Have you received your new Qantas Card? Apply for Qantas Cash today.

[opusman]

Thanks for this suggestion. I'll pass it on to the team.

Yes the login procedure is painful!

App should remember login details and just need a PIN (as suggested by trippin_the_rift).
Website should ask for a password, not the silly Xth, Yth, Zth letter thing.

The banking websites and apps I use have far easier login procedures than Qantas Cash, I think you are taking the whole security thing a little too far.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Did another ME Bank funds transfer on Tuesday 24 Sep & just got an email today saying QF Cash has received the money. This time it only took 48 hours.

 

[samh004]

Received my second lot of points from QCASH today. Roughly the same time as last month. Hadn't expected them to post on a Saturday though.

12 OCT 13 QANTAS CASH OVERSEAS TRANSACTION 11OCT13--- 105 -
12 OCT 13 QANTAS CASH DOMESTIC TRANSACTION 11OCT13--- 1,083 -

 

[suparockin]

I reached Gold membership status a couple weeks ago, weird thing was that they sent me a Silver Qantas Cash card at almost the exact same time?

Does that mean they'll send me a Gold one soon with the fancy new Gold Q-Tags? Should I call up?

 

[samh004]

I reached Gold membership status a couple weeks ago, weird thing was that they sent me a Silver Qantas Cash card at almost the exact same time?

Does that mean they'll send me a Gold one soon with the fancy new Gold Q-Tags? Should I call up?

Yes, that'll likely be in the mail too.

 

[OzEire]

Didn't pre-register, received a Gold FF+Cash card in the mail back in September. Almost immediately qualified Platinum, which blind freddy could have predicted looking at my activity over recent months. Already well on the way to P1. Still a few months away from my actual assessment date.

So I was finally at home long enough to register the darn thing, online no probs took about 10 mins (most of this time researching the IPs asking for my ID docs like drivers' licence number and passport number, glad they weren't Nigeria based... turns out they were UK not Aus though ?!?). Then I reach STEP 5 - call for your PIN.

Some 40 mins and 4 calls later, after being transferred several times, including to a helpful but bewildered FF service centre operator ("why did Cash transfer you to me, they deal with QCash ?!?!") who was just about to send me back to the QCash team again when I suggested that perhaps a new tier card had been issued, could she see that on her screen. Answer "No it doesn't say here, but it would have been." However that was weeks ago and I have not seen a new card. I assumed that a new card would be issued around the time of my reassessment, I don't really need it because the boarding pass always has my QFF and OW status anyway.

In summary, the registration process was a bit of a run around and not really worth the marginal value of the card. I was only getting it to lock in O/S currency rates for the occasional online purchase. I get better points earn from other cards so will continue to use them wherever possible, but locking in good rates will help where the exchange fee paying with an AUD card will hurt.

Must turn in now as I am getting the fog-buster first flight out of CBR tomorrow morning back to civilization* and I (really really) need my beauty sleep

Gute Nacht

*NB: no offence intended to residents of the lovely bush capital, but seriously 99% of the world has never heard of CBR

 

[mr_pb]

Just got my QF Cash card a couple of days ago. Was pretty simple to sign up & verify ID, but they use Green ID as one of the verification methods and some people have loads of trouble with them. Seems like a nice nifty thing to have, probably will test it out on my next trip to NRT.

I can imagine WP1s or CLs having a DYKWIA moment every time they're in Woolies or something

 

[samh004]

I can imagine WP1s or CLs having a DYKWIA moment every time they're in Woolies or something

I use mine all the time and haven't had anyone notice it's not standard yet (and say something), but then, it does just look as dark as any other run of the mill CC. A P1 card might be noticed.

 

[boomy]

A P1 card might be noticed.

No one is impressed by a white CC, the ones that are most 'prestigious' are black

 

[Limewood]

Currently using mine with HKD no probs at all,like others though the account sign in is ridiculous. Wish it was a colour other than black as it can be mixed up with ANZ black Plat.

 

[Red Roo]

Didn't pre-register, received a Gold FF+Cash card in the mail back in September. Almost immediately qualified Platinum, which blind freddy could have predicted looking at my activity over recent months. Already well on the way to P1. Still a few months away from my actual assessment date.

So I was finally at home long enough to register the darn thing, online no probs took about 10 mins (most of this time researching the IPs asking for my ID docs like drivers' licence number and passport number, glad they weren't Nigeria based... turns out they were UK not Aus though ?!?). Then I reach STEP 5 - call for your PIN.

Some 40 mins and 4 calls later, after being transferred several times, including to a helpful but bewildered FF service centre operator ("why did Cash transfer you to me, they deal with QCash ?!?!") who was just about to send me back to the QCash team again when I suggested that perhaps a new tier card had been issued, could she see that on her screen. Answer "No it doesn't say here, but it would have been." However that was weeks ago and I have not seen a new card. I assumed that a new card would be issued around the time of my reassessment, I don't really need it because the boarding pass always has my QFF and OW status anyway.

In summary, the registration process was a bit of a run around and not really worth the marginal value of the card. I was only getting it to lock in O/S currency rates for the occasional online purchase. I get better points earn from other cards so will continue to use them wherever possible, but locking in good rates will help where the exchange fee paying with an AUD card will hurt.

Must turn in now as I am getting the fog-buster first flight out of CBR tomorrow morning back to civilization* and I (really really) need my beauty sleep

Gute Nacht

*NB: no offence intended to residents of the lovely bush capital, but seriously 99% of the world has never heard of CBR

I would like to use your example as feedback to the Qantas Cash team. Please send me a private message with your details as reference.

 

[blackcat20]

Currently using mine with HKD no probs at all,like others though the account sign in is ridiculous. Wish it was a colour other than black as it can be mixed up with ANZ black Plat.

The sign-in procedure is the same for the Travelex cash passport.

 

[samh004]

Currently using mine with HKD no probs at all,like others though the account sign in is ridiculous. Wish it was a colour other than black as it can be mixed up with ANZ black Plat.

I have no issues with the sign in procedure, it's very speedy for me, but I am used to it as I use the same procedure (though different passwords) with my HSBC account. Works very well

Now to get some special offers that entice me to spend more... such as extra points with EpiQure etc...

 

[SIA1A]

I received the card about a week ago. My online setup via qantascash.com went OK until I arrived at the point where the system checked my identity against files held at the Dun & Bradstreet Credit Reporting Agency. (Pardon me, I'm NOT applying for credit!). The system then reported an "error" and asked me to call 131131. I opted not to do this, in view of the hassles reported in this thread. I never trust verbal dealings of this sort anyway - the operators invariably get things wrong. Much better to deal in writing. Anyhow, I decided to start the process at qantashcash.com again and this time the D&B ID verification worked. Qantascash.com clearly has IT interface problems, suggesting slap-dash IT implementation.

We then proceeded to the ID verification check using government files. Upon arriving at this page, I noted that I already had a tick based on an electoral roll check (I was not pre-warned that this would be done) and another tick based on telephone provider records. What the? Which telco was asked (without my knowledge, let alone permission) to supply qantascash.com with my records? Finally, I supplied my driver's licence and this time I was asked to give the issuing agency (state govt) permission to verify my id and clear it with qantascash.com. That's better! That done, I was instructed to call 1800 147 766 in order to obtain my ATM pin. Talk about convoluted - and not particularly secure, either. (I was asked to supply my new MasterCard number, Date of Birth, CVV and card expiry date - all easy if the card was nicked from my letter box though I suppose the pin is of limited use if the card has a nil balance). It seems there is no way to change the pin that was issued - another security short-fall. There is a lot of wheel-reinvention going on here. If this is the way Heritage Bank (the banking partner of Qantas Cash) does business, it seems to be all quite amateurish and I wonder why Qantas is dealing with this banking partner.

OK, so I'm now registered.

I tried to charge the card but so far the BPay transfer that I initiated from my bank account has not shown up. That was 4 days ago. I have never (over at least the past 10 years) seen a BPay take more than one evening following a business day to process - in my considerable experience a BPay done on Wednesday during business hours ALWAYS shows up on Thursday. Why does it take Qantas Cash so long? Something somewhere is not automated. If there is human intervention required for every BPay transaction, this creates more probability of errors or missed completion of payments. Once again, is this a Heritage Bank systems issue or poor IT implementation at Qantas Cash?

It is unacceptable for delays of this type to be buried in the card charging system, especially given that he card is targeting overseas travellers. It is certainly not a payment method that one would want to rely on in a strange country at this stage. If there are problems with registration and card charging, there are likely to be other problems downstream too. Some people have already indicated that their card could not be used at Woolworths, for example. Bad luck if you are landing in a foreign country and discover that the airport ATM won't accept the card or, worse, eats it.

I haven't tried POLi yet. Has anyone here? Is the transfer instantaneous or does it create a multi-day transfer delay too? I note that POLi requires a minimum transfer of $50. It seems that not all the major banks have implemented POLi (but the "4 pillar" banks have). Does use of POLi result in Qantas Cash receiving my online banking username/password as part of the POLi process? Sorry, I can't help but be suspicious about this stuff, given the amateurish system implementation.

ADDENDUM: Subsequent to posting this entry, I called the fraud group at ANZ. I was advised that although ANZ accepts interactions with POLi, it is not a payment method that ANZ endorses, due precisely to my concern above. In essence, a user is entrusting a third party to forward the ANZ username/password to ANZ's systems. ANZ does not have control over how this info is analysed prior to reaching ANZ. However, when a user logs on to ANZ internet banking and uses BPay, user security is maintained (and guaranteed) by ANZ. That means that if I ever get confidence with using Qantas Cash, I will stick with using BPay to charge the card.

I have also tried out the iPhone app. What a schemozzle. It crashes as soon as the opening splash screen appears on iOS 5.1.1, the OS of choice for people who like reliability (iOS7 is still a work in progress at Apple). I couldn't find a Qantas Cash android app. Presumably that's being developed. Surely the availability of iOS and Android apps at launch is nuts and bolts stuff for maintaining and manipulating a TRAVEL cash card! The regular banks have brilliant apps for travellers that work just fine using a 4 digit PIN. What's with Qantas Cash, which requires completion of a 3-field entry form before login completes? Wheel re-invention yet again.

Interestingly, almost all user comments about the Qantas Cash app in the iTunes store are negative, save the first three comments, which are effusively enthusiastic. Clearly these 3 users (or is it just one?) are associated with the app development house and their entries support my thoughts about the app being poorly developed by juniors who are inadequately supervised. Who knows what nasties are buried in the code if my suppositions are correct. Don't forget, we're talking a financial app that will be turning over large aggregate sums of money here. How do we know that it is not harvesting user IDs? The password would be easy to figure out from the 3 digit entry method, given multiple log-ins over time.

Frankly, as I think it over I'm growing increasingly sceptical about the Qantas Cash product.

I think I'll avoid using it until reports from others here indicate that the problems have been sorted and there's compelling evidence that the card works pretty well everywhere that MasterCard is accepted. I also want to check that there is no evidence of fraud over the next 6 months. (Interestingly, I note that the protection we normally get from banks in the event of fraud involving a credit or ATM card is specifically excluded with respect to Qantas Cash. It seems the issuer has no confidence in the Qantas Cash system security either.)

In the meantime I will happily rely on my free Citibank Plus account and attached Visa Debit card, which is very reliable and doesn't charge a 3% FX fee.

I note that the FX rate I obtain when using the Citibank ATM card to access my Citi Plus account at overseas ATMs almost exactly matches the rate quoted by xe.com at around 3pm Sydney time on the day prior to my withdrawal. With Citibank the spread, if any, is hard to detect. This provides opportunities for arbitrage - if the A$ is falling rapidly I can grab yesterday's rate and get ahead!

As for paying 3% to "lock in" an FX rate, as is in effect suggested by Qantas Cash - that's preposteropus. I prefer to always take the spot rate. Spread over hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, I believe I am well ahead - 3% x several hundred thousand in fact - let's call it around $10K. If a user chooses to "lock in" an FX rate, sure, the user gets protection against a catastrophic FX event but this also means kissing the benefits of any FX appreciation goodbye too. Over the past dozen years the A$ has gained very significantly against most currencies. Taking a spot FX price and paying no FX commission or spread penalty (as is the case when using Citi Plus) largely removes the smart FX traders in NY and London from the equation. People who bet against those folks (which is what you do if you lock in FX rates as a currency hedge prior to travel) usually lose. If this is not the case, the FX trading/hedging business would be far less lucrative. However, I'm a risk taker and I accept that the risks I take with FX might lie outside the comfort zone of others.

Has anyone successfuly used the Qantas Cash facility for transferring money to another Qantas Cash member? This might be handy if it's instantaneous - but is it?

 

[serfty]

You should receive an email when the credit finally "arrives" into the account. (I did a test deposit for a minimal amount.)

I had a Wizard Clear which morphed into the 28° - I obtained the Citibank product a few month ago and have found funds appear with the direct debit overnight (sent before 6pm from ANZ on 'business day').

Wizard will do until Dec, then Citi. (I also have a Velocity cash thingamabob now, but have decided not to bother activating it.)

So really now I have half a FF card and a pretty useless other side (two If I count Velocity).

 

[Wests Tigers]

Not sure what all the trouble is...maybe I was lucky...got my card in the mail the day I travelled to Europe 2/9/13. QF First check in at Sydney hadn't seen one before! Used it extensively in Europe and Dubai, no problem at all....after the 3 day delay for the cash to appear from BPay....I guess they sit on our money for 3 days before making it available....another income stream for them

 

[serfty]

Not sure what all the trouble is... ....another income stream for them

I guess, aside from issues with registering (I had none), there are better value resources for Forex cash that most have access too.

If you feel like [-]handing[/-] donating small amount of money here and there to corporate entities for maybe a few QFF points, purpose so be it.

 

[Wests Tigers]

At least I get points now at Woolies for my packet of cigs! Beit 4/9ths of stuff all!

 

[SIA1A]

I guess they sit on our money for 3 days before making it available....another income stream for them

The business woman in me says they are deliberately sitting on the money for 3 days to ensure an extra income stream.

The cynic in me suspects that these people aren't smart enough to introduce the delay for that purpose. It's far more likely that there is a conga line of sequential overnight batch processes that must squeeze the transaction through a congested pipeline before it reaches the target Qantas Cash account.

If the latter is correct, it supports my view that the whole implementation of Qantas Cash is amateurish. Be prepared for more unintended user hassles!

 

[SIA1A]

At least I get points now at Woolies for my packet of cigs! Beit 4/9ths of stuff all!

Get a reputable full-feature credit card. $1 = 1 QF point or better (whereas with Qantas Cash it's $2 = 1 QF point, ie half the earn rate).