Unreliable product & poor customer service from Post Office

Do not use this product. Shops, restaurants and vendors in Europe reserve the right not to accept the Post Office Money Card. I loaded money onto one of these after being assured by the Post Office that everywhere in Europe accepts them. "It's just like a credit card" I was told. I was abroad for three weeks. After a week of being told "im sorry we don't accept those types of cards" I decided to withdraw all of the cash from it at a cash point, since it was problematic to rely on other people to continue picking up the tab. Only perhaps one out of three venues would accept the card as many vendors are suspicious of them because (I was informed) they are flat and don't have the proper relief textured numbers or embossed surfaces. I went to a bank cash point and the cash point swallowed my card, displaying a sentence on screen that the card had been with held for security reasons. I went into the bank and they told me to contact my card provider which I did. At this point I had no cash and no money card anymore, so I asked the Post Office call center employee what they are able to do so that I can access my money during the remaining 2 weeks. Their 'emergency' procedure meant that they would transfer funds into a bank account of my choice but it would take up to 5 working days. (Or I could await the postal of a new card which may take longer). Luckily I had brought a bank account card from home - if I hadn't, then I would have not had access to any the money they intended to transfer until I got home. I asked the Post Office what I am supposed to do without any money for the next 5 days and the lady kept repeating her script, words to the effect of "As I have already informed you, the emergency option available to you will take 5 working days". It was like talking to a robot. Luckily I did have £250 in the account on the bank card I had with me so I had to make that last for the remaining 2 weeks of my holiday and borrow from my boyfriend when that ran out. The 'emergency' transfer never happened and when I arrived back home I called the Post Office to get my money back off the defective card. The man on the phone proceeded to tell me that now that I am back in the UK I no longer qualify for their 'emergency' procedure. Instead, to get my money off the card I have to wait for a letter which will take up to 15 working days. When I get this letter I can take it to the Post Office and they will give me the cash over the counter minus 40% charge. After asking to speak to a supervisor about the hassle their defective product has caused, and the 40% fee I was refused the opportunity. The man speaking with me did try to negotiate something with the supervisor but he still refused to take my call. When I asked for the complaints procedure information and contact details for the complaints department, these were also refused to me. I was told that Post Office staff will log a complaint on my behalf and someone will write to me in 8 working days. So in short, I had limited money access whilst abroad, the bank retained the card as they don't recognise them, the 'emergency' procedure is ineffective as it takes 5 working days to take effect - if at all, and on return to the country I still have to wait another 3 weeks for my money left on the card minus 40% exchange loss from the Euro which they impose (altering outside of the fluctuating international exchange rates). The Post Office blocked all of attempts to speak to supervisors or a complaints department - delaying it instead by referring complaints internally and deferring contact for 8 days, dealing in writing only. My next steps are to complain to trading standards or an independent ombudsmun about the unreliable product they are selling and failure to meet a customers needs when abroad. Their system has significant flaws.