New - PocketCurrency Prepaid MasterCard Review

Product Snapshot
The PocketCurrency Prepaid MasterCard is a fantastic range of Prepaid MasterCard currency cards launched by the team at Currency Solutions, one of the UK’s leading foreign exchange specialists.

PocketCurrency Prepaid Travel Cards are available in Euro, Dollar and Sterling and can be used at millions of retailers around the world providing customers with safe and secure access to their cash on their travels.

• Euro Prepaid Card (€)
  Best when travelling in the Euro zone where the transactional currency is in Euro. You can convert your currency to Euro on loading your prepaid card and funds are held and spent in Euros.
  
  
• US Dollar Prepaid Card ($)
  Best when travelling across the United States where the transactional currency is in US Dollar. As with the Euro Prepaid Cards, on the Dollar card you can convert your currency to US Dollars on loading your prepaid card and funds are held and spent in Dollars.
  
  
• Global Prepaid Card (£)
  This is the truly global card for use in any country and currency. Load your card with the required GBP amount prior to travel and your Pounds are converted to the local currency during spend.

The Good
The PocketCurrency Prepaid Card is available in 3 currencies - Euro, Dollar and Sterling and can be used at over 30 million retailers and over 1.5 million ATM's worldwide. In addition to the savings availed on the exchange rate, PocketCurrency Prepaid cards come with world class customer service from Currency Solutions as standard.

The Not so Good
There is a minimum load amount that you need to out on your PocketCurrency prepaid travel card at the time of purchase which does mean your initial load gets tied to the exchange rate on that particular day. Not really an issue given that the rates are generally 10% better than airport rates.

Application Process

• Apply online - You can apply for all three cards via the Online Application process on the PocketCurrency prepaid card website. In fact, PocketCurrency allow you to ally for all three currency cards at the same time if you require them. Select your cards, add the initial load amount (subject to minimums) and add additional cards as well.
  
  That's it. The PocketCurrency Application process tells you which cards you have chosen and what your net cost is in GBP and you are ready to complete your order in a few minutes. Once complete, your card(s) on its way and should be with you in 5-7 days.

Note: You do need to be over 18 Years to be the primary card applicant and be resident in the UK to get PocketCurrency Prepaid Cards.

Card Features

• FREE card and free delivery
• Excellent exchange rates on all purchases and foreign ATM withdrawals
• Ability to Load/Check Balance/Transfer funds/Block & Unblock your card using your mobile
  

Design
At this stage, one sleek black card design is available for each currency - Euro, Dollar and Sterling!

Card Fees
The Pocket Currency Prepaid MasterCard is available in three currencies - GBP, EURO and USD.

PocketCurrency Global Card GBP Prepaid MasterCard:

• Card Issue Fee - Free.
• Monthly Fee - Free.
• Transaction Fee UK - Free.
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - £1.50.
• Reload Fee - 1.5% charge for Debit Cards, 3% via Payzone (Min £1.50).

PocketCurrency EURO Prepaid MasterCard:

• Card Issue Fee - Free.
• Monthly Fee - Free.
• Transaction Fee UK - €2.00.
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - €2.00.
• Reload Fee - Free Via Debit Cards, 2.5% via SMS Card to Card Transfer (Min €4.00).

PocketCurrency USD Dollar Prepaid MasterCard:

• Card Issue Fee - Free.
• Monthly Fee - Free.
• Transaction Fee UK - $3.00.
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - $3.00.
• Reload Fee - Free Via Debit Cards, 2.5% via SMS Card to Card Transfer (Min $5.00).

Online Account Management and Self Servicing
PocketCurrency offer a fully comprehensive online account management facility and can service your account online, via SMS text, IVR and through customer service.. These facilities can be used FREE of charge for the following:

• 24/7 Online Access to account information
• IVR access to account information
• 24/7 Call centre
• Interactive SMS features

Using Abroad
The PocketCurrency Prepaid Card has been designed for usage abroad and is available in Euro, Dollar and Sterling. A MasterCard Prepaid card, the Pocket Currency prepaid card can be at over 30 million global locations for purchases as well as making withdrawals at over 1.5 million ATM's that accept MasterCard across the globe.

If travelling in a EURO or USD region where the main transactional currency is Euro or US Dollars, consider getting the EURO or USD card respectively. A POS transaction abroad (in EUR/USD) is Free in those respective regions and an ATM withdrawal will cost you €2.00 or $3.00, respectively.

Do note that while Point of Sale (POS) transactions abroad are free on both the Euro and Dollar cards, they are subject to an FX fee of 2.50% if used in a region with a different currency from your card currency. Similarly, POS transactions are free on the GBP card in GBP regions but when used in a different region are subject to a 1.5% FX fee.

Reload Options
PocketCurrency Prepaid Cards can be loaded online, using SMS text and using PayZone retailers.

Pocket Currency Euro and Dollar Prepaid Cards

• Online Using Debit Card - FREE
• SMS Card to Card Transfer Load -2.5% (minimum of €4.00/$5.00 respectively)

Pocket Currency Sterling Prepaid Cards

• Online Using Debit Card - FREE initial load (1.5% thereafter)
• Payzone - 3% (minimum of £1.50)
• SMS Card to Card Transfer Load - 2.5% (minimum of £3.00)

Customer Service
The PocketCurrency prepaid MasterCard customer services team can be reached using various options as detailed below.

• Telephone : +44 020 7740 0001
• Online Support Centre: On the "Contact Us" page of the PocketCurrency Website
• Lost and Stolen: +44 (0)20 7740 0001
• By Post: PocketCurrency, c/o Currency Solutions, Hobbs Court, 2 Jacob Street, London SE1 2BG

Complaints Procedure
The PocketCurrency Prepaid MasterCard team are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and resolving all complaints as quickly as possible. If you are unhappy in any way with your Prepaid Card or the way it is managed, contact PocketCurrency by using the 'Contact Us' facility on the Website so they can investigate the circumstances for you. Any complaints you have will be dealt with quickly and fairly.

You may be able to take unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR. Telephone: 0845 080 1800 or +44 (0)20 7964 1000. Calls may be recorded.

Awards
The PocketCurrency Prepaid MasterCard has been launched recently by the Currency Solutions team and is already getting press mentions. Watch this space.