Topic: Money cards, transfers, and exchanges

Tina used a Travel Card to transfer currency for her overseas trip. She later discovered the transfer had not gone into her desired currency. When she subsequently made the transfer to her desired currency, she lost a considerable sum of money as a result of exchange rates. Can she recoup this from the travel card provider?

Traveller was unaware his travel card was active, and left it with the PIN in his hotel room allowing a thief easy access to his account

How could Alan’s card be stolen, used to steal money from his account, and returned?

Grant attempts several times to renew his credit card but, after having no luck, complains to FSCL. How did we suggest the complaint be resolved?

During a flight home, Raelene broke her tooth while eating her inflight meal. Raelene visited her usual dentist in New Zealand and the dentist was able to fix her tooth for $150. Raelene submitted a claim under her comprehensive travel insurance policy. She was surprised when the claim was declined as she thought by purchasing a comprehensive policy she had full cover for any event that might happen to her while overseas.

Russell and Sara purchased one way tickets to Australia. Only a few days into the trip Sara’s mother sadly passed away. They returned to New Zealand and claimed under their insurance policy’s resumption of travel benefit. However, because Russell and Sara tickets were one way, their insurance company declined their claim. Was the insurance company entitled to decline the claim?

Card lost while overseas, fraudulent withdrawals made with the correct PIN

Duane was going overseas for a holiday and had organised a travel card to manage his money. When Duane loaded his money onto his card he discovered that the exchange rates used to convert his NZD were different (and less favourable) than the exchange rates advertised on the travel card’s website. The travel card company said that the exchange rates advertised on the website were not the applicable exchange rates for the method Duane used to load money onto the travel card.

Money loaded onto travel card automatically loads in the pre-selected default currency. To transfer to another currency option attracts high exchange rates, causing losses.