NEW - Virgin Prepaid Travel Money Card Review

Product Snapshot
The new Euro and Dollar Virgin Travel Money Prepaid cards have been launched by the team at Virgin Money and MBNA. These free prepaid cards have been long awaited as they mark the entry of Virgin Money into the prepaid travel card market providing consumers with all the benefits of prepaid currency cards in addition to exclusive access to a world of Virgin discounts such as

• 7.5% off Virgin Holidays.
• Exclusive Savings with Virgin Media.
• 10% off at Virgin Wines.
• 30% off with Virgin Books.
• Upto 20% off Virgin Experiences.
• 10% off VIE at home.
• 1 month free with Virgin Digital Help and
• Half Price Virgin Balloon Flights.....

You can use your Virgin Travel Money prepaid card to spend just like you would use your credit or debit card wherever you see the VISA acceptance mark. The main difference is that you need to load it up with cash before you shop, rather than paying for it after. That means no worrying about bills or interest, and no getting carried away and absolutely no getting in debt on your Virgin Prepaid Card.

This useful alternative to credit cards gives you the freedom to shop safely online, by phone or in the high street and is great for helping you manage your spend as you can't overspend and the discounts mean that there is always more in your pocket to start with.

The Good
Free cards available in EURO and USD with free retail transactions in the currency of the card in addition to exclusive access to Virgin discounts including discounts at Virgin Media, Virgin Wines,Virgin Books, Virgin Holidays and Virgin experiences; the Virgin Travel Money prepaid cards are part of the VISA network and hence benefit from the convenience and ease of usage at over 14 million worldwide locations and 1 million ATM's.

The Not so Good
The cards are available in USD and EURO and attract a 3.5% retail conversion fee when used in a currency other than the card currency. There are other travel cards which also provide free ATM abroad but nowhere like the range of discounts available via Virgin money.

Application Process

• Apply online - if you are a UK resident and have the right to reside in the UK, you can apply for your Virgin Money travel money prepaid card by providing a few personal details and your address.
  
  You can choose either a Euro or US Dollar card. The minimum initial payment onto the card is £100 and this can be paid via debit or credit card. The minimum top-up is $100/€50. The debit/credit card needs to be registered to the same address as your travel card.

Please keep in mind it can take up to 7-10 business days to receive your card.

You can pay for your Virgin travel Money prepaid card and the initial deposit using a credit or debit card but remember the minimum initial load is £100.

Card Features

• Free Card and Free Emergency Card.
• Free retail (POS) transactions in the currency of your card and fixed ATM fees.
• Access to exclusive Virgin money deals on holidays, books, wine, flights and more from Virgin.

Card Fees
There are two currency cards to choose from - the EURO prepaid card and the USD prepaid card. Choose the card that is right for you based on where you are travelling. Remember, retail transactions in the currency of your card are free - so choose wisely.

Virgin Travel Money Euro Prepaid Card: - Get the EURO card now

• Card Issue Fee - Free.
• Monthly Fee - Free.
• Transaction Fee UK - 3.5% (Free in Euro Zone).
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - 3.5% plus €1.50.
• Reload Fee - Free via debit card and 2.75% via credit card.

Virgin Travel Money Dollar Prepaid Card: - Get the USD card now

• Card Issue Fee - Free.
• Monthly Fee - Free.
• Transaction Fee UK - 3.5% (Free across the USA).
• ATM Withdrawal Fee UK - 3.5% plus $2.
• Reload Fee - Free via debit card and 2.75% via credit card.

For a complete listing of the fee structure, see the "What does it cost?" section on the Virgin Travel Money Prepaid Card Website.

Using Abroad
The Virgin Travel Money prepaid cards are Visa branded and can be used at over 14 million merchants worldwide and can also be used to withdraw cash at over 1 million ATM's worldwide.

There are two currency options available - Euro and Dollar - and you should pick the card which suits your travel plans best. There’s no fee for making a retial transaction in your card's currency. So you won't pay any fee when spending on your Euro card in a country which has the Euro as its currency. ** Map of the 16 EU states in the 'Eurozone'.

Similarly, with a Virgin Money Dollar prepaid card, you won't pay a fee for spending on your US Dollar card in any US state.

You can use your card in other countries too (including the UK) but there will be a 3.5% charge for converting the payment to the required currency with ATM transactions costing $2/€1.50 in addition to that conversion fee. This charge also applies if you use the US Dollar card in the 'Eurozone' or the Euro card in the US.

So it may be better to get a Virgin Money Sterling Prepaid card if you are planning to travel to a non Euro or non US Dollar currency region to avoid losing on exchange rates twice.

Note: that you cannot use your Virgin Travel Money prepaid card in Cuba, Burma, North Korea, Iran or Sudan.

Reload Options
Funds can be loaded on to your Virgin Travel Money Visa Prepaid card using your credit or debit card via your Virgin money prepaid card account online.

• Internet Debit Card Top-up - Free (Immediately)
• Internet Credit Card Top-up - 2.5% (Immediately)

Remember, the minimum load amount is $100/€50. The maximum top-up is $5,000/€5,000, and the maximum balance you can normally have on your card is $5,000/€5,000.

Customer Service
There are a number of ways you can get in touch with the Virgin Money Visa Prepaid card Customer Services team.

• By Phone - 0845 089 6278 (Available 24/7)
• By Email: info@prepaidcard.virginmoney.com
• Lost and Stolen Cards: +44 (0)845 089 6278
• By Post - Virgin Money Prepaid, c/o MBNA Europe Bank Limited, PO Box 1004, Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester CH4 9WW

*Calls may be monitored or recorded. Maximum call charge from a BT landline is 3.9p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary whilst email is free

Complaints Procedure
If you would like to make a complaint, or contact MBNA for any other reason connected to these terms and conditions or regarding the management of your Virgin Travel Money prepaid credit card, please write to Virgin Money at Virgin Money Prepaid, MBNA Europe Bank Limited, PO Box 1004, Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester CH4 9WW.

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 (for calls from outside the UK) and e-mail:enquiries@financial-ombudsman.org.uk