FairFX cards?

[Mrdudecool]

Hi guys

I know I don't post here often but I do browse so hope you don't mind me posting!

We have a trip in August and going to the gulf coast also. I was thinking about getting a FairFX card. I basically want to know how it works.

Does everywhere pretty much accept it or is it depending on a location?
Im guessing its secure but is it?
There are no fees for store purchases right?

I think thats about it, thats the general idea I get from the website but know some guys here have used before so thought id ask you!

Thanks

Jack

 

[2Tiggies]

Jack, nobody minds you posting - but we might mind that you don't post more often

FairFX is a prepaid mastercard so any place that accepts mastercard (which is pretty much anywhere that can process credit cards) will accept it. There are no fees on loads and purchases, but there is a $2 fee for ATM withdrawals.

As far as being secure goes, I don't think there is a form of payment or currency without its opposition on the grounds of some or other loophole that makes it 'insecure'

I'm quite happy with it. It's underwritten by Newcastle Building Society if you want to read into that and see how you feel, but I have no reservations in loading and use my card just as I have done over the past few years. Hope this helps

 

[catherine]

I've been using this for a few years too. I've never had a problem with it and I use it all the time for buying stuff in the US both there and online. I've never used it to withdraw money from an ATM so can't comment on that. I just load $$ onto the card when the exchange rate is decent and the money that I have left on there after a trip I leave on for the next one. It couldn't be easier!

 

[The Eighth Dwarf]

Let me just preface what I'm going to say by first saying I've just a FairFx card for our last 3 trips and had no problems whatsoever, in fact I was very impressed with their rates.
But I've seen recently on another forum that this year they've had a few problems with transactions coming out twice and leaving people really short for a few days, in the end they had to supply emergency credit to some families already In Florida.
Something to do with the clearing systems they use and the computers going down. I'm not going to mention the other forum on here cause I think it's against the rules but there was quite a lengthy thread about this a few weeks back.
Everything is fixed now as far as I'm aware but I'm not going to lie , this has made me seriously think about not using the card this year.
Not trying to put you off or indeed put Fairfx down cause obviously these things happen just thought I should give you a heads up,

 

[Plum85]

I used my fairfx card last year without issue, as did three others in our party. I think it's a great service and I'd suggest you look into ordering a friends and family card for more back up. I have my own card and I my DBF has a card linked to mine. He keeps his in the room safe so if heaven forbid I lose mine I can still access all by funds through his friend and family card. It costs £6 to order. I never withdraw cash on it si can't comment and I've never had an issue

 

[madmumof2]

I used to have a fairfx card and all I can say is never again!

Their rates are gret, easy to use etc but if you ever have a problem they ignore you, fob you off, don't reply to emails etc worst customer service I have ever come across.

I lost over $400 because of them, worst of all this was just before I was due to leave for my holiday so my spending money was down by that much with no time to recover it and I spent the whole of my holiday worrying in case more would mysteriously vanish.

I was promised they would put the $400 back on my account asap...I have never got my money back.

I now use the post office travel card. The rate is slightly lower but only pennies with $1000, but the main bonus is there are thousands of post offices you can walk into and get face to face help if there is ever a problem, sorted out right there while you wait. With the obvious fact that the post office is a trusted name it wins hands down for me. And the cards are free

 

[orangetiggs]

Been using them since 2008, paid for our disney wedding with them, several times in florida, egypt, mexico, tenerife nnd here never a problem

Any questions i have i call them and speak to someone and its sorted.

I dont have any credit cards at all and this suits me and my family, great rates and no problems form us

 

[bazzanoid]

I used to have a fairfx card and all I can say is never again!

Their rates are gret, easy to use etc but if you ever have a problem they ignore you, fob you off, don't reply to emails etc worst customer service I have ever come across.

I lost over $400 because of them, worst of all this was just before I was due to leave for my holiday so my spending money was down by that much with no time to recover it and I spent the whole of my holiday worrying in case more would mysteriously vanish.

I was promised they would put the $400 back on my account asap...I have never got my money back.

I now use the post office travel card. The rate is slightly lower but only pennies with $1000, but the main bonus is there are thousands of post offices you can walk into and get face to face help if there is ever a problem, sorted out right there while you wait. With the obvious fact that the post office is a trusted name it wins hands down for me. And the cards are free

Sorry to threadjack

With the post office card is it a 'proper' card with raised numbering? The only reason i ask is i have run into issues with the flat numbered cards (like our Visa Electron cards) where a merchant's systems were down and they needed to use the backup imprinted slips, and i would want to use my card for the rental deposit, which if its flat they know it's not a 'proper' credit card and won't accept it....

 

[Olliefairfx]

I used to have a fairfx card and all I can say is never again!

Their rates are gret, easy to use etc but if you ever have a problem they ignore you, fob you off, don't reply to emails etc worst customer service I have ever come across.

I lost over $400 because of them, worst of all this was just before I was due to leave for my holiday so my spending money was down by that much with no time to recover it and I spent the whole of my holiday worrying in case more would mysteriously vanish.

I was promised they would put the $400 back on my account asap...I have never got my money back.

I now use the post office travel card. The rate is slightly lower but only pennies with $1000, but the main bonus is there are thousands of post offices you can walk into and get face to face help if there is ever a problem, sorted out right there while you wait. With the obvious fact that the post office is a trusted name it wins hands down for me. And the cards are free

Hi madmumof2, I wanted to get in touch on behalf of FairFX (I work in PR and Marketing for them).

Both myself, the CEO and head of customer services have been trying to look into the problems you have experienced as you mention on this thread. If you are due $400, I will get this done for you today as we would never want a customer to be out of pocket. However, without some more details this is very difficult.

If you email enquiries(at)fairfx(dot)com with the title "URGENT DIS REFUND" - we will get this done for you immediately. Apologies for contacting you on here but we had no other way of reaching you without more information.

Thanks,

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks for taking the time to post, Olliefairfx.

 

[madmumof2]

Sorry to threadjack

With the post office card is it a 'proper' card with raised numbering? The only reason i ask is i have run into issues with the flat numbered cards (like our Visa Electron cards) where a merchant's systems were down and they needed to use the backup imprinted slips, and i would want to use my card for the rental deposit, which if its flat they know it's not a 'proper' credit card and won't accept it....

The post office card is a MasterCard, it is valid everywhere MasterCard is accepted

Hi madmumof2, I wanted to get in touch on behalf of FairFX (I work in PR and Marketing for them).

Both myself, the CEO and head of customer services have been trying to look into the problems you have experienced as you mention on this thread. If you are due $400, I will get this done for you today as we would never want a customer to be out of pocket. However, without some more details this is very difficult.

If you email enquiries(at)fairfx(dot)com with the title "URGENT DIS REFUND" - we will get this done for you immediately. Apologies for contacting you on here but we had no other way of reaching you without more information.

Thanks,

You have all my details including my address, I have sent many emails to the above address. I'm sorry but it's been 3 years and I've not had a penny back despite a lot of effort and chasing up on my part, one post here is not going to convince me you are suddenly now going to take action.

 

[wilma-bride]

You have all my details including my address, I have sent many emails to the above address. I'm sorry but it's been 3 years and I've not had a penny back despite a lot of effort and chasing up on my part, one post here is not going to convince me you are suddenly now going to take action.

To be fair, it might be difficult for Olliefairfx to identify you via a username on a forum. Perhaps you should give him a chance to do what he has said he will, then let us know if they make it right for you.

 

[madmumof2]

To be fair, it might be difficult for Olliefairfx to identify you via a username on a forum. Perhaps you should give him a chance to do what he has said he will, then let us know if they make it right for you.

With all due respect you don't know the full story or the ins and outs and I wasn't the one who made this public on here.

I have told fairfx numerous times my username on here, they know who I am, as I said to them before, whether they dealt with it or not, I would be posting about it here on a very popular forum so it's in their best interests to do the right thing and finally sort it out.

I also emailed them again after this message, as they suggested, and even though I was promised an immediate reply, low and behold I have had none.

And yes I will be posting here the outcome, I am not holding my breath, this has been going on for 3 years now, unacceptable.

 

[CAROLINE4]

Hi guys

I know I don't post here often but I do browse so hope you don't mind me posting!

We have a trip in August and going to the gulf coast also. I was thinking about getting a FairFX card. I basically want to know how it works.

Does everywhere pretty much accept it or is it depending on a location?
Im guessing its secure but is it?
There are no fees for store purchases right?

I think thats about it, thats the general idea I get from the website but know some guys here have used before so

Thanks

Jack

Hi jack we used the fairfx card in may with no problems! please bare in mind you need to give 24 hours for top up to be applied to your account! You can check your balance online. The only down side for us that we only had one card, as you know America doesn't used chip and pin so only I could pay for things which was awkward sometime.

 

[Plum85]

Just wanted to let you guys know there is a fairfx iPhone app which is great for checking your balance when on holiday. Remember to use resort wifi so you don't incur roaming charges on your phone. Great app!

 

[going/again]

I used to have a fairfx card and all I can say is never again!

Their rates are gret, easy to use etc but if you ever have a problem they ignore you, fob you off, don't reply to emails etc worst customer service I have ever come across.

They cant be worse than travelex.

 

[scottishgirl87]

I'm another happy FairFX user, both boyfriend and I have our own. However, I would say that we're in the minority as we tend to withdraw the cash at ATMs over there rather than use the card in shops. Yes you get charged a small fee to withdraw but we minimise this by taking out the maximum allowed and putting the excess money back in the room safe.

We just prefer it this way, but like I said we're in the minority as most people use the card as if it was a debit card.

 

[mickeyforpresident]

I'm another happy FairFX user, both boyfriend and I have our own. However, I would say that we're in the minority as we tend to withdraw the cash at ATMs over there rather than use the card in shops. Yes you get charged a small fee to withdraw but we minimise this by taking out the maximum allowed and putting the excess money back in the room safe.

We just prefer it this way, but like I said we're in the minority as most people use the card as if it was a debit card.

Hi scottishgirl87 - we're planning on doing exactly this this time around... Do you know the maximum withdrawal amount?

 

[zippy99]

We also withdraw cash - Looking at my FairFX account the most I withdrew was $300 which I think is the max

 

[madmumof2]

As I was asked to report back I am doing.

Still no reply from Fairfx despite their above messages, no surprise from me. Worst (lack of) customer service and custromer care I have ever come across.

I hope they enjoyed spending my $400.