Please tell me about fairfx?

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Is it safe? How does it work? Am I best to withdraw from an ATM or is the card accepted in most shops?

 

[wickesy]

It's backed by Newcastle Building Society so about as safe as it can be in the current climate. It basically works similar to a PAYG mobile in that you 'top up' whenever you want to - the advantage being that the rate you top-up at is the rate you will get when you spend.

You can withdraw cash, although there is a $2 charge each time you do, or you can use it anywhere that a Mastercard is accepted (which is almost everywhere.

We wouldn't be without ours now and would definitely recommend them.

 

[Tillybud]

I've heard these mentioned quite a few times but had no idea what they were, they sound ideal, thanks

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Thankyou ! Do you know if they are protected by PIN, what happens if you loose your card somehow, could someone use it? I am definitely persuaded to give this a go!

 

[wickesy]

Yes you do get a PIN but I've never been asked for mine in the US. It's also not unusual not to have sign when using any credit card in the US so you need to be careful.

If you should lose the card or it is stolen you can have it stopped. In that case it is useful to have a second card on the account so the balance can be transferred.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

Hi

We're in Orlando at the moment and are using a fairfx card for the first time and would definately recommend it. As stated above you can use it anywhere where Mastercard is accepted, we've used it to buy things from as little as a coffee at a drive thru Starbucks to a sit down meal in the evening and numerous shops, etc.

Couple of things worth knowing, you will not be asked to sign for any purchases under $25 in the US and we have been asked for a PIN number, although as wiksey said above it does come with one.

We have topped up our card twice while we've been away and it takes approx one full working day for the money to be activated on to your card. There is also a fraud limit of 30 Points Of Sale transactions per 4 days, which is intended to protect the customer in the event that their card and PIN
are stolen: it stops you being instantly cleared out. These limits are reset at midnight each day.

Sarah & Steve

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Thanks everyone! I've never had a credit card and alot of places in the US don't accept my debit card since chip and pin came in so a fairfx card seems to be the way to go. Your advice has been really helpful .

 

[Darrenndfamily]

Hi
We are also in Orlando at the moment and am using my Fairfx card quite freely but i have to sign for it every time i use it though,never needed my pin number yet and as i have internet access in the Villa i am staying at i can check how much is left on my account at any time.
Not to put a dampener on anybody who is coming in the next few days but it has been torrential(sp) rain for the past few days,i have never seen rain like it in my life and its been non stop,not even worth going into the parks,just sticking with the Malls.

 

[natalielongstaff]

oh no, sorry to hear the weather is dodgy !

 

[maleficent_man]

Hey folks - what happens if you go over your pre-loaded limit? Is it even possible?

 

[wickesy]

Hey folks - what happens if you go over your pre-loaded limit? Is it even possible?

At a guess the transaction would be refused.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Hey folks - what happens if you go over your pre-loaded limit? Is it even possible?

It will come up on there till declined.This happened to me,i got one of the amounts wrong on my card,the guy asked me if i knew aprox how much was left on the card-i said $55(as i had it written down) so he tried $40 and it worked and i just paid the rest in cash.He said not all cashiers will ask you this and try again for you.x.