Earth changed

[oz_mark]

Has anyone had any success with Westpac claiming any unfair late payment fees? Has anyone had any success with any other financial institution using the same approach in the Choice article?

Not a late payment fee, but I have had charges from Westpac reversed. I know of people that have had success with other institutions (Bankwest).

GE Money respond with a letter that jusy says refer to the terms and conditions!

 

[hedge]

Looks like the free earth points have disappeared

 

[oz_mark]

Looks like the free earth points have disappeared

The prmotion comes and goes.

 

[JohnK]

I would be surprised if the offer for free FF points will happen as often as has happened in the past. The credit squeeze may have something to do with it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone

Hope its ok to reuse this old thread?

I have an earth+ - obtained under the initial offer a couple of years ago, with the annual rate held at $79.

Have copped the change in interest free days, and have copped the change in the way interest is charged on cash advances (existing purchases are paid off before any new cash advances to your account!), however recently I withdrew some money overseas and got lobbed an ATM Fee - $2.50.

I rang the phone banking line and they said they have just separated this charge out now - it was always there. However - I don't think that's true because adding the $2.50 on to the amount debited means a really, really dreadful exchange rate. Worse than purcahses i made with the card.

I can't find any other info about this $2.50 charge. I can't even find the terms and considtions relating to this anywhere on the westpac website.

i don't read my statements when they come in (always pay on line) - so did I miss this announcement?

cheers

melT

 

[oz_mark]

It was on my September statement

EFFECTIVE 28 NOVEMBER 2008, THE WESTPAC CASH
ADVANCES/WITHDRAWALS FEE WILL APPLY TO ALL CASH
ADVANCE/WITHDRAWAL TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE MADE IN
FOREIGN CURRENCY USING YOUR CARD. PLEASE NOTE THAT
THIS FEE WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY TO ALL CASH
ADVANCE/WITHDRAWAL TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE MADE AT AN
OVERSEAS ATM USING YOUR CARD, IF SELECTED BY YOU TO
BE MADE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS

 

[serfty]

Looks like it is time to ditch the Earth for O?S cash and get youself a Wizard.

More here:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...rd-cash-advances-while-6960-4.html#post206679

 

[Chicken]

I got my girlfriend to get Earth+ last year just for overseas transactions. Now this card is completely pointless, and is not cheap to run.

So I got her to get another Citibank card (as I have a Citibank free for life already), using the $0 annual first year and free Sydney Morning Herald offter.

When this annual fee due next year, and if there is no better offter, we will then swap to the MyCard from credit unions, which is run by Citibank again. $99 gold card with free additional card is pretty good.

Will get Wizard as well for overseas transactions.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looks like it is time to ditch the Earth for O?S cash and get youself a Wizard.

I already do! Just got prior to this most recent trip two weeks ago.

I really don't know why I used my earth card to take out cash - I only had the wizard for one day and I'm guessing I must have forgotten I had it!

Can concur that the currency conversion rate on wizard is great - just like the old earth + used to be.

Thanks ozmark for finding the info in the september statement. I really am glad I got the wizard card and only used the earth once - would have been a bit of a shock otherwise!

melT

 

[oz_mark]

I got my girlfriend to get Earth+ last year just for overseas transactions. Now this card is completely pointless, and is not cheap to run.

Yep, in the last six months they have pretty much got rid of all the good features of the card, and made it pretty much like any other card.

 

[JohnK]

I am glad I dumped this card recently. High interest rates and all the good features have disappeared....

 

[oz_mark]

I am glad I dumped this card recently. High interest rates and all the good features have disappeared....

I have a suspicion that the changes were caused by the Qantas drive to direct credit cards. Westpac used to keep the card a bit distanced from Westpac, but once they decided that it was going to be their direct debit option, and market it more clearly as a Westpac card, they seem to have standardised the way it works.

 

[JohnK]

I have a suspicion that the changes were caused by the Qantas drive to direct credit cards.

Possibly. Westpac did try to keep my business but were not able to offer enough incentive for me to keep the card.

Interesting that I am owed $0.01 and even though I cancelled the card I continue to receive statements every month. I think Westapc is hoping I continue to use the card but sadly this is going to suffer the same fate as the Amex Qantas premium card in the near future....