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

[chianshuin]

Isn't Citibank plus ATM card a good option too if u want cash withdrawal oversea. I have used it for withdrawal oversea and the rate is very close to visa publish rate with no additional fee.

 

[Cynicor]

The citibank plus does seem like a good option, but the rates are worked out differently, and the apparent spread seems slightly higher than the 28 degrees card. Visas rates are based on the previous days rate while MC is the current interbank rate. This may work in your favour, but I like being able to go to xe.com immediately prior to purchasing and know almost exactly what I will pay.

Additionally, many people do not trust Citibank, and I would never rely on one of their cards alone whilst overseas...

 

[Flashback]

Doubt this will affect many of us, but just an FYI as I noticed it on my recent statement:
Important Notice to 28 Degrees MasterCard customers.

Effective 14 March 2012, the payment handling fee charged to the account each time a payment is made at any Australia Post outlet will change from $1.50 to $2.00.
This change was advertised in The Australian newspaper on 22 February 2012.
If you have any queries, please call our Customer Solutions Team.

 

[moa999]

China - found it a bit of a coughshoot depending on banks

definitive experiences
Good - Bank of China/ BOC (red), China Agricultural (Green)
Bad - China Construction (blue) - times out and on one occasion spat out a receipt confirming withdrawal with no cash (didnt go through though)
-- combination of experiences from shenzehn, guangzhou and shanghai

 

[kaz]

Reading through the pages of posts, but can't find anything..hence I'll ask (sorry if it has been explained before)

If I put my card into credit say for $1,000.00 to use as cash advance (I know it's not to be used as a debit card) but before I withdraw any of those funds I make a purchase of say $1500.00 using the credit card, does that purchase negate the $1,000.00 I have put onto my card and therefore I no longer have those funds to draw on as a cash advance ???

I would presume this to be the case...but I'll pose the question anyway.

 

[serfty]

...

I would presume this to be the case...but I'll pose the question anyway.

I certainly would expect it to.

I don't use my 28° much for purchases of goods/services.

 

[Baysider]

If I put my card into credit say for $1,000.00 to use as cash advance (I know it's not to be used as a debit card) but before I withdraw any of those funds I make a purchase of say $1500.00 using the credit card, does that purchase negate the $1,000.00 I have put onto my card and therefore I no longer have those funds to draw on as a cash advance ???

You can always do a cash advance, up to your credit limit, but because you are no longer in credit you will immediately start paying interest on all outstanding amounts because the card is in debit, and when the card is in debit any cash advances attract interest on the entire balance from day one.

 

[kaz]

I certainly would expect it to.

I don't use my 28° much for purchases of goods/services.

As I'll be paying the hotel bill at the end of the trip it should work out (I may even change to prepaid accomm rates when trip gets closer) but I'll have to keep an eye on my shopping/spending on the card if I dont want to use up the preloaded funds in a few days :shock:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Reading through the pages of posts, but can't find anything..hence I'll ask (sorry if it has been explained before)

If I put my card into credit say for $1,000.00 to use as cash advance (I know it's not to be used as a debit card) but before I withdraw any of those funds I make a purchase of say $1500.00 using the credit card, does that purchase negate the $1,000.00 I have put onto my card and therefore I no longer have those funds to draw on as a cash advance ???

I would presume this to be the case...but I'll pose the question anyway.

you are correct. But easily solved by topping up the card while overseas.

 

[moa999]

Note also that even paying a months interest (at 18%) you are paying 1.5% which is far better than anything else.
I tend to withdraw cash when I need it and top it up as I go..

Would be even better two have two cards, one for expenses, one for cash.

 

[Flashback]

As I'll be paying the hotel bill at the end of the trip it should work out (I may even change to prepaid accomm rates when trip gets closer) but I'll have to keep an eye on my shopping/spending on the card if I dont want to use up the preloaded funds in a few days :shock:

Yes, no issues there so long as the card is in credit before the transaction that puts it back into a debit balance.

 

[ethernet]

International Travel Card with Security Features & No Annual Fees
Reputed to be 'GE' now. Anyway told by FF that the conversion rate on this card is better than anybody else ie pretty much interbank rates.
The travel insurance SCTI Sthn Cross Travel Insurance gives OK quotes, but it beats me why when If I have a gold or platinum CC with travel insurance , so I wear that $8 visa charge, as it has travel insurance built in.

 

[travelislife]

International Travel Card with Security Features & No Annual Fees
Reputed to be 'GE' now. Anyway told by FF that the conversion rate on this card is better than anybody else ie pretty much interbank rates.
The travel insurance SCTI Sthn Cross Travel Insurance gives OK quotes, but it beats me why when If I have a gold or platinum CC with travel insurance , so I wear that $8 visa charge, as it has travel insurance built in.

The card has always been issued through GE Finance. Am a bit confused about the insurance you are talking about, want to elaborate? This card doesn't offer International Travel Insurance as it isn't a Gold or Platinum card.

 

[ethernet]

I have Cwth Gold Visa (although they tried to upgrade me to Plat MasterCard).
I told Cwth as both ther Visa and MC have the same stinking rip-off fees, my other card will be with another - unless they can match it.

If I buy airfares with Cwth Gold Visa , my TI should be covered, bar weasel clauses.
I still like the idea of reputable, separate insurance, but I will not pay outlandish amounts (Compared to British rates for British citizens) so the vultures can squabble. The Australian companies are too dumb/un-innovative to offer a where not covered covered by CC complementary insurance. I suspect they love their anti-competitive practices too much.

 

[RB]

I have Cwth Gold Visa (although they tried to upgrade me to Plat MasterCard).
I told Cwth as both ther Visa and MC have the same stinking rip-off fees, my other card will be with another - unless they can match it.

If I buy airfares with Cwth Gold Visa , my TI should be covered, bar weasel clauses.
I still like the idea of reputable, separate insurance, but I will not pay outlandish amounts (Compared to British rates for British citizens) so the vultures can squabble. The Australian companies are too dumb/un-innovative to offer a where not covered covered by CC complementary insurance. I suspect they love their anti-competitive practices too much.

Can you please explain the relevance of this to the 28 degree card?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have Cwth Gold Visa (although they tried to upgrade me to Plat MasterCard).
I told Cwth as both ther Visa and MC have the same stinking rip-off fees, my other card will be with another - unless they can match it.

If I buy airfares with Cwth Gold Visa , my TI should be covered, bar weasel clauses.
I still like the idea of reputable, separate insurance, but I will not pay outlandish amounts (Compared to British rates for British citizens) so the vultures can squabble. The Australian companies are too dumb/un-innovative to offer a where not covered covered by CC complementary insurance. I suspect they love their anti-competitive practices too much.

A good solution is two cards. 28 degrees for all purchases cash advances, combined with the ANZ platinum for insurance.

ANZ annual fee is $79, but only requires $250 of ANY prepaid travel expenses for comprehensive insurance. This can even include taxes and fees for your (free award) flight, a connecting domestic flight to SYD, or airport transfers or hotels. Ripper deal. And the insurance covers stuff like the huge excess if you have a rental car.

 

[zan5hin]

On the advice above, I contacted ANZ just now. I already had a platinum visa card but I am the secondary cardholder, my father gave me the card as an emergency only card when I was backpacking last year. Apparently unless I am travelling with the primary cardholder, I cannot qualify for insurance.

So they transferred me through to an indian call centre and I went through the application process myself, and I qualified. Best of all, the $87 annual fee (that's what they said) is waived for the first 12 months.

So I just need to spend $250 on anything related to my travel, so even though I already booked MEL-xSIN-CEB-SIN-SYD, I still need to book CEB-MPH-MNL-TPE-MNL-CEB

The insurance is valid for trips less than 6 months. Fantastic deal..... when I travelled last year on a 12 months Oneworld LONE5 I had to get seperate insurance for about $700.

So now I have my 28 Degrees for CC transactions overseas, my NAB Visa Gold Debit for ATM withdrawls overseas, and my ANZ Platinum for insurance overseas

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On the advice above, I contacted ANZ just now. I already had a platinum visa card but I am the secondary cardholder, my father gave me the card as an emergency only card when I was backpacking last year. Apparently unless I am travelling with the primary cardholder, I cannot qualify for insurance.

So they transferred me through to an indian call centre and I went through the application process myself, and I qualified. Best of all, the $87 annual fee (that's what they said) is waived for the first 12 months.

So I just need to spend $250 on anything related to my travel, so even though I already booked MEL-xSIN-CEB-SIN-SYD, I still need to book CEB-MPH-MNL-TPE-MNL-CEB

The insurance is valid for trips less than 6 months. Fantastic deal..... when I travelled last year on a 12 months Oneworld LONE5 I had to get seperate insurance for about $700.

So now I have my 28 Degrees for CC transactions overseas, my NAB Visa Gold Debit for ATM withdrawls overseas, and my ANZ Platinum for insurance overseas

well done!! ANZ is a great deal. just make 100% sure that the charge goes on the card before departure. (so no 'pay on arrival hotels etc')

 

[greenfrog86]

On the advice above, I contacted ANZ just now. I already had a platinum visa card but I am the secondary cardholder, my father gave me the card as an emergency only card when I was backpacking last year. Apparently unless I am travelling with the primary cardholder, I cannot qualify for insurance.

So they transferred me through to an indian call centre and I went through the application process myself, and I qualified. Best of all, the $87 annual fee (that's what they said) is waived for the first 12 months.

So I just need to spend $250 on anything related to my travel, so even though I already booked MEL-xSIN-CEB-SIN-SYD, I still need to book CEB-MPH-MNL-TPE-MNL-CEB

The insurance is valid for trips less than 6 months. Fantastic deal..... when I travelled last year on a 12 months Oneworld LONE5 I had to get seperate insurance for about $700.

So now I have my 28 Degrees for CC transactions overseas, my NAB Visa Gold Debit for ATM withdrawls overseas, and my ANZ Platinum for insurance overseas

ANZ call centres are based in Australia.

The person you spoke to might have had an accent, which is a wonderful feature of our multicultural society in Australia.

 

[PLANT]

Um.... anyone else get the letter?

We WANT TO INCREASE YOUR LIMIT!

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