American Express Traveller's Cheques Card..

[VSL]

...any thoughts/comments?

Wouldn't mind trying this, rather than taking a pile of TC's over with me (Credit Card is not an option).

 

[Night-train]

Me too! Anyone else got any info on this?

 

[Night-train]

Just checked it out here; http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,21298,00.asp

Seems to me to be riddled with charges!! The $2750 limit doesn't appeal much either!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've got one, and find it useful for certain things. If a credit card is not an option it could be an alternative way to get the convenience of plastic without actually having to open a credit card account. However, I'm not sure how you would re-load the TCC without a credit card. You might want to check that you can use a TCC without having a credit card.

Regards

Rob

 

[VSL]

I think you can reload using a debit card.

 

[princess jackson]

Just been on the www.americanexpress.co.uk site this has the travel card advertised, we can put £300 to £3000 on our card and we can use credit card to pay for it rather than debit card.

Looks interesting!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I think you can reload using a debit card.

Yes, you can use a debit card - I forgot that.

 

[VSL]

Just checked it out here; http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,21298,00.asp

Seems to me to be riddled with charges!! The $2750 limit doesn't appeal much either!

That's the US one. The fees for the British one (available in £, $ or €) are here:
http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/tcc/faqs.shtml?uk_nu=leftnav#35

It allows up to £3000 ($5466.90).

 

[wendye]

I've just had a look at that website from the link you posted VSL are you aware that they perform a credit check on you and they will note this on your credit record! They certainly don't make that clear on the adverts do they!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The other thing to look at is can you only use this card at places which accept American express cards? i.e. a connection to Amex.
If so, there will be a lot of places where you will not be able to use this card.
Also, do you get a better exchange rate as there are less handling/printing etc costs to Amex?

 

[Frances999]

I ordered this card last week (it has not arrived yet) and I think it is a brilliant idea - so much easier than carrying around lots of TCs. I have loaded it up with the exact amount for our hotel rate balance in New York, so it can be used to pay for this.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've just had a look at that website from the link you posted VSL are you aware that they perform a credit check on you and they will note this on your credit record! They certainly don't make that clear on the adverts do they!

All credit cards do this, in fact anytime you apply for a credit facility iof any kind (loans, store cards, interest-free purchases, etc) you will have your credit history checked. Any time your credit history is checked it will be recorded on your credit hisory.

Regards

Rob

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

The other thing to look at is can you only use this card at places which accept American express cards? i.e. a connection to Amex.
If so, there will be a lot of places where you will not be able to use this card.
Also, do you get a better exchange rate as there are less handling/printing etc costs to Amex?

Amex is accepted very widely, especially in the US. There are some places that accept visa/mastercard but not Amex, because Amex vendor charges are slightly higher.

The exchange rate used on the TCC card is the same that Amex use for all their credit cards. In general this tends to be a slightly better rate than buying $$$s or traditional travellers cheques.

Regards

Rob

 

[wendye]

All credit cards do this, in fact anytime you apply for a credit facility iof any kind (loans, store cards, interest-free purchases, etc) you will have your credit history checked. Any time your credit history is checked it will be recorded on your credit hisory.

Regards

Rob

Rob this isn't supposed to be a credit card - that's my point! It's meant to be a plastic version of a travellers cheque so that you can use it as you would a debit card. I think you have confused the purpose of this a little. In fact the following quote was taken directly from their terms and conditions.

The Travellers Cheque Card

The Card is a prepaid card intended for use whilst travelling. It is not a credit card, charge card or debit card.

If it was advertised as a credit card I would expect a credit check but this isn't it is clearly advertised as a "plastic traveller's cheque", afterall you wouldn't expect to be credit checked when you buy traveller's cheques now would you? Personally I think they have a blooming cheek and consider this yet another ploy by a credit card company to get me to have their product. I have enough credit cards and I have no wish to get any more particularly from companies that decide they are going to credit check me for not taking their credit and merely spending my own money!

 

[VSL]

You're right wendye! Oh well..

Any ideas about Disney? I mean, will you be able to use the card in the same way as regular TC's to load your room key?
I would imagine so as I think that American Express and Disney are affiliated (or something), but I wouldn't want to get out there and be disappointed.

 

[wendye]

You're right wendye! Oh well..

I used to be treasurer of a local Credit Union and was for over 13 years so I'm very familiar with the money laundering regulations. To be honest they are using the need to provide ID and this requirement for their own means here because if you are purchasing online with a credit card that in itself should provide sufficient information for the transaction - that's why you can't order traveller's cheques online and have them delivered to any other address but the one shown on your credit card statement (or debit card if you used this to purchase them). Many people aren't aware of these little ploys because they don't read the terms and conditions and don't have sufficient knowledge or understanding to the legislation. Having worked voluntarily for the credit union for so long I am probably more aware then most and these things really annoy me.

Any ideas about Disney? I mean, will you be able to use the card in the same way as regular TC's to load your room key?
I would imagine so as I think that American Express and Disney are affiliated (or something), but I wouldn't want to get out there and be disappointed.

I think it says something about this in the terms and conditions FAQs - provided it doesn't take you over the amount you have loaded it with you should be ok.