Traveler's Cheques.....

[Lynn]

I see, so if one did get lost/stolen, the bank would put a stop on anyone using it for purchases correct? But I could still use the 2nd card to withdraw cash from ATM...is that what you mean? What about being able to use it for purchases? Btw..both cards are identical, same number, same password..thanks!

[Kim]

Lynn,

If both cards are identical, there is no way they could cancel and one and not the other. If you think about it, there is no possible way of just cancelling one of the cards if they are exactly the same.

If one got lost or stolen, you would have to phone and get them to put a stop on it - and if everything is identical, they would both be cancelled.

When my bank issued me a second card for my account, the card number was different.

Kim

[LHR02]

Please re-read this thread thoroughly...you'll see that it was mentioned that the two cards need different numbers. As Kim said, if they are both the same, well, might as well just take one. I'm uncertain why this is proving so confusing to you. Is this your first bank card maybe and you just have no experience with the whole 'card' thing?

[Eagle]

LYNN, I wanted to add a few comments to this increasingly long thread. Hopefully I can clarify this somewhat based on my own experiences in setting up ATM cards for travel.

I couldn't tell from your profile where you were located? I'm more familiar with the financial products in Canada, but I'm sure there are similarities with those of other countries. Are you researching this topic in preparation for an upcoming trip?

In one of your previous posts, you mentioned that your ATM card had a Visa logo on it. That sounds very similar to one of the "global payment" products that I use. It appears to be a credit card and is used like a credit card for purchases, but in fact it is a debit card that accesses funds in a chequing account. You may be able to obtain a separate, different debit card from your bank / credit union with a separate number (ie: a "standard" debit card, rather than a "global payment" type with a Visa logo on it?). If one of the cards is lost / stolen / "eaten" by the machine, you may be able to still use the second card to access funds in the same chequing account; it should have a different number and PIN than the card with the Visa logo.

Another avenue to obtain funds while travelling is to use a normal credit card to withdraw funds from an ATM, similar to a "cash advance". It is extremely important however to pre-pay the account before you leave, so that you're only accessing the money that you deposited on the card as a "credit balance". If you use this to access "credit" (ie: using the banks money), it can be very expensive as cash advances are charged interest daily starting the moment the money is withdrawn.

I wasn't sure from the various posts whether you had resolved the question of the two cards? Hopefully the above comments will clarify this to some degree.

Good luck with this! Cheers!!!

[lynn]

Eagle....You are correct, that's exactly what it is....a debit card which can also be used for purchases as well. I think it best if I go to my bank and also apply for a "standard" debit card as you suggested...just in case. Thank you very much...you have been very helpful! Obviously, there are some here that don't know there are two diffferent types of debit cards...the one you call "global" which also acts like a credit card (to make purchases) and the "standard" which you can only use for cash withdrawals. thanks for clearing things up!

[Kim]

It still stands however that if you have two cards that are identical regardless of what kind of card it is - that you cannot just cancel one card if gets lost or stolen. One card must have a different number in order to cancel just one.

Just want to make sure everyone is clear on that.

Kim

[lynn]

thanks Kim...understood ;D btw...what is the purpose of having your picture on your debit card…if it gets stolen someone can still use it to purchase via the internet, over the phone, etc. oh well.....

[jovial24]

I did not bring any traveler's cheques with me on my trip and am glad i did not. Banks in some countries open late and close early and you may not be able to find one when you really need the money.

I used a debit card and found it to be perfectly fine. I used a 5 digit pin btw. There are plenty of ATMS with the Visa or Cirrus sign on them all over the place.
If your bank doesnt give you a second card, you can apply for a cash passport. It is like a Visa prepaid card. You can have as many as 5 cards per account and they have all different pin numbers so you dun have to worry about your acct being closed if 1 card gets stolen.
I used this during my trip and shared the account with 2 other friends and it helped us save on the withdrawal fee that my bank would otherwise have charged.
The website is www.cashpassportcard.com/index.cfm. You can check to see where you can purchase such a card.