[pct-l] Travelers cheques/checks

[Roland Horth]

Craig, I also got hit with lots of fees while traveling with my NZ credit
card (and my eftpos too, which I did use in a number of countries, National
Bank eftpos worked, Kiwi Bank did not).  I think the only way to keep from
getting hit too hard is to either use travelers checks or look into opening
a US account with a credit/debit card attached to it...but for that you'd
probably need a US address and then do a wire transfer.  The HSBC idea might
not be a bad one in NZ...maybe open a foreign currency account with a card
from them? It's funny reading the American replies...they have no idea how
banking works in New Zealand.  Cheers, Roland feesOn 4/9/07, Craig Stanton <
craigstanton at mac.com> wrote:
>
> Wow, that got a lot of advice just during my drive to work. Thanks to all
> those who emailed me off list too.
>
> Something to explain. Since I don't have an American bank account I don't
> think my debit-card is any use over there. In NZ we have a system called
> Eftpos (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) and that isn't going to
> work in the American ATMs. It is unfortunately standard for the banks here
> to charge a fee for foreign-exchange, even though it is all electronic and
> they don't have to handle different sorts of cash :-(
>
> And something to ask. I would never have thought of useing travelers
> cheques at a regular shop. When I have used them in Europe you need to find
> an official place, a bank or Bureau De Change, that takes the cheques, takes
> your passport, makes sure you are the person in the picture and the cheques
> have your passport number in them and then gives you cash. Regular stores
> can't do this because how whould they then turn your cheque into their bank
> account?
>
> And really, they refuse to take $50s? Isn't it legal tender so they have
> to take it? I sure am glad I asked this question. Sure I'd have some small
> change but I figured bigger notes meant less paper. Do the ATMs give out
> large bills so I'll have to find some kind local business to change the
> notes when ever I get cash out?
>
> ~Craig
>
>
> On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at 07:50AM, "Jeff Moorehead" <
> jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net> wrote:
> >
> >Craig,
> > I also thought it would be a good idea to carry travelers checks instead
> of
> >cash. This had worked well in the past, but unfortunately modern society
> has
> >replaced them with the check/ATM card. Most places would eventually take
> the
> >traveller's checks and  regard them with a "same as cash" status, but it
> >always took the approval of the manager because most people didn't know
> what
> >a traveler's check was. However, I learned from a few of the more savvy
> >establishments that check fraud is an issue here, what with these
> >'new-fangled' scanners and printers. Think about it, when was the last
> time
> >you saw Carl Muldon saying "don't leave home without them"? I fear they
> may
> >have gone the way of the saber tooth cat...
> >Whiptail
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >pct-l mailing list
> >pct-l at backcountry.net
> >unsubscribe or change options:
> > http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>