Money matters

[Julie-Anne Hennessy]

Does anyone know if I can use my VISA Electron card in the US? I've just been to my bank, and the manager said he "thinks so"?

That's no good to me!

I will be getting some travellers cheques before I go, but I get paid while I'm out there and I need access to that money if I'm going to have a great time?

Anyone, HELP?????????

 

[KayleeUK]

Popping this over to trip planning for you

We use the visa cars is that the same?

 

[rhysd2]

Visa yes, visa electron no. I had one when i first went out there back in '98 and out of all the shops only 1 took it. Either try and get a full visa card or take travellors cheques.

 

[patdavies]

You can use it to draw cash from an ATM, but very few store will accept it.

 

[mushumadness]

hiya

i work in a bank

visa electron is not normally taken in the cash machines or shops abroad, visa debit is taken at all the machine, but not many retailers.

Theres a varying charge when taking money out of the atms, and always remeber the exchange rate qouted on your bill is the exchange rate for the day the transaction appears on your account not the day you did it.

 

[Goofyish]

Cards need to have the Maestro or Cirrus logos to work in the US.

 

[rhysd2]

or the straight visa or mastercard logos they work too. but it has to be just plain "Visa" or "mastercard"

 

[angel659]

Hi

I was told from Halifax that you can use Visa Electron abroad. The problem is when you get there, most places dont.

The problem with Visa Electron you cant take a manual payment. The numbers are not imprintable.

We have ordered a few things off America's websites using our Visa Electron. Out card specifically does not say cardholder needs to be present. Other banks have that term on the card hence why some places dont take them.

Your bank Manager should know. If not have you tried phoning your Hotel and asking them what banks take, shops and atm.

When are you going? Do you have any ways that you can change accounts or even banks. I am sure that ATM machines you can use your Solo card and Natwest still offers this facility.

I have also read that Visa Electron cards can be taken in many ATM machines worldwide. Only prob is that you have to pay exchange rate daily or whenever you draw out the money.

http://www.corporate.visa.com/md/fs/consumer/globaldebit.jsp

http://www.abbey.com/how_do_i/how_do_i_atm_abroad.html

http://money.guardian.co.uk/travel/money/story/0,1456,1168329,00.html

Just a couple of websites that might help you. My solo card has cirrus and maestro on it.

In worse case scenario can you get an advance. It might save you on exchange rates.

Hope this helps.

Regards
michelle

 

[Julie-Anne Hennessy]

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice. I was panicking due to the mixed advice, so I've gone into it some more. I've e-mailed a couple of US banks to ask them, but haven't heard back yet? I've also checked with VISA, and as long as the ATM shows the VISA/PLUS sign, and/or Electron, I can withdraw cash no problem. So, I checked on the ATM locator, and there are hundreds of banks on and around I-Drive, WDW, Universal and Seaworld, that have all those facilities. So, I should be OK? I'm not bothered about using it as a Debit card, just to withdraw cash, and I'll worry about the charges when I get home. I just want to have a brilliant time, and not worry about money. This trip hasn't been planned very long, so Ive only had a few months to try and save. So, my October/November salary's are gonna take some hammering!

Next time, I plan at least 18 months ahead, I promise!

Julie-Anne

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Hiya Julie

I have a ABBEY Visa Electron card never used it in the shops didnt want the hassle...(I knew there would be!).
But I used it quite a number of times, through ATMS, I was charged I took around $400 dollars out one day and it charged me £5 english money.

If I'm correct, so you can use it in ATMS.

 

[patdavies]

I have only ever failed to draw cash at one ATM in about 10 separate trips to the US using my Electron card (LloydsTSB).

And I think the ATM was faulty as the one the other side of the casino (Excalibur, Las Vegas) from the same bank was fine.

In Florida, we tended to use the drive-up ATM at the bank just south of the US192/27 junction as our villa was in the Esprit sub-division.