URGENT ADVICE.. Visa Electron accepted ?

[Euromir]

Hi

I am coming over to WDW area this week and to save using credit card or travellers cheques this time i thought i would get one of these "travellers cheque card" instead. So i ordered one couple weeks back and it was expected to be an Americian Express type card.

BUT It arrived today and the card is a "Visa Electron" type card, now i have all my spending money loaded onto this card and no other source of funds for my trip. Really worried now as here in UK these visa electron cards are not widely accepted and can be difficuly finding a shop that takes them or a ATM that will let you withdraw.

I should add it is ONLY a "Visa Electron" logo on this card and no other logos at all, ie its not a "normal" visa, and it has no cirrius or plus logos on it either. This is NOT a bank card at all either, supplied by "Travelex" via my travel agents.

SO, Can anyone tell me or reassure me that these cards are usable and acceptable in both shops and ATMs in Orlando / Disneyworld please? I just want to be able to use it at machines to withdraw some US Dollars when needed, and of course be able to use it in shops and resturants instead of cash. Also it is not a chip'n'pin type card but purely an old style magnetis swipe and signature card.

Really hope somebody can advise, as really worried i get to USA and be pennyiless due to all my funds being tied up on this card. :-(

 

[scorp111]

I don't think that the Visa Electron card would be accepted in very many locations, if any, in the US.

All ATM's in the US, utilize "pins" which you state that you don't have for this card.

I had a Visa Electron card when we lived in the UK and you are correct, it was tough at times over there.

"Travelex" will often have a money exchange counter in the airport. I am not sure about Orlando, you would think that you could at least get cash there, although you certainly should check prior to arrival.

 

[Euromir]

Sorry minor correction i do have a "pin" for use allegedly in ATMs ?
But was worried regards that still as only symbol is still an "electron" symbol, and not usual ATM logos?

Thanks

 

[scorp111]

Hi

I am coming over to WDW area this week and to save using credit card or travellers cheques this time i thought i would get one of these "travellers cheque card" instead. So i ordered one couple weeks back and it was expected to be an Americian Express type card.

BUT It arrived today and the card is a "Visa Electron" type card, now i have all my spending money loaded onto this card and no other source of funds for my trip. Really worried now as here in UK these visa electron cards are not widely accepted and can be difficuly finding a shop that takes them or a ATM that will let you withdraw.

I should add it is ONLY a "Visa Electron" logo on this card and no other logos at all, ie its not a "normal" visa, and it has no cirrius or plus logos on it either. This is NOT a bank card at all either, supplied by "Travelex" via my travel agents.

SO, Can anyone tell me or reassure me that these cards are usable and acceptable in both shops and ATMs in Orlando / Disneyworld please? I just want to be able to use it at machines to withdraw some US Dollars when needed, and of course be able to use it in shops and resturants instead of cash. Also it is not a chip'n'pin type card but purely an old style magnetis swipe and signature card.

Really hope somebody can advise, as really worried i get to USA and be pennyiless due to all my funds being tied up on this card. :-(

I checked out the Visa Website and it says that Visa Electron cards can be used at any ATM with a VISA logo. If that's the case, you should have no issue.
http://corporate.visa.com/md/fs/consumer/electron.jsp?topic=prod

In shops might still be a challenge, I dont know.

 

[Euromir]

Thanks for that, really appriecate that.
Just found this on FAQ of Disney which looks favourable:

A. Both are possible at Walt Disney World, where any one of these credit cards is accepted everywhere (with the exception of cart vendors and some stores): VISA, VISA Electron, Japanese Credit Bureau (JCB), Diners Club, Discover Card, MasterCard, American Express, The Disney Credit Card. Visitors who wish to convert currency into U.S. dollars can do so at any Disney resort hotel or theme park guest relation counter. Please note that there is a limit to the amount of currency that can be exchanged in a single session. Inquire upon arrival for more details.

Would still value any other thoughts of course

 

[maelstrom]

I hope you will be able to use your card. I would assume, at the very least, that you will be able to use it at an ATM to withdraw cash.

Also, I've never heard of a Visa Electron. What is it and why is it different from a regular Visa?

 

[Miss Bell]

I have been looking into doing something similar for my next trip. I don't know anything specifically about the Visa Electron card, but on all the pre-paid Visa card info I looked at, it said that they were valid any place that took Visa Debit cards. I would call Disney and ask.

 

[scorp111]

Also, I've never heard of a Visa Electron. What is it and why is it different from a regular Visa?

As far as I know Visa Electron is primarily found outside North America. It is found in the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia etc.

When issued by a normal bank, it would be very similar to a US Visa/Debit card, meaning all purchases must be under the current account balance. (no
"credit"). When issued by the banks in the UK, it is given to the least creditworthy customers. There other difference as well, one of which is that there are no raised numbers/letters on an Electron card, as there are on normal VISA cards.

Miss Bell, you would have no issues with a pre-paid card purchased in the US, because in fact it would have the Visa symbol, which is different than the Visa-Electron one.

 

[Paul&chris2005]

I work for Halifax/Bank of Scotland, and when we are opening Visa Electron Cards (EasyCash Cards as we call them) we are told that they will not work abroad, only in very specific locations. You wont be able to call into a bank over there, and as mentioned, they are hard to get accepted in this country in many stores - my recommendations

a) remove the money from the card and put credit it into your Credit Card (if your card is empty this will put you into a Credit Balance and effective it becomes a Debit Card for your holiday funds, then if you run out of funds, your Credit limit will still be intact - any Visa/Mastercard C/C will work practically anywhere in the world.

b) if you dont have one already, open a Full Current Account (we call them either MoneyBack Ac's or High Interest Current Ac), there can be in your hand within about 7-10days. So if you go this way just put all your money from the card into this, it'll work as a Debit Card. Most Banks use Visa systems for their Current Ac's so you can use them anywhere, Ive used mines all over Orlando.

c) Get Traveller Cheques.

To be honest I wouldnt rely on those cards that they send for Travelex.

Hope this helps.

 

[maelstrom]

Another option if you can remove your money from the Electron card is to buy a Disney gift card (you can do that online and if you buy them from the Disneyland site you can get better designs). I bought a $300 Disney gift card for my last trip and it worked out quite well. No signing like with a credit/debit card or room key, and the balance is shown on every receipt.