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

[Flashback]

Um.... anyone else get the letter?

We WANT TO INCREASE YOUR LIMIT!

Not sure I want too.....may need the cash for next trip....

Generally get one every 6 to 12 months, will show up online too when you login.

 

[cove]

We are going to London for several weeks so I think it might pay us to ask for a limit increase seeing we did not get offered anything.
Shortly credit card providers will be barred from offering unsolicited limit increases in Australia.

 

[SeaWolf]

Generally get one every 6 to 12 months, will show up online too when you login.

You can ask them to stop offering them if you aren't interested. I got sick of receiving them a while ago (the limit is more than adequate for what I'm using the card for) so I asked them to stop offering limit increases.

 

[Flashback]

This looks like an interesting UK alternative to the Wizard: 0% balance transfer credit card with travel features from the Post Office.

 

[lakeman]

2.98% balance transfer fee applies***,according to their banner on the referral page.
But can purchase foreign currency without a cash advance fee

 

[Flashback]

2.98% balance transfer fee applies***,according to their banner on the referral page.
But can purchase foreign currency without a cash advance fee

Balance transfer isn't of interest. It has 0% commission on foreign purchases too. Just waiting to find out more info on what the exchange rates are like as well as whether you can load it up with cash easily and just withdraw overseas like you do with the 28 Degrees card.

 

[Shanye2233]

So Im approved for this card and fingers crossed it arrives in time before my travels on the 18th . I have a $2,000 limit . I read the first few pages and the last ten from 90 onwards. Here's my plan once the card arrives.

I email/fax them information they require for overseas travel ( not sure about this ) then I can either BPay a few k into the card to allow it to become in credit . Then whenever I need money (cash) I go to a ATM hat has the MasterCard logo and withdraw the funds I need. To add this is a the best exchange rate as shown from this chart .

https://www.mastercard.com/global/currencyconversion/index.html

When I want to make a purchase I can still use this card with it in credit aand not receive any fees (again not sure). Whilst overseas I can top up the card anytime using BPay from my Westpac account into this card.

Is there anyway to test the card before I leave as if iit's locked and all my savings are in this card I'm stuck . Also when I return if there is money still in the card I can go to any Westpac ATM aand withdraw no money than $1,000 pper day without any fees.

 

[Alanslegal]

I do not keep my card in credit of more than $500 -$1,000 at any one time. I perceive that by putting too much credit on the card can raise suspicion / warnings that I am using this as a debit card when the intention is really that of a credit card. With internet banking so common nowadays, all it takes is a few clicks and my card is back in credit assuming I spend too much. I would not tell them I will be topping the account into credit either, or even ask if its Ok to do so, because for the same reason above ... and besides, their customer service staff will advise you its not allowed anyway [even though we all here know its Ok to do so and have done so for many years, in my case 7-8 years now].

 

[Shanye2233]

So my thinking is correct ? I can put 1 k in before I leave and pay the car rental the hotel with this card and then top it up again or do I need to withdraw cash out from the local ATM ? What is the paperwork I read about I nneed to send back
before I leave to go overseas . Does anyone know the biller ccode with BPay I read it somewhere on a page but lost ttrack of it . How do I make sure my card does not get locked when travelling ?

 

[cove]

Do not exceed the credit limit of your card with a credit balance. So if your limit is $2k put say $1.5 k on the card with credit funds. Just call the number on your card to confirm your overseas travel and they can get you BPay info.

 

[serfty]

... . Does anyone know the biller ccode with BPay I read it somewhere on a page but lost ttrack of it . ...

The biller code is noted in the "User guide" linked to in the first post of this thread.


Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Baysider]

Is there anyway to test the card before I leave as if iit's locked and all my savings are in this card I'm stuck . Also when I return if there is money still in the card I can go to any Westpac ATM aand withdraw no money than $1,000 pper day without any fees.

You can test it using a Westpac ATM but that doesn't assure you that it will work overseas. As long as you phone them and let them know what countries it might be used in, and what dates, you should be fine. It seems that those who had troubles generally had not given 28 Degree this advice.

You can use it for purchases at any time (i.e. even when not in credit) and pay no fees or extra interest if you pay the balance by the due date. It's only for cash advances you need to have it in credit, or you will start to pay interest immediately on the TOTAL balance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can test it using a Westpac ATM but that doesn't assure you that it will work overseas. As long as you phone them and let them know what countries it might be used in, and what dates, you should be fine. It seems that those who had troubles generally had not given 28 Degree this advice.

You can use it for purchases at any time (i.e. even when not in credit) and pay no fees or extra interest if you pay the balance by the due date. It's only for cash advances you need to have it in credit, or you will start to pay interest immediately on the TOTAL balance.

just for clarification, if your card is in a debit balance from purchases (say $1000 for car hire), and you then cash advance $500, you only pay interest on the $500.

if you make a transfer of funds to cover the cash advance, you stop paying interest.

if ur card is in negative balance, it's always a good idea to wait a day before making a transfer to cover a cash advance. if you transfer too early, the payment will go off the general balance, not the cash advance.

 

[Baysider]

just for clarification, if your card is in a debit balance from purchases (say $1000 for car hire), and you then cash advance $500, you only pay interest on the $500.

if you make a transfer of funds to cover the cash advance, you stop paying interest.

In my experience you pay interest immediately on the TOTAL debit balance once you make a cash advance while the card is in debit. Pretty much standard for all credit card T's & C's.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In my experience you pay interest immediately on the TOTAL debit balance once you make a cash advance while the card is in debit. Pretty much standard for all credit card T's & C's.

it's not the case for 28 degrees (nor I have to admit have i seen it operate like that for other cards, but I haven't used other cards for a cash advance for a long time sinnce I've had the 28 degrees).

you only pay interest on the cash advance component of any debit amount.

 

[Shanye2233]

Thanks I have the idea now hopefully it arrives in time. I will throw 1.5k on the card and use it at a local westpac before I leave. Does the pin and the card arrive at the same time?

If I call them to let them know I'm travelling is there any paperwork i need to return to them?

 

[Baysider]

If I call them to let them know I'm travelling is there any paperwork i need to return to them?

Actually there is some extra identification stuff they ask you to send back. People who hadn't done this seemed to have their cards frozen when they left the country.

 

[Shanye2233]

Well I rang they told me my card is on the way too late to express post. It takes 5-7 business days so if it's the Lata I miss out . The supervisor also told me I can generate a pin instantly once I get the card so I don't have to wait for the other pin to arrive.
he also asked what countries I'm travelling in so there isn't a problem with my card being locked for suspicious fraud activity. Didn't ask about any further information required

 

[Alanslegal]

he also asked what countries I'm travelling in so there isn't a problem with my card being locked for suspicious fraud activity. Didn't ask about any further information required

The information they require is likely identification related information. By law, providers of banking and financial services must confirm a person's identification to mitigate fradulent and laundering activity. If one does not provide it, they are compelled to suspend the account.

Also in my instance, I told them to I would be travelling regularly and spending globally so my card has remained unlocked for a very long time now and thus I never need to worry when I visit a new place on this wide world of ours

 

[serfty]

The information they require is likely identification related information. By law, providers of banking and financial services must confirm a person's identification to mitigate fradulent and laundering activity. If one does not provide it, they are compelled to suspend the account. ...

When I applied for my Wizard, I had no such request - it simply arrived - that was some years ago.