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“Handling Charges”

Written on: 21/06/2012 by Scrabo

I would like to warn potential Post Office Travel Money Card customers that they may find that topping up the card online or using a debit card over the counter in a Post Office may incur hefty charges imposed by the custoner's own bank. I am sure the Post Office promoting these cards must be aware of this but unfortunately I can see no warning of this on the website, nor was I informed in person that this could be the case. My bank imposed charges of £22 for £1500 worth of Euros put on my travel card. I think the Post Office should have pointed out that topping up this card would be viewed as a foreign currency transaction by my bank and as such was likely to incur charges. I would like to alert travellers hoping to top up online from their own bank accounts that they will probably have to pay what I consider to be a large charge. Although the Post Office isn't imposing these charges I think it is unfair that they do not suggest to their customers that this will be the case and suggest how these charges might be avoided. For example it would have been easy for me to pay cash over the counter at my local post office as a way of loading my card. When abroad and using online services I don't know how the charges could be avoided but I feel Travel Money Card customers should be given this information very directly so that they can fully understand the disadvantages of this card. Then clients will know that using cash for top ups at home and avoiding electronic top ups abroad are two major disadvantages of this card. Ironic when you think that one of the main selling points of the card is the ease with which top ups, via mobile or computer, can be made.