Wise debit card

[neils2004]

Hi,
Has anyone had experience using a Wise debit card internationally ?
Thinking of obtaining one for use in Europe and the UK.

 

[VPS]

Good question but used it in Japan last April with no issues. Also used it in Egypt etc.

Usually if you look at the declined they will tell you why.

I got caught out once because when I wasn't using it put the daily limits to almost nothing and kept getting declined because of that

 

[Pushka]

Usually if you look at the declined they will tell you why.

I got caught out once because when I wasn't using it put the daily limits to almost nothing and kept getting declined because of that

Yes it was declined because of lack of funds. Seems it’s trying to take it out of my Aus bucket which is zero rather than my US bucket which is $350 even though in the USA. Chat GPT explanation. Have now transferred $100 into AUD bucket and will try that tomorrow. Which all seems kinda pointless.

 

[DejaBrew]

Yes it was declined because of lack of funds. Seems it’s trying to take it out of my Aus bucket which is zero rather than my US bucket which is $350 even though in the USA. Chat GPT explanation. Have now transferred $100 into AUD bucket and will try that tomorrow. Which all seems kinda pointless.

Yeah, that's a very weird behaviour and not one I've encountered when using Wise. It's always been very smart at pulling from the local currency bucket first and only moving to AUD if there's a shortfall.

 

[Pushka]

Yeah, that's a very weird behaviour and not one I've encountered when using Wise. It's always been very smart at pulling from the local currency bucket first and only moving to AUD if there's a shortfall.

Makes pre currency purchases a waste of time. And totally against the whole wise method.

 

[VPS]

Makes pre currency purchases a waste of time. And totally against the whole wise method.

Wise have a contact us on their app so maybe try to chat with them

 

[Zero]

Were the merchants trying to scam you with DCC?

 

[Viridis]

Losing my patience with

My wife had some issues recently with low value funds transfers from colleagues. I dismissed it as she was a relatively new customer.

I’ve been with them for over 10yrs. Have just had the same issue - low value transfers from colleagues for a dinner that was put on my tab whilst overseas. Got an email saying that transfers have been suspended whilst they investigate

The email stated, amongst other things

We need to know:

• If the reference is related to a person. In this case, we'll need their full legal name, date of birth, and the country they live in.
• If the reference is related to a business or organisation. In this case, we'll need their full registered name and address.
• If the reference is related to something else. In this case, you'll need to let us know what the reference means, the reason for the transfer and what the money will be used for.

You can do this by clicking the button below.

The reference from the sender was “dinner”. Their money laundering algorithm seems incredibly ‘immature’.

I’ve had enough. I need more reliability than this. Sent a forthright email and transferred most of my activity to Revolut.

However, the one process with which I am stumped is payments to a US Amex. Presently, I have a Direct Debit from the US balance (for which there are details) of my Wise account.

However, Revolut does not (yet) offer local bank details. For those with a US Amex, how do people pay their statements balance without the use of a US bank account (eg BoA etc etc). Is Wise the only option??

Thanks in advance

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Yes it was declined because of lack of funds. Seems it’s trying to take it out of my Aus bucket which is zero rather than my US bucket which is $350 even though in the USA. Chat GPT explanation. Have now transferred $100 into AUD bucket and will try that tomorrow. Which all seems kinda pointless.

Yeah, that's a very weird behaviour and not one I've encountered when using Wise. It's always been very smart at pulling from the local currency bucket first and only moving to AUD if there's a shortfall.

Not that its happen to me, but once I recall someone setting up a jar accidentally and not moving it out.

What's Jars and how can I keep money in them? | Wise Help Centre

Jars is a feature to set aside money, and keep it separate from your main account, for future use. The rates are no different to holding a regular currency in your main account. You can open a jar ...

wise.com

Apparently cannot access funds that are in a 'jar' via debit card or direct debit.

 

[Pushka]

Not that its happen to me, but once I recall someone setting up a jar accidentally and not moving it out.

What's Jars and how can I keep money in them? | Wise Help Centre

Jars is a feature to set aside money, and keep it separate from your main account, for future use. The rates are no different to holding a regular currency in your main account. You can open a jar ...

wise.com

Apparently cannot access funds that are in a 'jar' via debit card o

I didn’t have to do any of this for Japan.
So where is the money I can access? Originally At the top of the app it showed $500 approx AUD. In the smaller grey box, the jar, it showed $350 USD approx.

Last night I transferred over $100 usd to AUD.
It now shows the same $500 AUD at the top and $250 usd in that bucket and $150 in the AUD bucket.

Wise tells me to send money to me. But I don’t see where I can do that in the app.

 

[Pvcmenace]

Losing my patience with

My wife had some issues recently with low value funds transfers from colleagues. I dismissed it as she was a relatively new customer.

I’ve been with them for over 10yrs. Have just had the same issue - low value transfers from colleagues for a dinner that was put on my tab whilst overseas. Got an email saying that transfers have been suspended whilst they investigate

The email stated, amongst other things



The reference from the sender was “dinner”. Their money laundering algorithm seems incredibly ‘immature’.

I’ve had enough. I need more reliability than this. Sent a forthright email and transferred most of my activity to Revolut.

However, the one process with which I am stumped is payments to a US Amex. Presently, I have a Direct Debit from the US balance (for which there are details) of my Wise account.

However, Revolut does not (yet) offer local bank details. For those with a US Amex, how do people pay their statements balance without the use of a US bank account (eg BoA etc etc). Is Wise the only option??

Thanks in advance

I have had no problem with Wise and use it for my US Amex, maybe use Revolut for the change and just keep Wise for the Amex at least it costs nothing to keep.

 

[CMA222]

I didn’t have to do any of this for Japan.
So where is the money I can access? Originally At the top of the app it showed $500 approx AUD. In the smaller grey box, the jar, it showed $350 USD approx.

Last night I transferred over $100 usd to AUD.
It now shows the same $500 AUD at the top and $250 usd in that bucket and $150 in the AUD bucket.

Wise tells me to send money to me. But I don’t see where I can do that in the app.

The $500 "at the top" is the total value in A$'s of all funds you hold in various currencies. Whenever you add funds to any currency the amount "at the top" will increase to reflect the new A$ total value. Likewise it will decrease when you use funds via any means, including the debit card. The amount shown "at the top" will vary as exchange rates change. Click on the little bar chart next to the amount "at the top" and it takes you to "Cash" and click on "Cash" and it lists all your currency balances that are included in the total "at the top". If you wanted to cash out all your currencies and convert them to A$'s that is the value at that point in time.

 

[Pushka]

The $500 "at the top" is the total value in A$'s of all funds you hold in various currencies. Whenever you add funds to any currency the amount "at the top" will increase to reflect the new A$ total value. Likewise it will decrease when you use funds via any means, including the debit card. The amount shown "at the top" will vary as exchange rates change. Click on the little bar chart next to the amount "at the top" and it takes you to "Cash" and click on "Cash" and it lists all your currency balances that are included in the total "at the top". If you wanted to cash out all your currencies and convert them to A$'s that is the value at that point in time.

Yes. I understand. But why isn't Wise accessing any of those amounts?

 

[Viridis]

I have had no problem with Wise and use it for my US Amex, maybe use Revolut for the change and just keep Wise for the Amex at least it costs nothing to keep.

No, I haven’t either …. until now. But I haven’t used it in this way before but given that this is one of the functions they specifically advertise as a feature they are absurdly quick to stop a transaction as ‘suspicious’.

All based on a reference that said ‘Dinner’ …. and a value of A$40. Utterly hopeless

But yes, I will do as you say - seems to be the only option

 

[CMA222]

Yes. I understand. But why isn't Wise accessing any of those amounts?

As suggested above, I agree that it would be worthwhile contacting them directly. I have used their email option a couple of times with queries and they generally answer within a couple of hours. They do provide a telephone service contact as well. Have a look at the Contact page and after you get past the attempts to answer your "Wise Card" query, just click on "I still need help" and it gives the options of Chat (online), Phone (they call you) or Email.

 

[kevrosmith]

Sorry if this adds confusion but isn’t there three levels? Your aud account/baalnce, foreign currency buckets and the Jars that you can move from foreign currency buckets into a further protected Jar…? That’s been my interpretation from the various discussions. Based on this understanding, I never used “Jars”, but had sgd, eur and gbp buckets for recent trip. Haven’t used in USA sorry.

 

[kevrosmith]

What's Jars and how can I keep money in them? | Wise Help Centre

Jars is a feature to set aside money, and keep it separate from your main account, for future use. The rates are no different to holding a regular currency in your main account. You can open a jar ...

wise.com

Jar = set money aside

 

[Pushka]

As suggested above, I agree that it would be worthwhile contacting them directly. I have used their email option a couple of times with queries and they generally answer within a couple of hours. They do provide a telephone service contact as well. Have a look at the Contact page and after you get past the attempts to answer your "Wise Card" query, just click on "I still need help" and it gives the options of Chat (online), Phone (they call you) or Email.

I have done that. But of no help at all as the instructions don’t mesh with what I can see on the app. Also used chat function. Posted a picture of dashboard. Asking me to click things that aren’t in the app. Wise worked flawlessly in Japan. I’ve not done anything different.

 

[Pushka]

Chat GPT sorted it.

 

[VPS]

Chat GPT sorted it.

what was the solution

 

[Pushka]

what was the solution

I transferred from the usd bucket to the aud bucket. It wouldn't take it from the US bucket but would from the Aud one yet they both appear as the same listing in the app, just different currencies.