28° Mastercard Cash Advances while overseas [No more free cash advances from 1/1/14]

[adrian]

Also, may be the merchant is a bit doggy and charged you card in AUD,
with their doggy conversion rates ! Sometimes they have this rip off practise in tourist spots, paypal also !

I have only ever had this happen to me at Heathrow - where the merchant always offers to charge in AUD (and it happens there all the time). I have always said no to this, but a couple of weeks ago, the merchant just charged it in AUD, without asking me. I had a bit of a whinge (over-whinge, to be honest) and made them refund the original transcation, and charge it again in GBP.

Out of interest, all 3 transaction show up on my statement, and the difference was 3%. It was only a small purchase, so it wasn't worth the whinge really, but still, good for future reference.....

 

[bambbbam2]

I saw this in Auckland on the weekend - airport shops with signs offering to charge your credit card in the currency of your choice..

 

[ajnz]

I saw this in Auckland on the weekend - airport shops with signs offering to charge your credit card in the currency of your choice..

Seen it in shops at SIN T1 too. "Charge in your home currency!"... the girl was confused when I said the home currency was SGD.

Seems like this is getting more widespread; previously it seemed to just be a UK thing in my experience. I never accept it though, always charge in their currency and let the CC company perform the currency conversion.

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi all,

Two weeks ago I applied Wizard Clear Advantage credit card online and received and activated the card last week. However with the forum feedback that I need to send in 100 ID check to fully unlock my card to prevent the problem of card locked when overseas, I called Wizard to request for 100 ID check form. But to my suprise the operator said I have already done this and the card is fully unlocked. Whilst I do not have the best memory I am sure I haven't sent the form to Wizard.

Has anyone experienced this? If not, should I trust his word and just use the card overseas?

 

[FL360]

If I am you it does not hurt
to download the form from their web-site,
fill it and send it in, just in case....

sometimes the operator does not fully know the product....

 

[moa999]

Also got a broachure with my latest statement advertising the new PIN signature feature that allows you to change your pin, which had been my biggest bug-bear with the card

 

[adrian]

Also got a broachure with my latest statement advertising the new PIN signature feature that allows you to change your pin, which had been my biggest bug-bear with the card

Me too!!! I have never worked out how to change that pin they gave me!!

 

[codash1099]

Hi all,

Two weeks ago I applied Wizard Clear Advantage credit card online and received and activated the card last week. However with the forum feedback that I need to send in 100 ID check to fully unlock my card to prevent the problem of card locked when overseas, I called Wizard to request for 100 ID check form. But to my suprise the operator said I have already done this and the card is fully unlocked. Whilst I do not have the best memory I am sure I haven't sent the form to Wizard.

Has anyone experienced this? If not, should I trust his word and just use the card overseas?

Following the comments here, I also queried the 100 point check with Wizard. According to the records, this was satisfied during the application process - just how wasn't explained, but the operator was quite definite that my record was marked as having the 100 point check satisfied.

I'm about to do a small test and will report back if there are any problems. However I've also taken the precaution of having an NAB Gold account so that I don't get stuck during my forthcoming DONE4.

 

[serfty]

I received my Wizard card and pin early this year. I never specifically did a 100 point check or filled out a form for this purpose.

I tested it in NZ and it worked fine; subsequently in Europe, Asia and USA.

When applying I did provide plenty of information that could be used toward this purpose as requested. I guess that was sufficient.

 

[Fifa]

Hi all,

Two weeks ago I applied Wizard Clear Advantage credit card online and received and activated the card last week. However with the forum feedback that I need to send in 100 ID check to fully unlock my card to prevent the problem of card locked when overseas, I called Wizard to request for 100 ID check form. But to my suprise the operator said I have already done this and the card is fully unlocked. Whilst I do not have the best memory I am sure I haven't sent the form to Wizard.

Has anyone experienced this? If not, should I trust his word and just use the card overseas?

I recommended this card to a friend and encouraged her to send back the 100 point ID check form. She phoned Wizard to request it and they told her you no longer have to submit one.
She just returned from 5 weeks in the US and had no problems at all with her Wizard Mastercard which she used exclusively!!!

 

[codash1099]

Following the comments here, I also queried the 100 point check with Wizard. According to the records, this was satisfied during the application process - just how wasn't explained, but the operator was quite definite that my record was marked as having the 100 point check satisfied.

I'm about to do a small test and will report back if there are any problems. However I've also taken the precaution of having an NAB Gold account so that I don't get stuck during my forthcoming DONE4.

No problems withdrawing cash here in Perth, but I have noticed that they are inordinately slow in posting transactions.

 

[equus]

I never specifically did a 100 point check or filled out a form for this purpose.

This would be a result of changes to identification requirements under the AML/CTF laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing - as an aside, very badly named act, as it has nothing to do with financing counter-terrorism :mrgreen.

The "100pt" check is the "old" identification method under the FTRA requirements. The new laws allow for all sorts of other identification mechanisms, including electronic verification by matchin information to other sources (like electoral records etc). We are currently in a transitional period while financial organisations convert. Depending on the institutition, they may still be using the 100pt approach (which remains valid), or may have changed to different verification measures.

It would appear that GE have changed.

 

[serfty]

G'day equus; welcome to AFF.

Thanks for some interesting information - which jogged my memory.

Doh!, I remember that now; here is an article from Dec 2006:

• Australia, Banking and Financial, The 100-Point Check Is No More! - Gadens Lawyers - 19/12/2006 12:08:09, Compliance/ Regulatory, Financial Services, Loans, Mortgages and Leasing, Government & Public Sector, Terrorism & Homeland Security

 

[bobsi18]

Well, I head off next week, and will be back at the beginning of September, so I'll be sure to report!

Just a follow up - have been using my card in Japan for the past month, and its worked brilliantly. Japan is a little different with ATMs - with an international CC you cant just use any ATM, you need to find specific ones. Most ATMs at the various airports are fine, as are ATMs at Seven Eleven convenience stores and post offices.

I've used my card at various ATMs at airports and Post Offices all around the country (including in some really little towns) and its been fine. Haven't used it a Seven Eleven, purely for the fact that the machines warn that they charge a fee for using them - and I'm being cheap!

 

[Fifa]

Just a follow up - have been using my card in Japan for the past month, and its worked brilliantly. Japan is a little different with ATMs - with an international CC you cant just use any ATM, you need to find specific ones. Most ATMs at the various airports are fine, as are ATMs at Seven Eleven convenience stores and post offices.

I've used my card at various ATMs at airports and Post Offices all around the country (including in some really little towns) and its been fine. Haven't used it a Seven Eleven, purely for the fact that the machines warn that they charge a fee for using them - and I'm being cheap!

Thanks for the update, bobsi18

What fees have the Japanese ATM's charged?
After much research I believe 7/11 charge 210yen for non-Visa cards but I cannot find info on Citibank and Post Office ATM charges.

Also, what has been the maximum you have been able to withdraw at one time?

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the update, bobsi18

What fees have the Japanese ATM's charged?
After much research I believe 7/11 charge 210yen for non-Visa cards but I cannot find info on Citibank and Post Office ATM charges.

Also, what has been the maximum you have been able to withdraw at one time?

Yep, I was charged 210 yen @ the airport, but when I used a Citibank ATM in Tokyo (Roppongi) I was not charged anything.

I was taking out 100,000 yen at a time...

 

[bobsi18]

Thanks for the update, bobsi18

What fees have the Japanese ATM's charged?
After much research I believe 7/11 charge 210yen for non-Visa cards but I cannot find info on Citibank and Post Office ATM charges.

Also, what has been the maximum you have been able to withdraw at one time?

Yep, the sign I've noticed said 210 yen. I haven't been charged anything for withdrawing money yet (I haven't withdrawn from a Seven Eleven ATM, only citibank etc at airports, and at post office atms). I've been taking out 50,000 yen at a time (~$500 AUD, no need to take out anymore, as I can usually find an ATM anywhere).

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for all the feedback - I really appreciate it.

 

[fortymilliondaggers]

Use Japan Post ATMs over 7/11 ATMs in Japan if you can. 7/11 does levy an additional charge to PO ATMs.

 

[groover]

I have just used the Wizard Mastercard for the last year travelling down from Mexico through all of Central America down the west coast of South America to Santiago in Chile and have to say that getting one of these cards was excellent and saved me a fortune in bank fees! Of course I always kept the card in credit.
Though I will add a few things.
- Main point saving of hundreds of dollars in bank fees
- as a result I only needed to carry enough cash for normally around 3 days use on me at any one time
- A second card is a necessity for any trip. Get a visa card. There was only once that it was a problem and of course I happened to be on an island which had the only bank for 300kms in any direction and they only accepted Visa card for cash advances, so I had to fly back to Panama City to get money.
- If you lose your Wizard Mastercard it wont be sent to where you are in the world ( Unlike other Banks CC's ) Its one way Wizard can offer such an advantagous card. This was a bummer for me as in Lima late one night I left my card in the ATM machine. There service here fell down a lot, as I spoke to so many people at GE money and Mastercard and got so many different answers. They will only send a replacement to where you live in Australia which of course didnt help me. As a result I had to use my Commonwealth Bank Mastercard and their fees cost me for the next 2 months!
Overall very happy with the card and definitely get one if you are heading overseas!