been taken over by Westpac though, rather its a Deutche Bank consortium
Oh, who said they'd been taken over by Westpac? Citibank has a deal with Westpac for free ATM usage, but I don't think there is any other connection.
Haven't used bank travel cards for years, after likely being tipped in direction of 28 Degrees likely by AFF. For the same reason i would not use a bank travel card now (a bit too inflexible etc) I am not remotely tempted by QF card either despite their offers! So it was 28 Degrees all the way (I am a leisure traveller not business), depositing into 28 Degr. and withdrawing my own money. That is until of course they went all bank-like and started slotting you a 3% fee a couple of years ago, whether it was your money or theirs! A friend worked for an NGO in Vietnam and was told by the Aust. sponsor to use Citibank Visa Plus debit card for fee free local cash withdrawals, it works! and the fee-free withdrawals seem to have survived other recent Citi fee changes. So I use 28 Degrees for o/s purchases and Citi only for cash withdrawals of my own money (and you can transfer it back to your own bank acct if not spent). Have not done much of a comparison of the 28 Degr/Citi exchange rate and hard unless you use both on the same day due to shifting rates. However I get the slight impression, not scientific, that 28 Degr. rates likely slightly better and closer to the mid-rate..
And yes, Latitude Finance, who took over from GE Money, is indeed a consortium of Värde Partners ("Värde"), a global alternative investment firm, KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Deutsche Bank (so no Westpac).
BRCW: As detailed in our comment policy, comments which contain links to external websites are held for moderation and are approved as we're able. Please do not post the same comment multiple times, as it won't get it approved any faster (it actually makes it take longer because we have to delete the duplicates first): please post only once and wait for a moderator to approve. :)
I'm totally over Qantas cash. 4th trip in 2 years using 4 different cards because they keep replacing the card due to it not working. Every time I try to use it I get an incorrect pin message, yet at an ATM can use the pin to withdraw cash so yes I am using the correct pin! would have been less inconvenienced just taking cash in the first place. Their telephone support just follow a script. As for the exchange rates. They are ridiculous. I'm going to have to take the loss and change the balance back to Au$. Will never use their service again. There are much more reliable money cards out there.
My wife and I had same problem in July in Singapore when both cards kept receiving an incorrect PIN message. The PINS were correct and telephone support staff just kept offering to send us replacement cards. After lodging a formal complaint I was told there had been an encoding error in the cards and given an AUD300 credit for our troubles. But it seems like they still have the same problem.
Thanks, we were also in Singapore in July when this was happening. It's happening again this week in the U.K. How did you make your formal complaint? I think I need to do the same.
My wife and I had same problem in July in Singapore when both cards kept receiving an incorrect PIN message. The PINS were correct and telephone support staff just kept offering to send us replacement cards. After lodging a formal complaint I was told there had been an encoding error in the cards and given an AUD300 credit for our troubles. But it seems like they still have the same problem.
Hi Rusty1 and Dr Al - this PIN issue has also been reported when using the QF Qantas Cash application. Reports of users who know their PIN typing it into the app and being denied access to their account - yet, in a number of circumstances, the card works correctly with the same PIN either at an ATM or with retail purchase terminals. The Google Play store has a myriad of reports for the Android version.
A linked citibank is cheapest if going for some time. I just did a real time test. Citi (AUS) to Citi (US) was $20 cheaper on a $1k transfer. Even with the QF FF points at both transfer and spend it is still more than $10 cheaper Citi to Citi. Of course there is the hassle of setting up accounts at both ends and account fees on low balances etc, but if you going for any period of time Citi to Citi is cheaper.
I never use these preloaded cash cards anymore. The ONLY reason is if you were expecting a major currency increase or decrease (and by that I mean at least +/- 10% difference).
I ONLY use my Mastercard or Amex (granted both of which are international fee free).
I always get the highest exchange rate on both. The same exchange rate you see published online eg xe.com or Google. With a preloaded cash card you LOSE adding money and withdrawing.
Do your study people - it is cheaper to forego the points and grab a decent product (i.e 28d, Citi Debit or the Bankwest World credit card(?)) that are infinitely better than the QC card.
I agree - the Bankwest World Card / 28d works well for O/S purchases in conjuction with fee free CitiDebit card for cash. Any other options out there for international fee free credit cards - preferable with a point carrot too??
I'm totally over Qantas cash. 4th trip in 2 years using 4 different cards because they keep replacing the card due to it not working. Every time I try to use it I get an incorrect pin message, yet at an ATM can use the pin to withdraw cash so yes I am using the correct pin! would have been less inconvenienced just taking cash in the first place. Their telephone support just follow a script. As for the exchange rates. They are ridiculous. I'm going to have to take the loss and change the balance back to Au$. Will never use their service again. There are much more reliable money cards out there.
I’m in the UK now and same thing, pin error message. I have been able to use it online to purchase train tickets and I will go to an ATM tomorrow to check if the pin works. Will not be withdrawing much as the whole point of using it is for the points. I also had trouble with it for the first couple of days in Madrid in 2017.
BRCW
BRCW
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Oct 2016
Total posts 13
Oh, who said they'd been taken over by Westpac? Citibank has a deal with Westpac for free ATM usage, but I don't think there is any other connection.
BRCW
BRCW
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Oct 2016
Total posts 13
Same lousy exchange rates as Qantas Cash but with a 3% fee to boot:
https://www.choice.com.au/travel/money/travel-money/articles/travel-money-cardsÂ
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
Did a comparison when the cards first came out and QF was better than VA.
Mr Mink
Mr Mink
QFF
Member since 16 Nov 2014
Total posts 4
Haven't used bank travel cards for years, after likely being tipped in direction of 28 Degrees likely by AFF. For the same reason i would not use a bank travel card now (a bit too inflexible etc) I am not remotely tempted by QF card either despite their offers! So it was 28 Degrees all the way (I am a leisure traveller not business), depositing into 28 Degr. and withdrawing my own money. That is until of course they went all bank-like and started slotting you a 3% fee a couple of years ago, whether it was your money or theirs! A friend worked for an NGO in Vietnam and was told by the Aust. sponsor to use Citibank Visa Plus debit card for fee free local cash withdrawals, it works! and the fee-free withdrawals seem to have survived other recent Citi fee changes. So I use 28 Degrees for o/s purchases and Citi only for cash withdrawals of my own money (and you can transfer it back to your own bank acct if not spent). Have not done much of a comparison of the 28 Degr/Citi exchange rate and hard unless you use both on the same day due to shifting rates. However I get the slight impression, not scientific, that 28 Degr. rates likely slightly better and closer to the mid-rate..
And yes, Latitude Finance, who took over from GE Money, is indeed a consortium of Värde Partners ("Värde"), a global alternative investment firm, KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Deutsche Bank (so no Westpac).
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Dr Al
Dr Al
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Mar 2017
Total posts 34
Thanks, we were also in Singapore in July when this was happening. It's happening again this week in the U.K. How did you make your formal complaint? I think I need to do the same.
kimshep
kimshep
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Oct 2014
Total posts 412
Hi Rusty1 and Dr Al - this PIN issue has also been reported when using the QF Qantas Cash application. Reports of users who know their PIN typing it into the app and being denied access to their account - yet, in a number of circumstances, the card works correctly with the same PIN either at an ATM or with retail purchase terminals. The Google Play store has a myriad of reports for the Android version.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
A linked citibank is cheapest if going for some time. I just did a real time test. Citi (AUS) to Citi (US) was $20 cheaper on a $1k transfer. Even with the QF FF points at both transfer and spend it is still more than $10 cheaper Citi to Citi. Of course there is the hassle of setting up accounts at both ends and account fees on low balances etc, but if you going for any period of time Citi to Citi is cheaper.
traveller99
traveller99
Member since 18 Nov 2015
Total posts 114
I never use these preloaded cash cards anymore. The ONLY reason is if you were expecting a major currency increase or decrease (and by that I mean at least +/- 10% difference).
With a preloaded cash card you LOSE adding money and withdrawing.
mannej
mannej
QF
Member since 21 May 2014
Total posts 176
Do your study people - it is cheaper to forego the points and grab a decent product (i.e 28d, Citi Debit or the Bankwest World credit card(?)) that are infinitely better than the QC card.
leeflyer
leeflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 Jun 2017
Total posts 9
I agree - the Bankwest World Card / 28d works well for O/S purchases in conjuction with fee free CitiDebit card for cash. Any other options out there for international fee free credit cards - preferable with a point carrot too??
spasquarelli
spasquarelli
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Aug 2014
Total posts 10
I’m in the UK now and same thing, pin error message. I have been able to use it online to purchase train tickets and I will go to an ATM tomorrow to check if the pin works. Will not be withdrawing much as the whole point of using it is for the points. I also had trouble with it for the first couple of days in Madrid in 2017.