The ICE Card cometh!

[Boris+]

We had a slight hiccough with the ICE cards we decided on, and now they have arrived - so I'll keep everyone posted how we get on with them on our holidays.

Basically we were fed up with having bits and bobs of foreign currency left over at the end of each holiday, and also the cost of changing paper money back to Sterling - hence the move.

Daughter had chosen a pre-paid card for her recent holiday, but we decided that the ICE cards were a better deal. We have chosen Sterling ones (as opposed to Euro or US Dollars etc). It says that you can use there anywhere, and that a withdrawal at an ATM is free of charge; the only time you pay with them is when you load them with money.

So, we have the cards (and each one came with a spare one in case it gets lost), and as a 'thank you' for being patient and waiting for the delayed cards to arrive we got a Hi-Life Diners Club card each which will give us half-price nosh especially handy in Southampton the night before a cruise!

Fingers crossed then! We do have some Euros left over (cash) to take with us just in case, and on the very first port day we will take a debit/credit card with us also 'just in case' too - after that hopefully all we then want to run as a trial is topping up the cards when we are away at sea.

Em

Em

[david63]

You say that you have "sterling" cards so how does the exchange rate compare when drawing Euros from the card?

[Boris+]

Hi David,

As I haven't used the card(s) yet, I honestly don't know - but I will post on here when I do know.

Obviously money gets exchanged (?) at some point, and I think that it depends on the 'rate on the day' - but there are no charges for the exchange as I understand that this 'fee' is paid when you load the card initially with Sterling.

It will be an interest thing to watch the balance online when we have made a purchase - and that is what we are going to do, and let you know the results.

It's just a nice way of taking a secure payment ashore with us without taking our debit/credit cards etc. At the end of the day there is the back-up incase the cards are lost or stolen, we have been to an ATM and changed the auto pin number provided, and of course we have the spare card/s which we can leave onboard in the safe in our suite.

Then, if we wanted to, we can use them on the way home from Southampton for fuel or snacks etc too.

Fingers crossed!

Em

[Silver_Shiney]

I hope they work out better than the Amex ones that were on sale a few years ago - the exchange rate used to load them was diabolical. It was fixed by Amex, so TAs couldn't even use their discretion about what rate to give.

[Boris+]

Hi Alan,

Daughter got Travelex ones, we did a comparison and hopefully we will get on just fine with the ICE ones - I'll let you know shortly.

Em

[david63]

Perhaps it is just me but I would have thought that one of the first things that you would do when comparing any of this type of card would be to find out what exchange rate was going to be used - otherwise how do you know whether you have a good deal or not?

[Boris+]

I suppose you may be right David, however - when I go shopping I tend not to count the 'cost' so if these cards enable me to shop with a higher feeling of security then I am happy.

All I wanted was a card that I could re-load quickly and with minimum fuss that I could take out and about with me with minimal risk. At the end of the day, (having been mugged once abroad) if the ICE card/s get lost or pinched then I can (a) report them as stolen and immediately have access to the spare one/s, and (b) not worry overly as only the funds on the ICE cards are 'nickable'. On the other hand if one of the cards issued by our bank/s went walkies it could be a nightmare situation.

So, currently I have done what I have done, and it will be interesting to see how it goes. As I said David, you may be right, but we'll wait and see.

Em

[Mr-big-bits-mk2]

I've just had a look and the exchange rate offered isn't too bad. It's actualy slightly better than that currently on offer from the Post Office, you'll get 1 Euro more on £100 so OK.

[Mr-big-bits-mk2]

ICE. £1.00 = Euro 1.1482.

Post Office £1.00 = Euro 1.1360.

[Boris+]

So, it's just down to how it works in real life then.

I'll make sure that any necessary special gifts are purchased here before we go, and then there won't be any upset if we have any shopping problems when we are away.

Using the cards shouldn't present any problems - should be no different to using a 'normal' bit of plastic with the relevant logo on.

I wouldn't imagine that they could be used at check-in - normal plastic can be used for that, and then hurriedly placed in the safe in the suite.

Em

[Andrea S]

The exchange in general can vary. Yesterday the PO and Co Op travel were quoting €1.07. For amounts over £500 it was €1.13. Called into Thomson's and got €1.15. Although there is only a small difference , the fact they are all next to each other it seemed rather silly.

EM, I don't know how your card works but at Xmas I was given a pre paid visa gift card. This gave me the flexibility of shopping where I wanted. The only down side was it wasn't used all in one go and I wasn't sure how much was still left on it. On enquiring at a store I was told it is classed as a CC and they were not allowed to check the balance as that could only be done at a bank.

[Mr-big-bits-mk2]

How much does it cost to 'top up' the card.

[Boris+]

Hi Andrea,

When you 'apply' for the card you have to put in either/both your passport number/driving licence details, address and email address. You then have an 'account' opened (as in internet/forum sort of account - no bank details required).

Once you have your 'account' open, you can then go into it and select which sort of card you want, and how much to 'buy' and you enter your debit/credit card details for that particular purchase.

Then you receive you card in the post, and you have to ring a given telephone number in order to be given the automated pin number (which you can then change to a pin number of your choice at an ATM).

Because you have the 'account', you can go online and check your balance at any time, and also you can top-up by visiting the same website.

So, I feel quite secure that I have the card and a spare, I know how much is on the card and I have already done a trial look at my account and double checked that the amount I 'bought' is safely sitting there ready for use. At the point that I 'bought' my card, the following day the cost of the purchase which included the 'fee' was taken from my bank account.

I did a start-off purchase of £50.00 and the total I paid was something like £50.82 - therefore the fee for buying £50 was 82p.

We have internet access when we are on holiday, so we can double check the balance daily if we wish - or top up if necessary.

Em

[Boris+]

Hi misterbigbits,

As far as I am aware, when I first 'bought' my card I put £50 sterling on it, and that cost me £50.82 total - the 82p being the fee. I think that when it is time to top up the card a similar fee will apply.

I also understand that ATM withdrawals anywhere in the world are free, as is use of the card in any currency (ok there may be issues with countries like Libya, India or Russia - but I don't actually know for a fact about that), I'll try it out soon and see.

Em

[Andrea S]

EM, It will be interesting to see how you get on when using it on foreign shores. Anything that is safe to use has got to be worth any hidden charges as long as they are kept reasonable.

I can now see the difference between what you have and a visa gift card. With yours you are in charge of the 'account' whilst the gift card is simply that, money that someone else has put on for you.

[Silver_Shiney]

ICE. £1.00 = Euro 1.1482.

Post Office £1.00 = Euro 1.1360.

When I worked in the TA bureau, the Post Office was recognised as being one of the better rates, so you've done well, Em!

[Boris+]

Hi Alan,

Hey, hold your horses kiddo - wait until I've used the blasted thing for real, and then we'll know.

Couple of weeks ago I was buying currency in the Mall, and there was a queue - several girls behind the desk, and only one of them actually working, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, we received the USD we had purchased (a gift for someone going on holiday to put in a 'bon voyage' card), and the girl behind the counter shut the till drawer - with our sterling change in it!

We had to stand there and 'demand' our change - out of the cash sterling we had paid for the USD, we were due about £16.00 change; so we stood there and demanded it - and further held up the queue - until we got it.

Em

[Silver_Shiney]

Hi Alan,

Hey, hold your horses kiddo - wait until I've used the blasted thing for real, and then we'll know.

Couple of weeks ago I was buying currency in the Mall, and there was a queue - several girls behind the desk, and only one of them actually working, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, we received the USD we had purchased (a gift for someone going on holiday to put in a 'bon voyage' card), and the girl behind the counter shut the till drawer - with our sterling change in it!

We had to stand there and 'demand' our change - out of the cash sterling we had paid for the USD, we were due about £16.00 change; so we stood there and demanded it - and further held up the queue - until we got it.

Em

I was actually referring to the exchange rate...

I did a large transaction for a family once and, in chatting about their forthcoming trip, completely forgot to give them their change. I took it home with me (I know now I shouldn't have) to drop it off to them but there was no-one at home, and I wasn't convinced it was the right house, so I stuck it back in the till the next morning. They never came back for it.