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Cash card without Plus VISA logo=delays?

Posted by (Providence) on

So what exactly does Rick mean for Italy: ". . .you'll need a debit card ideally with a Visa or Mastercard logo for maximum usability." ?? (p.12, Rick Steves'Italy 2010)

I called CapitalOne to verify that their cash card is accepted at all PlusVISA atm machines but the cash card does NOT have the logo on it, front or back. Also, they have issued these cash cards for travel for 10 years and have no record of customer complaints of being rejected by PlusVisa atm machines.

Will I be running into rejections? Should I bring my B of A debit card w/logo as well as back up, even though it charges mucho fees?

I was hoping I only needed CapitalOne cash card and their VentureOne credit card.

Thanks for any clarification.

Posted by
4555 posts

Rick is slightly off on this one. It's not the Visa logo that needs to be on it, it's the Visa system's Plus logo, which has three blue triangles and the word "PLUS" in it. Same for Mastercard....it's not the Mastercard logo, but its Cirrus ATM network logo....two interlocking blue circles with "CIRRUS" written across them. If your bank says they're OK on the Plus system, then you're OK.

Posted by
4 posts

Bravissimo, Norm. . .grazie tanto!

I needed your reassuring clarification and I so didn't want to bring my expensive BofA debit card as back-up. . .less to worry about. :-)

Posted by
4555 posts

LM...you should STILL bring the B of A card as a backup....in case of theft, loss, damage, or other malfunction of your original ATM card.
As well, many Americans have reported they've had to notify their bank in advance that they were travelling, to avoid being locked out of their accounts...the bank may think the foreign withdrawals are fraud.

Posted by
4 posts

I see your point, Norm. This means my money belt has to hold 2 of each of these: passport (dual citizenship), credit card, debit/cash card.

Then, I'll have a license ID, plane ticket, cash, and discount train card. . .

Yikes. . .I will need 2 money belts, too! LOL!

Seriously, do you double up on all the plastic money usually?

Oh, well, where there's a will, there's a way.

Thanks again for your advice.

Posted by
4555 posts

Always...some will travel with a debit card and a credit card only, but I prefer to use cash when I can, so I take two. And I usually don't keep them together....I put my backup into the hotel safe...just to be safe.

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