28° Mastercard Cash Advances while overseas [No more free cash advances from 1/1/14]

[cazzy160344]

Hi everyone,

New here to this website!

Just a quick question...given that the AUD is doing quite well vs the USD at the moment, is it better to apply for an ANZ Travel card instead of the Wizard Clear Advantage due to the fact that you can lock in current rates for ANZ?

I'm not going to travel until December and I'm scared the rates won't be as good when I go over (if I use the Wizard card)...

Thoughts?

Cheers!

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF Cazzy!

Check this thread out:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....insider-tips/currency-travel-cards-26038.html

The Oz dollar would have to drop quite a bit to make it worth while for the ANZ product.

 

[Baysider]

Well, they say that the USA is printing money to try to shore up the economy. That should drive the value of the US$ lower, which means the A$ should keep heading up. Still, its a hard call when you don't have a crystal ball. If you want to play safe I'd grab half your US$ now and leave the rest until you get there. I certainly wouldn't grab all of it right now though. Just my thoughts.

 

[sinophile888]

Once again, GE Money’s anti-fraud department has excelled.

I received another phone call two nights ago asking had my husband spent $4.96 on a Mexican website using his supplementary Wizard Mastercard. He had not used his card since take a cash advance from a well-known shopping centre in Shenzhen, China in April. Apparently, the Mexican website is known to be “dodgy” and they were trying a small transaction to see if it went through. GE are sending out a new (chipped) card to replace the compromised one.

Very good customer service in my opinion.

 

[Alanslegal]

Has anyone else completed the online survey / questionairre about this card?

I recently received the email & completed the survey, and from the questions I gather that they are considering whether to charge 1) a monthly fee for inactivity or 2) a surcharge for accounts in credit at the close of each month and a few other miscellaneous like higher interest charges for cash advance.

I commented that I would not be happy if there was a monthly fee or an account in credit fee as these are two important things to me applicable to this account. I told them make its Ok if they wanted the interest rates higher as it doesn't apply to me but do not impose a monthly fee, annual fee or a credit account fees.

 

[Flashback]

Has anyone else completed the online survey / questionairre about this card?

I recently received the email & completed the survey, and from the questions I gather that they are considering whether to charge 1) a monthly fee for inactivity or 2) a surcharge for accounts in credit at the close of each month and a few other miscellaneous like higher interest charges for cash advance.

I commented that I would not be happy if there was a monthly fee or an account in credit fee as these are two important things to me applicable to this account. I told them make its Ok if they wanted the interest rates higher as it doesn't apply to me but do not impose a monthly fee, annual fee or a credit account fees.

Could not agree with you more on all points. I didn't do the survey as I wasn't in the mood for the 25 words or less question at the end to win the iPad!

 

[RollyB]

Has anyone else completed the online survey / questionairre about this card?

I recently received the email & completed the survey, and from the questions I gather that they are considering whether to charge 1) a monthly fee for inactivity or 2) a surcharge for accounts in credit at the close of each month and a few other miscellaneous like higher interest charges for cash advance.

I commented that I would not be happy if there was a monthly fee or an account in credit fee as these are two important things to me applicable to this account. I told them make its Ok if they wanted the interest rates higher as it doesn't apply to me but do not impose a monthly fee, annual fee or a credit account fees.

I filled in the survey along similar lines and suggested they incorporate some travel-based bonuses since my activity on the card is restricted to overseas travel. I hope they don't start gauging users because there's a number of other cards available with only marginal differences we could easily switch to these days.

Ifilledin

 

[snufl]

Has anyone else completed the online survey / questionairre about this card?

I recently received the email & completed the survey, and from the questions I gather that they are considering whether to charge 1) a monthly fee for inactivity or 2) a surcharge for accounts in credit at the close of each month and a few other miscellaneous like higher interest charges for cash advance.

I commented that I would not be happy if there was a monthly fee or an account in credit fee as these are two important things to me applicable to this account. I told them make its Ok if they wanted the interest rates higher as it doesn't apply to me but do not impose a monthly fee, annual fee or a credit account fees.

Wow, I didn't even look at the survey but now I wish I did.

How in the heck could they justify charging a fee for inactivity. So, if someone is responsible, cuts back on Credit Card use and doesn't put through a transaction one month, they get hit with a fee? I bet that would cause a stir in the press.

Same thing for a fee if the card is in credit at the end of the month. I put my card in credit before going to Europe and I didn't even use it for cash advance. The reason I did it was I wanted to make sure the full balance was covered when due and I don't like accessing my bank account from anywhere but my home computer. Maybe I'm too security conscious so I should get charged a fee.

I understand GE must realise that this card has great advantages for overseas purchases but they shouldn't forget it has no reward program. They have filled a niche in the market and shouldn't start making changes that will make them just "another" card. If they start increasing the cost of doing business with them there is a real risk they will lose that business. I saved by using my Wizard card in Europe but if the saving shrinks I could go back to Amex, at least I'd get points and not have to keep watch for DCC.

 

[Baysider]

Exactly right. The forex features make up for the lack of a Rewards Scheme. Nobody would keep the card if the forex features were diminshed.

 

[Flashback]

If the Forex features were to diminish I'd simply switch to my ING Direct card and just take the small withdrawal fee hit whenever I needed to access cash. Note that with the ING account cash withdrawals attract no conversion charges, but charges to the debit card directly will attract them.

 

[serfty]

Of course, there's the fee free NAB option (Just need to put $5k per month through the account).

 

[sydney_kings]

Had no problems with Chase - either branch or Duane Reade (NY).
I think most of the major bank ones are fee free - all the non-branded ones will charge

I've just come back from the USA (and my Wizard Clear card got a good workout!)

I found most Chase ATMs now charge a withdrawal fee. The only bank that I found that did not charge a fee was TD Bank. I didn't try the Duane Reade shop ATMs. I did also noticed that McDonalds have their own ATM network that claimed to have fee free withdrawals, but I didn't test this.

The few Bank of America ATMs charged fees as well.

 

[Flashback]

I received an e-mail about the new 28 degrees credit card. Seems they will be coming out over the next few weeks to all card holders that have used their card in the last 18 months.

 

[serfty]

...
The few Bank of America ATMs charged fees as well.

Early this month, the BoA ATM in PHX, AZ did not charge, BoA in SAN, CA did.

 

[Alanslegal]

I received an e-mail about the new 28 degrees credit card. Seems they will be coming out over the next few weeks to all card holders that have used their card in the last 18 months.

My e-Statement confirms the change; "Effective from 17 November 2010, .... the words "Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard" are replaced with the words "28 Degrees Mastercard" ..... also "References to wizard.com.au and wizardclearadvantage.com.au are replaced by 28degreescard.com.au"

 

[Schebesta]

Did it make any mention of changing the features of the card?

 

[Chicken]

Did it make any mention of changing the features of the card?

NO. I got notice in statement and e-mail, both say everything stays the same.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Did it make any mention of changing the features of the card?

The Wizard website says that nothing will change.

Your Wizard Clear Advantage MasterCard® will soon have a new name, 28 Degrees MasterCard®. It will also include enhanced security and additional features to make your new 28 Degrees MasterCard® more convenient.
But that’s all that will change.


You’ll still enjoy no international transaction fees and no annual fee.
The reason for this change is GE Money sold the Wizard Home Loans business and brand name in 2009.
Our new name 28 Degrees MasterCard® and our new look reflects this change. However, all the great benefits you have enjoyed stay the same.
So keep a look out for your new 28 Degrees MasterCard® and keep getting all the benefits you know and love.

Wizard Clear Advantage MasterCard

 

[ZeroPoint]

I notice there's a chip and PayPass... nice.

 

[dude_wit_gun]

Hi everyone i've had my Wizard card for around 2 years now and used it while i was overseas in asia 2 years ago.

Im goin on another trip that involves the USA Canada Japan and Singapore. I called the customer service number to check if everything was still the same with ATM withdrawals and he advised me not to put the card in credit to make cash advances because the security system might barr the card making it unusable.

seeing how there are people posting responses coming back from a trip fairly recently is it safe to assume that the guy i spoke was just talking cough so i wouldnt use the card like a debit card? Also he was australian which is kind of a suprise because most of the time its a indian on the phone.