Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[exceladdict]

It’s something like 5% to 6% fee….

And if your card still charges fees for overseas transactions, you could be hit with another 2.5-3%, even if it's in AUD...

 

[SYD]

And if your card still charges fees for overseas transactions, you could be hit with another 2.5-3%, even if it's in AUD...

I don’t think so but certainly a bummer on an Int fee free card.

 

[exceladdict]

I don’t think so but certainly a bummer on an Int fee free card.

I remember contesting a charge with a bank even though a charge from an overseas merchant was in AUD - looks like some CBA cards still charge this fee. YMMV of course

 

[Pushka]

Dynamic Currency Conversion. Where the merchant's machine offers to charge you in local currency, or A$. The A$ rate will be poor, so its a bad idea, especially if you are using something like 28 Degrees, with good FX and no fee for being charged in the local currency.

The merchant should ask you to choose, but sometimes they go ahead and do A$ without asking

Yep. Local currency always. Thankyou for the decipher.

 

[Flashback]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is definitely a preference towards cash. Only the more expensive/higher end places tend to take card and even then... not always.

What's interesting is that ATM of certain banks that were free last year, no longer are. Ditto for Albania. Ditto Croatia. The banks must be loving the tourism!

 

[Austman]

7-11 Manila.

Cash only.

ATM machine in the store (a bank ATM, I think) charged PHP 250.00 (AUD 6.75) per withdrawal.

ING bank refunded that.

Pity that all ends on August 1st.

 

[Kangarucci]

No need for cash in Iceland unless travelling on city buses.

 

[justinbrett]

I remember contesting a charge with a bank even though a charge from an overseas merchant was in AUD - looks like some CBA cards still charge this fee. YMMV of course

HSBC Qantas Visa does as well

 

[Poss]

That is odd, I am sure I've had relatives who've done top up with foreign issued credit cards.

In any event if you can pay by tapping with your card and/or have it loaded in Apple or Google wallets you can just tap and go with the card without the need for a separate card, and foreign cards definitely work with this method. (although I realise for children you'd probably need reloadable ezlink cards unless you had a credit card per child).

It appears that they have recently changed the machines as they now no longer issue paper tickets at all either. When the machines did not accept any of our cards we enquired at an information window and was told that the machines did not accept foreign issued cards any longer. We had to use the cash only machine for a top up. At the station we were at there were 3 card top up machines and only one cash only machine available.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Dynamic Currency Conversion. Where the merchant's machine offers to charge you in local currency, or A$. The A$ rate will be poor, so its a bad idea, especially if you are using something like 28 Degrees, with good FX and no fee for being charged in the local currency.

The merchant should ask you to choose, but sometimes they go ahead and do A$ without asking

This happened to us with a driver from San Sebastian for early transfer to Biaritz airport, we were not given the option and driver refused to reverse the transaction. Cost about another AU30 ( wasn't a cheap ride to start with!)

 

[knagelli]

It appears that they have recently changed the machines as they now no longer issue paper tickets at all either. When the machines did not accept any of our cards we enquired at an information window and was told that the machines did not accept foreign issued cards any longer. We had to use the cash only machine for a top up. At the station we were at there were 3 card top up machines and only one cash only machine available.

This happened to us last December in Singapore where I was trying to recharge the ezLink card using my coles credit card. As it was the only card I had and no cash to use , had to fork out close to ~7 AUD to withdraw money from an ATM machine.

 

[Flashback]

Add Moldova and Transnistria (or PMR) to the list of countries where cash is needed. Moldova you can get by to some degree without it, but it does mean going to more commercial places. Transnistria is definitely a cash only place and also has very few ATMs around, so expect to use a money exchange place. We were only there a few hours so didn't need cash, so didn't check what the ATM fees were like.

 

[RooFlyer]

Transnistria is definitely a cash only place and also has very few ATMs around

Roubles or leus?

 

[Flashback]

Roubles or leus?

Transnistrian Roubles of course!

 

[SYD]

Back in Canada for the first time in 10yrs(!). Whilst I’m expecting things to be mostly cashless, we did find that Vancity (and apparently National Bank of Canada) have fee free ATMs (well, at least using ING and UBank)

As an aside, first Apple wallet tap of 28° MC at lunch today and SYD+1 received a text immediately from Latitude wanting a “Y/N” response to “Did you authorise charge XYZ?”. First time ever getting one of those OS and this is our first trip since Optus dropped our free roaming calls, txt and data… Receiving the alert txt is free but responding would trigger $5 daily roaming charge….

 

[leadman]

I used the ATM here in Siem Reap yesterday and scored a nice little jackpot. One of my hobbies is banknote collecting and for years used the machines to get nice pristine notes, (UNC uncirculated). Last night, getting USD scored a UNC USD100 star note, selling at the moment between $125 to $150. They are used during note manufacture to replace any damaged bills. Australian star notes are worth thousands, although you will not find any in your change as they stopped in 1972.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Any advice on Indonesia ?? I received an e-mail from a hotel we will be staying in a couple of weeks with a link to a payment gateway asking for payment (as per our booking) - tried the payment several times with a VISA card - every time it says "payment failed" with no reason. A couple of times I received an OTP and entered it - still payment failed. I've e-mailed the hotel and asked what to do - I am sure it's an issue on their end.

Just wondering if credit card payments are problematic in Indonesia.

 

[SYD]

Any advice on Indonesia ?? I received an e-mail from a hotel we will be staying in a couple of weeks with a link to a payment gateway asking for payment (as per our booking) - tried the payment several times with a VISA card - every time it says "payment failed" with no reason. A couple of times I received an OTP and entered it - still payment failed. I've e-mailed the hotel and asked what to do - I am sure it's an issue on their end.

Just wondering if credit card payments are problematic in Indonesia.

Usually no drama tapping/inserting CC/DC on the ground.

Online payments may trigger OTPs. Have you tried different browsers / computers? There could be a pop up window being blocked?

 

[luxury-lizard]

Usually no drama tapping/inserting CC/DC on the ground.

Online payments may trigger OTPs. Have you tried different browsers / computers? There could be a pop up window being blocked?

I tried Safari on 2 an iMac and MacBook and Chrome on MacBook - all failed - hotel may cancel reservation if not paid today - will call them later today. Payment gateway says payment failed - so don't think it's an issue with pop up window or whatever - may try again with iPhone.

 

[leadman]

I had the same happen with Pullman in Singapore. Three MC failed. Called Westpac, and they could see nothing wrong. Called the hotel and they blamed their system, so I did it manually.