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

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi, I called up to let them know I would be overseas and kind of got bullied into the insurance offering which I thought might be good incase I make any electronic purchases but I will probably cancel when I get back. Does anyone know if the 0.5% is for purchases made or the closing balance? e.g. what happens to an account in credit?

what does the insurance cover? you are protected in the event of the loss of the card, and against any transactions you didn't make. so the insurance would seem an unnecessary requirement.

the issue about the card being in credit is an interesting one. as far as I know the card is not supposed to be in credit, but I don't know how that would affect your rights...

 

[Pushka]

If the card is in credit at the end of each cycle then no insurance fee.

I have claimed on the shoppers protection insurance. Harvey Norman had a 30% off sale on their laptops one of which I'd bought a couple of weeks earlier. I obtained the advertising material and submitted it and within two days I had the 30% credited to my account. I think it was something like $800!

 

[Skrambled]

the insurance adds warranty to purchases made globally, price protection to purchases within Aus and some payouts for lost/stolen cards etc. Not bad for 0.5% of relevant purchases but not good for 0.5% of your total spend which includes food, cash out etc. Sounds like if card in credit will be ok...

 

[Pushka]

the insurance adds warranty to purchases made globally, price protection to purchases within Aus and some payouts for lost/stolen cards etc. Not bad for 0.5% of relevant purchases but not good for 0.5% of your total spend which includes food, cash out etc. Sounds like if card in credit will be ok...

It is based on balance not transactions.

 

[phred505]

but that is not an arrangement you can set up as a recurring matter... you need to call them each time to have a payment credited to a cash advance rather than purchases. time consuming.

of course all this is solved by just having the card in credit... (although not allowed)

Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by "although not allowed" - isn't this what most people do before travelling overseas; load up their card? (apologies if this has been answered before).

 

[get me outta here]

I loaded up my card by paying an amount in and then found I just needed to put everything on as a credit charge and didn't bother or need to take any cash out after all. I had phoned 28D before when I thought I be needing cash and that's what they told me to do, prepay.

 

[Baysider]

Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by "although not allowed" - isn't this what most people do before travelling overseas; load up their card? (apologies if this has been answered before).

The T's & C's for nearly all credit cards forbid you to have them in a credit (positive) balance. I think for the 28 Degree Card it says that they reserve the right to cancel the card. People generally just keep it in "reasonable" credit which seems to be $1000-2000. Those who have had cancellations etc seem to have had much higher credit amounts.

 

[phred505]

The T's & C's for nearly all credit cards forbid you to have them in a credit (positive) balance. I think for the 28 Degree Card it says that they reserve the right to cancel the card. People generally just keep it in "reasonable" credit which seems to be $1000-2000. Those who have had cancellations etc seem to have had much higher credit amounts.

Thanks for that. I wasn't aware of this - I'll have to read the T & C's.
So far, I have topped up with $1,000 and have not had a problem.

 

[oz_mark]

It is generally recognised that credit cards can go into credit for reasons incidental to its operation. This includes allowing refunds on a card to put it into credit. So credit balances will be allowed, a bit.

 

[serfty]

Thanks for that. I wasn't aware of this - I'll have to read the T & C's.
So far, I have topped up with $1,000 and have not had a problem.

There's more on that contained in the links in post #1 here.

 

[nonpop]

I use this card when am o/s a lot. The day before I fly out of AU I usually load up with some cash which I then withdraw the same amount from the airport I land into (final destination).

Then if I need more cash along the way I just take it out of an ATM and then do a Bpay that same day for the amount. And whilst travelling I just charge everything to the 28D card that is foreign currency related. When returning to AU I then drop the card in my bottom draw where it sits dormant until the next trip (doesn't earn any QF points).

So for me the card is usually in credit for 24 - 48 hrs before it comes back to zero.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I use this card when am o/s a lot. The day before I fly out of AU I usually load up with some cash which I then withdraw the same amount from the airport I land into (final destination).

Then if I need more cash along the way I just take it out of an ATM and then do a Bpay that same day for the amount. And whilst travelling I just charge everything to the 28D card that is foreign currency related. When returning to AU I then drop the card in my bottom draw where it sits dormant until the next trip (doesn't earn any QF points).

So for me the card is usually in credit for 24 - 48 hrs before it comes back to zero.

but noting now that topping up the card mid cycle will no longer necessarily pay off the cash advance first... so essentially the entire balance must be paid off by bpay each time if this is to work and avoid interest (as per post above, items which have not yet officially been statemented will be paid off in order they hit the account, whether that is a purchase or cash)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I guess members posting their usage of the 28Deg card will provide an insight for others - I have 6.5K limit on mine - I use it for NOTHING other than access to cash via ATM withdrawals whilst o/s. I upload up 3 to 5K prior to departure - I withdraw whatever amt I want wherever and whenever I want - if I exhaust preloaded amt before returning to Oz I upload more - after returning if there is balance still in card I withdraw it at ATM here and redeposit into another account I hold. I would have not made any more than 5 or 6 actual purchases on this card in the 5 or 6 years I have held it - never a query from 28Deg - I never EVER tell them where or when I will travel - it has worked perfectly without a blip on every continent.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess members posting their usage of the 28Deg card will provide an insight for others - I have 6.5K limit on mine - I use it for NOTHING other than access to cash via ATM withdrawals whilst o/s. I upload up 3 to 5K prior to departure - I withdraw whatever amt I want wherever and whenever I want - if I exhaust preloaded amt before returning to Oz I upload more - after returning if there is balance still in card I withdraw it at ATM here and redeposit into another account I hold. I would have not made any more than 5 or 6 actual purchases on this card in the 5 or 6 years I have held it - never a query from 28Deg - I never EVER tell them where or when I will travel - it has worked perfectly without a blip on every continent.

i have on the other hand had an account suspension (early days) while using it overseas. I now tell them before departure.

i suppose the ideal way would be to call and advise of travel plans first... then top up the card into credit.

if you were overseas having to call up to get the card unblocked and they saw a large credit balance there might be issues?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

i have on the other hand had an account suspension (early days) while using it overseas. I now tell them before departure.

i suppose the ideal way would be to call and advise of travel plans first... then top up the card into credit.

if you were overseas having to call up to get the card unblocked and they saw a large credit balance there might be issues?

As I said - posting ones experiences may help others - each to their own - we are all different - we all get to make our own decisions and pursue a course of action that best suits ourselves. I should add I NEVER use the 28Deg card in OZ unless to retrieve funds not used o/s - I get plenty cash other ways here.

 

[Baysider]

I guess members posting their usage of the 28Deg card will provide an insight for others - I have 6.5K limit on mine - I use it for NOTHING other than access to cash via ATM withdrawals whilst o/s.

I used to do this, but now I have a Citibank Plus Visa Debit Card with linked savings, which is also forex free and because its a debit card it is ok (intended) to be in credit. Also by withdrawing from savings I am yet to pay an ATM fee anywhere, unlike with my 28 Degree card. Now I reserve my 28 Degree Card for forex-free overseas credit card purchases only.

 

[phred505]

There's more on that contained in the links in post #1 here.

thanks for pointing this out. Although I initially thought that post #1 was a "one off" possibly related to not informing 28deg of travel plans.

 

[DeKa]

I used to do this, but now I have a Citibank Plus Visa Debit Card with linked savings, which is also forex free and because its a debit card it is ok (intended) to be in credit. Also by withdrawing from savings I am yet to pay an ATM fee anywhere, unlike with my 28 Degree card. Now I reserve my 28 Degree Card for forex-free overseas credit card purchases only.

Best way to use the 28 degrees card too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As I said - posting ones experiences may help others - each to their own - we are all different - we all get to make our own decisions and pursue a course of action that best suits ourselves. I should add I NEVER use the 28Deg card in OZ unless to retrieve funds not used o/s - I get plenty cash other ways here.

not advising of overseas travel a sure way to one day have your account flagged and temporarily suspended. I'm not sure I understand how it is better to have to call to unblock the account and then they see the credit balance when that could be totally avoided by calling in advance of travel?

 

[Baysider]

not advising of overseas travel a sure way to one day have your account flagged and temporarily suspended. I'm not sure I understand how it is better to have to call to unblock the account and then they see the credit balance when that could be totally avoided by calling in advance of travel?

Yep, I ALWAYS call and let them know, and have never had an issue.