VA Global Wallet

[bcworld]

Will be sticking to my Citibank plus.

Likewise. The only plus for this card, as mentioned earlier is the ability to lock in current ex rates. So, will the AUD be below US0.88 before I go to Hawaii in November!?

 

[flying_double]

Got my card and travel wallet tonight. The wallet is nice, genuine leather according to the stamp inside it. I'll hang onto it I think. If only it came with an additional 12 months of Platinum status! My earned Plat status is due to expire within the next 10 days and I won't requalify. So hello travel wallet, goodbye Row 3. Can't win 'em all.

 

[moa999]

So they sent you a new card with 10 days validity

#thumpsheadagainstwall

 

[pauly7]

So they sent you a new card with 10 days validity

#thumpsheadagainstwall

Mine has about 6 weeks lol

 

[flying_double]

So they sent you a new card with 10 days validity

#thumpsheadagainstwall

Expires 08/13

Torn as to whether I should bother validating it or just wait for the new Gold card.

 

[Fruitcake]

#thumpsheadagainstwall

It does seem a bit silly on the face of it but realistically by the time they convene a few meetings to decide what the cutoff time should be for not sending out a card, and then implement the programming logic to support the decision... and then communicating to the call centre team regarding what to tell people who won't get a travel money card immediately... it's probably cheaper just to send out a few hundred cards knowing that they might get replaced relatively quickly.

Plus timeliness is a big factor in this one - QF has been scrambling to keep up with them (and to be fair QF only seem a matter of weeks behind). Personally I don't see the point in these products and watching the way that QF accelerated their program after VA announced their offering makes me suspicious, because it means that travel money cards are obviously high margin items.

 

[openseat]

Looking more closely at it, I see that you have to press credit when using it at an EFTPOS machine. Disappointing. I was hoping to use it at MSY, etc where a 2% levy is charged as well as on the QF site (even though they have put a $2.50 on debit cards).

Oh well, don't think I'll be using it then.

 

[QF WP]

Got mine this morning. It's 10.5cm x 15 cms, so it can fit a smaller passport with ancillary cards etc, however a large sized passport will struggle.

Off to activate it

 

[QF WP]

Here's the Plat card view





Obviously thumb strategically placed.

Thought they'd do more with the VFF side of the card.

 

[erkpod]

Do they issue a new card when you change status?

I was red Oct 2012 - June 2013. I should be gold by the time I get back from my Melbourne trip at the end of August.

I applied at the start of the month for this card & I still haven't got it as of the weekend.

 

[QF WP]

Yes, they will issue you with a new card after your sectors post that take you over the Gold qualification level, Globle Wallet style if you have selected it

 

[erkpod]

For people here (obviously we are somewhat unusual), it seems like a waste to potentially issue a debit card to someone 3 or 4 times in one year.

 

[moa999]

AS expected got mine today with the VA card valid to 28/8/13 and the debit card thru 09/13,
despite having already requalified WP...

oh well.

 

[moa999]

SO signed up and did some more spot checking - to USD, EUR and THB - just picked a random spread

Even worse :evil:
You could probably beat these rates in most Asian FX dealers (with no commission) and I daresay at some places in Australia.
With even a POLI load taking 1-day, and the $1 load fee, it is hardly convenient either.

Sourced all rates within a minute of each other.

[TABLE="width: 384"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64"][/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Virgin[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Oanda[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Oanda[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Afr.com[/TD]
[TD="width: 64"]Afr.com[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]USD[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8816[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.92608[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.8%[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.9215[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.3%
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]EUR[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.668[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.70174[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.8%[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.70174[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.8%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THB[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]27.285[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]28.6098[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.6%[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]28.6098[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, align: right"]4.6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Matt76]

Received my platinum Global Wallet Card today! .8833 Exchange on USD with the fees just not worth while considering I purchased USD today for .9138 with no commissions!
Has everyone been receiving the Leather wallet with their card? Mine just turned up on its own?

 

[Robert K]

i has got the wallet with the card

 

[anat0l]

SO signed up and did some more spot checking - to USD, EUR and THB - just picked a random spread

Even worse :evil:
You could probably beat these rates in most Asian FX dealers (with no commission) and I daresay at some places in Australia.
With even a POLI load taking 1-day, and the $1 load fee, it is hardly convenient either.

Sourced all rates within a minute of each other.

So essentially about 5% against the mid-market rate?

To be honest, to get forex in cash in Brisbane city right now, 5% is probably the lowest margin possible at the best exchange places (inclusive of all commissions, where and if applicable). In some cases, even for "common" currencies, that margin is 7% or 9%.

There are not many Asian forex places in Brisbane, so we probably lack that competition right now.

Received my platinum Global Wallet Card today! .8833 Exchange on USD with the fees just not worth while considering I purchased USD today for .9138 with no commissions!

Is that from an Asian forex place?

Again, I'm guessing Brisbane is not exactly brimming with forex competition.


In short, maybe it's back to 28 Degrees (or the Citi card I don't have and can't remember).... at least the margin is only whatever Mastercard charges on the day against the midmarket.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Handy as a spare loaded up with a few dollars and hidden in a sock for when I next get beaten up and robbed in the Bronx or Aspen or the Gold Coast Light Rail. !
Wish I could buy cash at some of the rates quoted - where do you guys get such good rates ?

 

[sogg]

Me and the Mrs got our cards yesterday (red) no wallet tho, not that i was expecting one anyway.

 

[Matt76]

So essentially about 5% against the mid-market rate?

To be honest, to get forex in cash in Brisbane city right now, 5% is probably the lowest margin possible at the best exchange places (inclusive of all commissions, where and if applicable). In some cases, even for "common" currencies, that margin is 7% or 9%.

There are not many Asian forex places in Brisbane, so we probably lack that competition right now.



Is that from an Asian forex place?

Again, I'm guessing Brisbane is not exactly brimming with forex competition.


In short, maybe it's back to 28 Degrees (or the Citi card I don't have and can't remember).... at least the margin is only whatever Mastercard charges on the day against the midmarket.

I purchased it through Lotus FX they have a Branch in Brisbane CBD. Even Yesterday with the drop in the Dollar i Purchased more for 90.41