Using my Mastercard in America

[goswald]

I am going to the US of A for a holiday,

Does anybody know the costs of using my Mastercard over there?

And would you suggest another option other than my Mastercard for spending money?

Thanks.

 

[guest2013-1]

The costs are the same for swiping, just don't try and draw cash at an ATM, that's a bitch.

Basically, if you swipe for $20 there, the transaction gets automatically converted into Rands using that days exchange rate.

You would need to inform your bank that you're going overseas and for how long (expected time of return etc) and possibly where in America you're going to (if you can specify)

It's like a little form you have to fill out. The banks need that because otherwise they'll decline the transaction automatically until they can confirm you're the person swiping the card, and if you don't have roaming on your cell you're basically ****ed. Oh and banks never phone more than once for some odd reason so if they can't reach you too bad so sad.

So rather inform the ****ers

 

[guest2013-1]

Oh, added on, if you need cash then I'd suggest one of those travelers "cheque" cards where you load cash onto it and just draw it over there, it's covered by insurance and doesn't incur as much cost as it would if you were drawing from an ATM over there from your SA account

 

[bwana]

I am going to the US of A for a holiday,

Does anybody know the costs of using my Mastercard over there?

And would you suggest another option other than my Mastercard for spending money?

Thanks.

Your debit or cheque card should work in the ATMs. I use my FNB card regularly overseas and the exchange rate is usually pretty favourable.

 

[guest2013-1]

Your debit or cheque card should work in the ATMs. I use my FNB card regularly overseas and the exchange rate is usually pretty favourable.

How much ATM fee's do you pay? Usually if you draw from a non-FNB ATM they hit you (within SA) with a charge of R6+

Last time I drew overseas I got hit by almost R100 "SASWITCH" fees

 

[Frankie]

Your debit or cheque card should work in the ATMs. I use my FNB card regularly overseas and the exchange rate is usually pretty favourable.

This has been my experience also using my FNB card, although it's a few years since I used it - I found that you get the best deal drawing local currency from ATM's - Travellers check are expensive, and bank and money changers charge a fee and offer poor rates.

I inform the bank to expect transactions abroad to avoid the automatic flagging on the first out of country transaction, which places a hold on the card.

 

[air]

This has been my experience also using my FNB card, although it's a few years since I used it - I found that you get the best deal drawing local currency from ATM's - Travellers check are expensive, and bank and money changers charge a fee and offer poor rates.

Agree 100%, while in Thailand the rates at ATM machines were significantly more favourable to me than if I had used a bank etc.

 

[RustyPrincess]

I have a virgin credit card - they charge R10 to draw money at any atm in the world

 

[Goobie]

I had the misfortune of my new pin credit card deciding to break while in Botswana last month. I was stuck with a Spur bill as the transaction wouldn't clear...fortunately there was an ATM outside and I used my debit card to get cash.

Standardbank says that "apparently" they called me in June and left a voicemail to say that all cards expiring in 2012 has some sort of defect and needs to be replaced and I should pick my new card up from the bank. Since I never got that call and responded they destroyed the card after some time...

I'm just happy it didn't happen on my US trip the month before, fortunately they are not using the pin system and still swipe it for all their transactions, hell for some I didn't even sign.

 

[Chaos247]

The costs are the same for swiping, just don't try and draw cash at an ATM, that's a bitch.

Basically, if you swipe for $20 there, the transaction gets automatically converted into Rands using that days exchange rate.

You would need to inform your bank that you're going overseas and for how long (expected time of return etc) and possibly where in America you're going to (if you can specify)

It's like a little form you have to fill out. The banks need that because otherwise they'll decline the transaction automatically until they can confirm you're the person swiping the card, and if you don't have roaming on your cell you're basically ****ed. Oh and banks never phone more than once for some odd reason so if they can't reach you too bad so sad.

So rather inform the ****ers

Just need to correct you there. Its not the days rate but rather the rate when the transaction is put through. Rates fluctuate throughout the day.

 

[bwana]

How much ATM fee's do you pay? Usually if you draw from a non-FNB ATM they hit you (within SA) with a charge of R6+

Last time I drew overseas I got hit by almost R100 "SASWITCH" fees

Sorry - seems I cant go back as far as September to check but at the time I thought it was reasonable enough to continue doing it.