Posts Tagged virtual credit card
Paper or plastic?
Today’s post was written by guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
I remember years back when I went on a holiday to Germany and France, armed with a bunch of Eurocheques and an EC card, the now defunct European, improved travellers cheque. The system had to give up when the popularity of international credit cards made the system obsolete, though in Germany the system continued as an ATM card on the Maestro network.
An imperfect solution
The original travellers cheque is still alive and fairly well, available at some banks and exchange bureaus. But they suffer from many of the same problems the Eurocheques had and maybe even more:
- You have to buy travellers cheques before you depart
- You buy the amount in the denominations you expect to need
- They are not easily redeemable everywhere, so when you need to cash them in you may have to look around a bit
Add to this that you pay a premium on top of the exchange rate, you will usually pay a fee to cash them in and they are only available in certain currencies. If your travellers cheques are not in the currency of the country where you cash them in, you will lose even more of your hard-earned cash to exchange fees. However, they do have 1 advantage: you can get them replaced if they are lost or stolen, even without travel insurance.
Pick up a Net+ Prepaid Card
I have personally been using the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard® for a while now in several different countries and paying in several different currencies. It has many advantages over travellers cheques. Perhaps the biggest advantage is the fact that I can use Net+ to pay at many locations. The Net+ card works at ATMs when I need cash, but it also works in hotels, stores, restaurants and onboard all the ships I’ve been travelling with lately, which reduces my need to carry large amounts of cash.
I have set up my NETELLER account and Net+ card in my local currency, which makes it easy to keep tabs on costs and also means that no matter what foreign currency I pay in, I will only incur a single exchange fee. But even if I hadn’t made this choice I could usually still spend less on exchange fees than I would have with travellers cheques.
As for security, the card is protected by the Chip & PIN system, and only the funds in your NETELLER account are available for withdrawal or purchase with certain limits to how much can be spent or withdrawn within any 24-hour period. Do remember to carry the Net+ support phone number and remember the details needed to cancel the card if you should have your card stolen (and don’t forget to report the theft to local police as well).
Control your spending with a prepaid card
If you’re going to be travelling for a while, for instance that dream trip around the world, you could set up bank transfers from your bank account to your NETELLER account at an interval you choose. This can help control your spending as well as limit any loss you might incur from theft. But if you find you need more money than you had planned, you might also be able to make additional transfers while you are on the road. 1 other smart feature is that if you have close family or friends with NETELLER accounts, they can quickly and easily send you more money if you run into problems, without having to pay high fees.
Final travel tips
As always when travelling abroad I would recommend taking out travel insurance or making sure you are completely covered by your existing policies. Not only can you get money or other valuables replaced, but if something unforseen happens, like the recent grounding of all planes in northern Europe, or if you need to go to a doctor or even a hospital, your policy will cover it.
And above all, always remember:
- Never carry around large sums of cash and don’t let anyone see what you have inside your wallet
- Never let anyone see or know your PIN
- If at all possible, never let your Net+ or other debit and credit cards out of sight. This can be hard at bars and restaurants but unfortunately apply even more so in these locations where skimming of cards can happen in mere seconds. Luckily the increasing use of the chip function eliminates this risk.
- Make sure you have the phone numbers and details available if you should need to close your cards.
- And above all of this, always use common sense when travelling
Safe journeys this summer!
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Loading ...A travel guy’s guide to buying online this Christmas
Today’s post was written by guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
The time to be with near and dear ones is fast-approaching, but it’s also the time to give and receive. Yes, the race for this year’s Christmas gifts is intensifying. Many people are discovering they can save quite a bit of money buying things online. You not only benefit from lower prices, but often from a much larger selection.
Shop the world, but read the fine print
Shopping online opens a world of gift-giving possibilities. You are no longer limited to merchants in your own country. But be aware, finding bargains by buying abroad might mean high shipping costs, taxes and other fees. Take extra care reading the merchant’s terms and conditions since the consumer protection policy might be different than what you are familiar with.
Gift buying within the European Union
If you live within the European Union and decide to buy from an EU merchant, things are a little simpler. You might still find shipping costs to be fairly high, but the price you pay on a merchant’s website includes all taxes. In terms of consumer protection you are also better off. If the merchant you regularly buy from actively advertises in your country, they are bound by the consumer protection laws that are in effect there.
You will also have a minimum of 7 days to return the purchase, but remember that certain restrictions apply to this rule. Check with the merchant and/or your national European consumer centre. You can find more information on this subject at the European Commission’s website.
Pay online securely with Net+
The safest way to pay for your goods online is to use debit or credit cards. Bank transfers, wire transfers and Western Union all seem like good methods, but keep in mind that they all provide minimal protection and should only be used if you know the merchant.
But if you’re a member of NETELLER you’re in luck because it offers an extremely secure solution to shopping online with its Net+ virtual prepaid card. It will help to control your online spending, which is great, especially if you get caught up in the spirit of the season. The only money available to you is what you have deposited in your NETELLER eWallet.
The beauty of the Net+ virtual prepaid card is that it generates a one-time use card number so that your purchases and money are protected when you’re online. Even though it has great security features, always make sure when buying online that you are on an encrypted page when you enter your payment details. These usually have an address that starts with https and most web browsers will display a closed lock to indicate that the data is encrypted.
Here are some sites I have used and may help you with your Christmas shopping:
- Amazon is not limited to books. You can find all kinds of goodies at their site, but shipping destinations may be limited. And the Amazon site is also available these countries : Canada - China – France – Germany – Japan – United Kingdom
- Harrods, the renowned London department store is also online. Why not get their famous Christmas teddy bear?
- Pricerunner lets you compare prices on many products. They not only list online merchants, but also high-end retailers. You can also compare prices among countries. You can also check out a Pricerunner site closer to home: United Kingdom – France – Germany – Austria – Sweden – Denmark
- Conrad offers all kinds of electronics, gadgets and hobby products at fair prices. They ship to most countries.
- Hamleys, the world famous London-based toy store ships to most destinations.
- Model trains and accessories are available at Factory Direct Trains, which ships worldwide.
Tell me some of your tips to shopping online.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Hassle-free travel with my Net+ prepaid cards
We’re excited to welcome guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
As a travel writer, I need to book numerous hotels, sightseeing tours and tickets depending on where I’m traveling. Like many of you, I end up paying for all of these with credit and debit cards.
Protect your cash and pay with plastic
From a consumer standpoint, it is better to use plastic to pay, since you’re usually better protected than when you pay with cash or use a wire transfer service. Also, many hotels require a credit card upon check-in, though some will accept a cash deposit instead. But having your fun money tied up in a costly deposit may limit daily excursions or the number of times you dine out.
In most cases you’re not punished for paying with plastic, however, in some European countries like Denmark, Sweden and the UK, customers can be charged for paying with credit or debit cards, regardless of the issuer. National laws in these participating countries require stores to clearly display the added fee and are limited on how much extra they can charge. Rest assured, tourist-friendly stores rarely add any fees.
So what do you do if you aren’t able to get a credit card, or like me, don’t feel entirely safe spending on a card that comes with a high limit and interest charges?
Benefits of a credit card minus the risk
This is where the Net+ physical and virtual prepaid cards come in handy. For one, the physical prepaid card is accepted worldwide and protects you with chip and PIN secure technology. Plus, I have first-hand experience that NETELLER does indeed keep an eye out for suspicious transactions and thus minimizes credit risk even further. It also gives you the same benefits as a credit card that you would use in the “real world” to buy airline tickets, shop or book hotels.
The Net+ virtual prepaid card has added security in that it generates a one-time use number that can never be used again. That means your virtual card number is always protected and it becomes unusable or worthless to anyone who attempts to intercept your information online.
Traveling and transacting with my virtual prepaid card
I’ve really been enjoying the convenience that my Net+ virtual prepaid card offers me. For instance, it works well for reserving hotel rooms, although its expiry date means it’s only valid for around a month.
It’s also great to pay for tickets and tours online, but be careful as you may be required to show or swipe the physical version of the Net+ card you used for payment when picking up your tickets. The virtual card also works well for buying guidebooks online that you might want for your next big trip.
First class acceptance
I have used the Net+ prepaid card to buy several airline tickets and have had absolutely no problems. With that said, you should be able to buy tickets anywhere else the card is accepted. Hotels are more than happy to accept the card, as are most stores and ticket vending machines for public transit that you might come into contact with as a tourist.
Why cash is still good
Using a credit or debit card on your holiday can almost eliminate the need to carry cash, but not completely. The main reason is that not every store, restaurant or office accepts credit or debit for payment. For example, in Denmark some merchants won’t accept international credit cards, only the national DanKort.
When it’s time to make a payment, some online payment systems that handle credit card transactions may be temporarily offline. Again this has happened a few times in Denmark, as well as in other places, so always have some cash on-hand. With that said, still feel safe with your Net+ card in your wallet, knowing it’s a widely-accepted, secure method of payment and will enable you to carry less cash.
Tell me where you have used your Net+ physical or virtual prepaid cards.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Are prepaid cards the new credit cards?
Today’s post was written by Gareth. As NETELLER’s Localisation and Communications Specialist, Gareth manages our translations and multilingual content.
Credit cards are great for young people, but they can also bring trouble. I should know. I had a nasty experience when I was only 19, getting into debt with a credit card I could not handle.
The dark cloud of debt
I wasn’t earning enough money to pay it off, and the debt hung around my neck for months. The interest rate was a punishing 18%! When I finally paid it off, I was poorer, older and wiser. To this day I keep a close eye on my debt obligations, and always pay them off each month.
I recently saw an article about how credit card companies in America are not issuing credit cards to people under 21. It makes sense – young people are often not perceived as mature enough to handle credit, which in my case was true. To paraphrase a famous quote, with credit power comes debt responsibility.
Prepaid cards are a good choice
In many countries they make it hard for young people to get credit cards. It’s for your own protection, right? Maybe, but that’s not much comfort when you’re at the checkout page of your favourite music website, or booking a hotel, and the only payment options are credit cards.
That’s why I enjoy using our Net+ prepaid cards. They offer the convenience of regular credit cards, allowing me to shop online or in person almost anywhere, plus let me make ATM withdrawals. But because it is a prepaid card that is connected to my NETELLER account, I never spend more money than I actually have.
Tell me how you use your Net+ card.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...NETELLER’s no fee prepaid cards get even better
Today’s post was written by Brendan. As a web writer, Brendan is responsible for crafting copy masterpieces every single day.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not that alert before my first coffee of the morning. Maybe that’s why I got so confused when Nicole asked me to write a blog post about our new Net+ promotion. Having just caught up on all the work that built up while I was on a vacation in South Carolina, I was starting to feel pretty on top of things. But I couldn’t recall anything about a Net+ promotion. What’s worse, I was still perplexed after she described it to me over a much-needed cup of coffee.
“So you’re telling me that every time a member uses their Net+ prepaid card to make a purchase or ATM withdrawal, they’re going to be automatically entered to win 500 EUR?” I asked.
“That’s right,” Nicole said slowly, as if talking to a child.
“What if they use their Net+ virtual prepaid card,” I asked, trying to wrap my head around it.
“They’ll be entered too,” she explained patiently. “For every transaction made on either card between September 17, 2009 and October 18, 2009, members will be entered into a draw to win 500 EUR, or equivalent currency*. Pretty simple, isn’t it?”
I must admit: the contest, as described, was a shining example of simplicity. It wasn’t the mechanics of the contest confusing me now – it was the logic. I couldn’t understand why we were offering members a chance to win money just for using their Net+ cards. With no application or dormancy fees and anytime, anywhere access to funds in their NETELLER accounts, our members don’t really need any incentive to use their cards.
But I kept my questions to myself, walked back to my desk, and pulled up my Net+ virtual card. I would have used the card anyway, but with a chance to win with every purchase I make over the next month, you better believe I’m going to give that card a workout. I may be slow, but I’m not stupid. Especially once I get a cup of coffee in me.
What will you use your card for? Let us know.
* Each time you make a purchase or ATM withdrawal with your Net+ card, you are automatically entered into the prize draw to win 500 EUR (or equivalent currency). Contest runs from Sept 17, 2009 12AM GMT to October 18, 2009 11:59PM GMT. Winner will be notified by October 24, 2009.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...NETELLER Desktop updates
Today’s post was written by Niall. He is the Director of Product Management and is responsible for our Product Management and User Experience teams. One of his products is the NETELLER Desktop and he is overseeing some upgrades to it.
In the past, we’ve learned that some of the best insight comes from you—the guys who use our service. In the coming months, we are enhancing our NETELLER Desktop in a variety of new and exciting ways.
One new feature is going to be the addition of an RSS widget to aggregate feeds. For the first phase, the feeds are going to be set and we would like to know which feeds you would like. What RSS feeds do you subscribe to? We want any RSS feeds that you like, such as Twitter feeds or your favorite news site.
Ultimately, we want to include the feeds that are important to you and allow your input into the continuous development of the NETELLER Desktop. Leave a comment below of your favourite RSS feeds.
And from the entire NETELLER team, I’d like to thank you in advance for your suggestions. Stay tuned to find out more about the new NETELLER Desktop features.
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