Fairfx issue- Cant remember number- can we just sign

[mackay_j]

Hi, my eldest daughter has just told me that she can't remember her fairfx card number , . We don't have time to get another one sent out.

Is there anywhere that the card can be used with just a sig and no number (even walmart as we could use it there and just give her the cash).

Teenagers- ahhhhhh!

 

[orangetiggs]

I dont think i used my pin at all only to use at atm.

Have you called them to see if they can rush you a number

 

[stba2006]

We were there for 4 weeks and i used my card all the time.

I used mine mainly directly in shops, as the fees for withdrawing from a cash machine could have started to mount up.

I used it at many shops and restaurants on and off site, and just had to sign.

Again i only used my pin at the ATM, but as already mentioned, maybe you could phone and ask for a quick delivery of one just for peace of mind.


If you have any-one house sitting you could request a new pin and ask them to keep an eye out for it in the post for you and text you when it arrives?

 

[wilma-bride]

The only time you would need the PIN is if using to withdraw cash at an ATM or in supermarkets (Publix/Walmart). In the supermarket, you can get over it by selecting credit rather than debit on the PIN machine, that will allow you to sign instead of entering a PIN. Everywhere else we use the card (restaurants/high street shops/theme parks) we have only ever been asked to sign (and don't always have to sign if under a certain amount).

 

[mackay_j]

Thanks everyone-Ok, in that case DD1 will not be broke on holiday

Now left to hope that she remembers to bring everything else she needs

 

[KatyTheFairyPrincess]

Just to jump in on the topic..
I take it you've all had good experiences with FairFX?? In the past we've just takne travellers cheques but we've decided to move with the times and FairFX seem to be the best around.
Just thought I'd get an opinion from you guys since I know you're all "real", I tend to think reviews sites have been rigged

 

[wilma-bride]

Just to jump in on the topic..
I take it you've all had good experiences with FairFX?? In the past we've just takne travellers cheques but we've decided to move with the times and FairFX seem to be the best around.
Just thought I'd get an opinion from you guys since I know you're all "real", I tend to think reviews sites have been rigged

Hi Katy, you will get varying opinions on the best way to take your spending money (or even whether to take spending money at all - some prefer to just pay for everything using a CC) but, personally, we have used Fairfx for the last few years and have no complaints at all. We don't use it to withdraw cash (as that attract a fee) but we use it for large purchases and to pay for all meals. We take some cash for drinks/snacks and tips but, otherwise, use the Fairfx card. It is very convenient and easy to keep track of what we've spent - you can check your balance online but I always keep all my receipts and just keep a running total of what we've spent each evening. It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes and is no hassle (and is handy to double check against the online balance).

There are, of course, other options as far as pre-paid travel money cards but we have tried a few of them and had issues with them for one reason or another. A lot of the other cards have non-usage charges so, if you leave any money on the card for a future trip but don't use it for a few months, a fee is charged to the card each month it is unused after a certain period. Since we always have a balance on our card as we know we will be going back, this doesn't suit us. There are no such problems with Fairfx. The only other fee incurred is the renewal fee (£9.95), which is waived as long as you top up a certain amount (currently £300).

If you are a Quidco member and get your card through them, you can get £5 cashback.

 

[mackay_j]

found the card very useful - we have used it in the US, Caribeen and in the EU. It is now our way of choice for taking money esp to the US as TC can be problamatic in some places there.

Even more useful when eldest went to visit relatives in the caribeen with her younger cousin. Both were shipped off with these type of preloaded cards. Them loosing their money was 1 less thing for us to worry about while they were away

 

[chmurf]

In the supermarket, you can get over it by selecting credit rather than debit on the PIN machine, that will allow you to sign instead of entering a PIN.

IIRC it's the other way around
debit = sign
credit = pin

At the beginning of our latest stay, we always tried to use the "credit" choice, as it's how we do it here. But our card was always refused.
Fact is that the US system is not tied in with our european system. And the pin machine does not receive proper authorisation. That's why you need to go through the alternate method.

@OP : as was said,the only time you need your PIN is to withdraw at an ATM
every other purchase can be made by signing

One good precaution though. Warn your bank that the card will be used overseas.
Some banks are known to get extra cautious when they see purchases made in another country, and some are known to have suspended their patron's card until they receive confirmation that the purchases are legit. Confirmation you can't make since you're abroad in the first place.

I always call my bank 3 working days before departure to warn them that our cards will be used for a set amount of time in the US, just to be on the safe side.

 

[KatyTheFairyPrincess]

found the card very useful - we have used it in the US, Caribeen and in the EU. It is now our way of choice for taking money esp to the US as TC can be problamatic in some places there.

Even more useful when eldest went to visit relatives in the caribeen with her younger cousin. Both were shipped off with these type of preloaded cards. Them loosing their money was 1 less thing for us to worry about while they were away

Hi Katy, you will get varying opinions on the best way to take your spending money (or even whether to take spending money at all - some prefer to just pay for everything using a CC) but, personally, we have used Fairfx for the last few years and have no complaints at all. We don't use it to withdraw cash (as that attract a fee) but we use it for large purchases and to pay for all meals. We take some cash for drinks/snacks and tips but, otherwise, use the Fairfx card. It is very convenient and easy to keep track of what we've spent - you can check your balance online but I always keep all my receipts and just keep a running total of what we've spent each evening. It doesn't take more than a couple of minutes and is no hassle (and is handy to double check against the online balance).

There are, of course, other options as far as pre-paid travel money cards but we have tried a few of them and had issues with them for one reason or another. A lot of the other cards have non-usage charges so, if you leave any money on the card for a future trip but don't use it for a few months, a fee is charged to the card each month it is unused after a certain period. Since we always have a balance on our card as we know we will be going back, this doesn't suit us. There are no such problems with Fairfx. The only other fee incurred is the renewal fee (£9.95), which is waived as long as you top up a certain amount (currently £300).

If you are a Quidco member and get your card through them, you can get £5 cashback.

Thanks you two, I think I'm convinced! It'll be much easier than the TC's we're used to carrying! Now to go and find a pretty holiday purse to carry it around in...

 

[wilma-bride]

IIRC it's the other way around
debit = sign
credit = pin

At the beginning of our latest stay, we always tried to use the "credit" choice, as it's how we do it here. But our card was always refused.
Fact is that the US system is not tied in with our european system. And the pin machine does not receive proper authorisation. That's why you need to go through the alternate method.

@OP : as was said,the only time you need your PIN is to withdraw at an ATM
every other purchase can be made by signing

One good precaution though. Warn your bank that the card will be used overseas.
Some banks are known to get extra cautious when they see purchases made in another country, and some are known to have suspended their patron's card until they receive confirmation that the purchases are legit. Confirmation you can't make since you're abroad in the first place.

I always call my bank 3 working days before departure to warn them that our cards will be used for a set amount of time in the US, just to be on the safe side.

Except the Op's question is regarding a Fairfx pre-paid currency card, not a debit or credit card. When we used it in Walmart last year, we automatically selected 'debit' since it is more of a debit-style card (deducting from a balance) than a credit-style card but the machine asked for a PIN. When we explained what it was, the checkout operator told us to select the 'credit' option to get over that.

As far as advising the bank, since it is a currency card specifically bought for use abroad, i would think it would be obvious to the card provider that it will be used abroad. Yours is sensible advice, though, if you do plan to use your regular debit or credit cards abroad