Qantas Cash Card

[AustraliaPoochie]

re: Qantas Cash Card

None of my normal banking partners, I have accounts with several banks, and I can say, on the debit (spend my own money side of things-I don't have a true true credit card), but none of my banks want to give points on spending my own money, ie, give points on visa or mastercard debit, or even give points on a cirrus or plus transaction card.
So, Heritage CU and Qantas, were good combo in my case.
Yes, the 0.5 point per $1 spend credit of points rate is not the best, but a lot of the cheaper true true credit cards also issue rewards points at that rate.
No inactivity fee for the QantasCash card is also a plus.
Now, if VA via Rev issued 1:1 ratio, I would quit QantasCash and jump onto using all my spends on VelocityGlobalWallet.

 

[james1]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Anyway, thought I would describe my Qantas Cash card experiences on this trip which have been problematic at times. To summarise, I loaded €1000 before I left Australia ten days ago. Have had mixed success getting it to work at times, ATM use sometimes takes a couple of goes to elicit cash. The real kicker however was in Dublin where I attempted to pay the €300 hotel bill. First attempt was unsuccessful and I was given the receipt indicating the transaction was void. Second attempt was successful.

Since that transaction a week ago however, the first transaction still shows as 'pending' and blocks my access to the €300. I have sent emails to Qantas Cash asking them to correct but they refuse to look at it until I call them to discuss - not possible in the last few days or so. Their responses have been less than helpful and I am quite peeved that I am being denied access to my own money. Fortunately I would never 'put all my eggs in one basket' but this may be a cautionary tale for anyone planning to do so.

As an update, still waiting for the release of these funds after over 2 weeks. Have made a complaint with QCash and they have told me they will investigate and get back to me in 10 business days. I'll be home by then with no opportunity to use those withheld euros which I had loaded onto this card. My partner has experienced similar problems with just over 100 euros currently being held for 'pending' transactions on that card, which were in fact unsuccesful transactions. We have sent another email about this today. Fair to say we won't be using Qntas Cash card services again in the future.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Qantas Cash Card

As an update, still waiting for the release of these funds after over 2 weeks. Have made a complaint with QCash and they have told me they will investigate and get back to me in 10 business days. I'll be home by then with no opportunity to use those withheld euros which I had loaded onto this card. My partner has experienced similar problems with just over 100 euros currently being held for 'pending' transactions on that card, which were in fact unsuccesful transactions. We have sent another email about this today. Fair to say we won't be using Qntas Cash card services again in the future.

that seems a fairer, simpler, system.

 

[Walter_Plinge]

re: Qantas Cash Card

IMO the take up of QF cash wasn't as good as they expected. Is this good PR by removing one of the initial customers concerns..

The underwhelming take-up probably accounts for the just-finished New York competition (week in NY, flying business class). Use your card and you could win.

 

[ejd711]

re: Qantas Cash Card

that seems a fairer, simpler, system.

The underwhelming take-up probably accounts for the just-finished New York competition (week in NY, flying business class). Use your card and you could win.

Well I'll be honest - I took up for a only time only spend of $260 for the 2,500 (was that is?) bonus points and a chance of a business flight to NYC. But let's be realistic, really just for that bunch of bonus points. Glad I held out when it was 500 bonus points. Probably in the future it will be 10,000 but 2,500 was sufficient tipping point for me to activate and load.

 

[sarvowinner]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Couldn't use my QCC in the Smarte Carte machine at Melbourne Airport on Monday.

 

[james1]

re: Qantas Cash Card

As an update, still waiting for the release of these funds after over 2 weeks. Have made a complaint with QCash and they have told me they will investigate and get back to me in 10 business days. I'll be home by then with no opportunity to use those withheld euros which I had loaded onto this card. My partner has experienced similar problems with just over 100 euros currently being held for 'pending' transactions on that card, which were in fact unsuccesful transactions. We have sent another email about this today. Fair to say we won't be using Qntas Cash card services again in the future.

Response from QCash today. Incidentally, the first week of emails from them claimed they were unable to investigate and respond via email due to privacy. But here they do that just two weeks later. Go figure?
Will be interesting to see what response is received for my partners issue.

Dear.............

Please be assured that I have now completed a thorough investigation into this matter and your comments have been carefully considered. I appreciate your concerns and can confirm that the transaction in question relates to a pre-authorisation.

A pre-authorisation is a temporary hold applied to a payment card (credit, debit or pre-paid) to cover an estimated bill for a specific period. An authority code is obtained as a guarantee to the merchant of final payment therefore making these funds temporarily unavailable for other purchases. In order to alert cardholders to this process, details are included in the accompanying terms and conditions supplied with the card.

On this occasion Clontarf Castle in Ireland processed the initial authorisation for the transaction under approval code xx_xx. Following this the same merchant processed another authorisation under approval code yyyy, a settlement was then processed under approval code yyyy and the amount debited from your account accordingly.

Whilst we appreciate your comments that the merchant did not complete the first transaction they attempted, our system shows that an approval code xx_x was obtained for this value. As a result the first amount were reserved from your available balance in order to be debited from your account once the merchant settles the transaction.

Funds are held for up to thirty days in which time the merchant can settle the transaction in question and claim the funds. If the merchant does not settle against the transaction, the value of funds is released back into your available balance.

Whilst we are very sorry for the issues experienced, it may help to explain that we are unable to release these amounts without formal confirmation from the merchant concerned. Regrettably, such authority has not been received.

The funds are set to automatically return to your account on 16th May 2014 subject to no further action from the merchant. In order for us to release the funds prior to this date we will require the following information from the merchant on company headed paper: Your full name, First 6 digits of the card, Last 4 digits of the card, Date of transaction(s), Amount of transaction(s), Matching Auth Code(s) per transaction, Written statement confirming funds will not be taken, Signed by Front Desk Manager.


We do take any issues concerning Qantas Cash very seriously and will always seek to ensure that all issues raised by customers are researched and resolved. I hope that the details provided above address your concerns satisfactorily.

 

[serfty]

re: Qantas Cash Card

"Thirty Days" !

Never in my 3 decades of card use have I come across anything more than 15 business days for pre- authorisations to automatically drop off - and that even goes back to the old days of paper/carbon slips and manual pre authorisations via a telephone call.

This product sucks!

 

[hossein_au]

re: Qantas Cash Card

"Thirty Days" !

Never in my 30 years of card use have I come across anything more than 15 business days for pre- authorisations to automatically drop off - and that even goes back to the old days of paper slips and manual pre authorisations via va telephone call.

This product sucks!

This is a half-ar$3 attempt of a reasonable idea; pristine reflection of the current state of affairs at Qantas, unfortunately. How on earth can they have a card in the 21st century without the ability to change the PIN for example??!! And now confirmation that pre-authorisation takes 30 days to expire??!! What sort of management tolerate such incompetence?

 

[Mattg]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Have just loaded my Qantas Cash card for the first time but not sure how useful this will be in the long term considering it takes 3 days for the funds to load! That just seems like too long to me, it should be there straight away...

 

[eminere]

re: Qantas Cash Card

This is a half-ar$3 attempt of a reasonable idea; pristine reflection of the current state of affairs at Qantas, unfortunately. How on earth can they have a card in the 21st century without the ability to change the PIN for example??!! And now confirmation that pre-authorisation takes 30 days to expire??!! What sort of management tolerate such incompetence?

I find that particularly annoying.

 

[markis10]

re: Qantas Cash Card

"Thirty Days" !

Never in my 3 decades of card use have I come across anything more than 15 business days for pre- authorisations to automatically drop off - and that even goes back to the old days of paper/carbon slips and manual pre authorisations via a telephone call.

This product sucks!

Both Mastercard and Amex have a 30 day preauth limit on their prepaid cards as part of the settlement process. Visa have seven days max. Could be worse, Cash Passport holds for ninety days in some circumstances including hotel and rental car presuths:

Any merchant honoring your Card may
be required to obtain approval or authorization for any transaction, in
accordance with the rules of MasterCard International Inc. When an
authorization is issued, a thirty (30) day hold may be placed on the
value on the Card in the amount of the authorization. In relation to
any pre-authorization requests made by hotels or rental merchants,
a ninety (90) day hold may be placed on the Card representing the
pre-authorization request amount

http://www.cashpassport.com/1/Global/US Consumer/MC Fees and Limits_chip.pdf

 

[serfty]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Both Mastercard and Amex have a 30 day preauth limit on their prepaid cards as part of the settlement process. Visa have seven days max. Could be worse, Cash Passport holds for ninety days in some circumstances including hotel and rental car presuths:
...

Doesn't change the fact that "This product sucks!".

What that does do is make me more aware that these products in general suck!

 

[markis10]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Doesn't change the fact that "This product sucks!".

What that does do is make me more aware that these products in general suck!

Looking at it compared to Credit cards, yes. Looking at it when you dont use/want/have access to credit cards, not so much. Just dont use it for pre-authorisations!

 

[serfty]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Looking at it compared to Credit cards, yes. Looking at it when you dont use/want/have access to credit cards, not so much. Just dont use it for pre-authorisations!

Makes sense to avoid doing so - look at Erk's issues with the Velocity Equivalent on his recent trip around some of the pacific rim ...

 

[markis10]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Makes sense to avoid doing so - look at Erk's issues with the Velocity Equivalent on his recent trip around some of the pacific rim ...

It was pointed out at the launch it shouldn't be used for pre-auths, not much help to those that were not there and dont read the FAQs though:

A pre-authorisation is a hold over card funds. Hotels, cruise lines and car rental companies may estimate the cost of your bill and request you to provide a card as a guarantee. This will place a hold on funds, which cannot be used to make transactions, and can last up to 30 days.
If a merchant requests a pre-authorisation we recommend using a credit or debit card, instead of Qantas Cash. As Qantas Cash is a prepaid facility a pre-authorisation will temporarily reduce your available funds. You can still settle your final bill with Qantas Cash.
If you do use Qantas Cash for a pre-authorisation and need access to the held funds within the 30 day period, you’ll need to contact the merchant directly to request they lift the pre-authorisation.

 

[james1]

re: Qantas Cash Card

To be clear, I did not use this card for pre authorization. I used it for the very first time at checkout from the hotel. The first transaction did not go through but was successful on the second attempt. I have a receipt for the first transaction stating it was VOID but nevertheless it has still withheld this duplicate amount for the 30 days.

 

[markis10]

re: Qantas Cash Card

To be clear, I did not use this card for pre authorization.

Any input on why Qantas Cash think it was a pre-auth, have you responded to that email response with a copy of the void first charge docket? I am not doubting you, I have seen odd rejects with QF Cash in a similar vein but they did not hold funds.

 

[serfty]

re: Qantas Cash Card

To be clear, I did not use this card for pre authorization. I used it for the very first time at checkout from the hotel. The first transaction did not go through but was successful on the second attempt. I have a receipt for the first transaction stating it was VOID but nevertheless it has still withheld this duplicate amount for the 30 days.

... On this occasion Clontarf Castle in Ireland processed the initial authorisation for the transaction under approval code xx_xx. Following this the same merchant processed another authorisation under approval code yyyy, a settlement was then processed under approval code yyyy and the amount debited from your account accordingly.

Whilst we appreciate your comments that the merchant did not complete the first transaction they attempted, our system shows that an approval code xx_x was obtained for this value. As a result the first amount were reserved from your available balance in order to be debited from your account once the merchant settles the transaction ...

I would reply back succinctly stating this was not a pre-authorisation and include a scan/image of your receipt.

Also ask why their systems recorded such a voided transaction as a pre-authorisation, if indeed they did.

 

[james1]

re: Qantas Cash Card

Any input on why Qantas Cash think it was a pre-auth, have you responded to that email response with a copy of the void first charge docket? I am not doubting you, I have seen odd rejects with QF Cash in a similar vein but they did not hold funds.

Yes, have kept the receipt and intend to take it up with them on my return home next week. It clearly states 'Void transaction'. I have responded to their email as such stating I will provide the docket when I get home.

I also have some concern in regards to the initial refusals (plural) to discuss the matter via email, with privacy policy cited as the reason for not providing earlier responses to my queries. However, as can be seen from the posted response, It suggests they have either decided to breach said policy or were being untruthful/ unwilling to investigate my complaint from the onset? I am thankful though that I only loaded funds onto the card as a trial/ novelty for this trip and have not been reliant on them for use as part of these travels.