UK Travel Planning

How Should I Bring Money to the UK? A Complete Guide to Cash & Cards

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 17, 2022

Asking yourself how should I bring money to the UK when I visit? Discover the pros and cons of cash and cards plus answers to frequently asked questions.

There can be a considerable amount of confusion when it comes to spending money in the UK. As geographically the UK is part of Europe – and was historically part of the European Union (EU) – some people do think that the UK currency is Euros. 

But that’s not the case at all. Hence this post on how to bring money to the UK. The UK has its own currency, pounds sterling. And just to confuse visitors even more, Scottish cash looks completely different to English money. 

This guide to bringing cash into the UK from abroad will take you through all you need to know about spending money in the country. We’ll outline all the denominations UK currency comes in, as well as what happens when you cross the border into Scotland. 

Also covered are all the pros and cons of using cash within the UK, as opposed to a credit or debit card. The Wise card is also included, to answer the growing number of UK visitors who want to think about using this form of payment within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

By the end of this guide, you’ll know all about UK currency and how best to use it. Let’s get stuck in by discussing the denominations British currency comes in. 

Coins 

Scottish currency denominations, northern irish currency, wise card pros and cons, do i need to bring cash to the uk, should i do anything before paying by card in the uk, do i need to bring more than one card , can i pay with us dollars in the uk, which way will you pay in the uk.

UK AND LONDON TRAVEL PLANNING 1 1

Bank of England currency denominations

There are currently six banknotes and eight coins in circulation in England and Wales . Let’s take a look at each in turn. 

There are four different amounts on banknotes issued by the Bank of England – £5, £10, £20 or £50. (There is no £100 note.) So why are there six types of notes? 

Over a five-year period between 2016 and 2021, the UK started to issue polymer banknotes instead of paper ones. The aim was to replace the original, easily damaged paper notes with the type that could cope with being put through a washing machine cycle. As well as other kinds of stress. 

All banknotes issued by the Bank of England feature the Queen’s portrait. On the other side a notable British character is depicted. Here’s some more info about each note.

£5 note

Often referred to as a ‘fiver’

  • Colour: Aqua
  • Portraits: The Queen & Sir Winston Churchill
  • Paper version: No

The £5 note – or fiver – features an aqua colour and portrait of Sir Winston Churchill. He was a prominent Prime Minister who was in power during World War II. The historic paper version of the five pound note is no longer in circulation. 

£10 note

Often referred to as a ‘tenner’

  • Colour: Brown
  • Portraits: The Queen & Jane Austen

The old paper £10 note is also no longer used. A new polymer one features Jane Austen , the famous British writer who published Pride and Prejudice, among other works. This note is brown in colour.

£20 note

Often referred to as a ‘twenty’

  • Colour: Purple
  • Portraits: The Queen & JMW (William) Turner
  • Paper version: Yes

The English Romantic artist J. M. W. Turner is featured on the new £20 note. During the time the painter was known as William Turner. This note is purple and the old paper version of this one is still being used. 

A £20 note is sometimes simply called a twenty, though it’s not as commonly heard a term as ‘fiver’ or ‘tenner’.

£50 note

Often referred to as a ‘fifty’

  • Colour: Red
  • Portraits: The Queen & Alan Turing

Both paper and polymer £50 notes are still in circulation, though you tend not to see these as often as £5, £10 and £20 notes. The ‘fifty’ is red and features Alan Turing, a computer scientist who is credited with designing what the very first computer was based on. His 1950s test for artificial intelligence is still used today. 

UK 50 pound notes and two pound coins.

  • ‘Coppers’: 1p and 2p
  • Silver coins: 5p, 10, 20p, 50p, £1 & £2

Coins come in silver or copper-coloured metals. £2, £1, 50p, 20p,10p and 5p coins are silver, while 2p and 1p coins are copper-toned. All feature the Queen’s portrait, and special editions are often minted. 

These can, over time, become worth more than their face value, so do check your change for anything unusual! The ‘p’ means pence. There are 100 pence in each pound. 

UK coins.

  • Notes: £1, £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100 (issued by 3 Scottish banks)
  • Coins: same as England, Wales & Northern Ireland 

As mentioned in the introduction, Scotland does things its own way – and not least when it comes to money. 

While the coins are exactly the same as the English versions, and the money is worth the same amount, Scottish banknotes look different. They also come in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations. 

There is also still a £1 note in circulation in Scotland, though it’s now rare to see one. A Scottish £100 note also exists. 

Three Scottish banks issue notes – the Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Each uses unique designs. 

In theory, Bank of England and Scottish banknotes are both accepted across the UK as both state ‘pounds sterling’. But in practice some retailers aren’t keen on accepting the ‘other’ type. This is less of an issue in places close to the border like Edinburgh or Northumberland, or in major tourist centres. 

It can, though, be a reason why paying by card can make matters simpler when you’re travelling through various parts of the UK!

Scottish bank notes.

We also need to mention Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland also issues its own pound sterling banknotes, that are the same in value as the English and Scottish ones. 

While (in theory at least) you can use English or Scottish notes worth £5 or more anywhere in the UK, Northern Irish notes can only be used as a form of payment in Northern Ireland.

Any English bank should exchange these for English notes, though, if you require this service.

Pros and Cons of using Cash in the UK

So now you know what the money is all about, here are some reasons why you might want – or not want – to use cash in the UK.

  • It’s simple to budget on a daily basis
  • It’s easy to keep track of your spending
  • It’s useful for car parking, tipping and so on
  • A banknote or two makes a cool souvenir of your time in the UK
  • You can change money at banks, post offices, hotels & bureaus de change 
  • Some UK outlets are now cashless 
  • Changing money takes up valuable time
  • Cash is more bulky to carry than one or two cards
  • It can be confusing, especially when travelling in Scotland
  • Lost or stolen cash can be more difficult to claim on your insurance 

Pros and Cons of using Cards in the UK

So what about credit and debit cards, or other types of payment cards? Big names like Visa and Mastercard are accepted all over the UK. Here’s some more info on the pros and cons of paying by card.

  • No need to change money
  • You’re prepared for cashless payments
  • Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted
  • Cards are very lightweight and easy to carry
  • There’s no confusion re Scottish vs Bank of England notes
  • It can be harder to budget
  • Tracking your spending is more difficult
  • Cash is harder to carry and takes up extra space
  • You could need cash for car parks, tips and buying small items
  • You may have to cancel a stolen or lost card from another country

Bring money to the UK or do you prefer a a credit card?

The Wise Card*

*Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. You should always seek your own professional advice that takes into account your personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. We always encourage our readers to compare options when it comes to financial products. Read our full disclosure.

The Wise Card comes from Wise, an international payment and transfer platform. Wise was set up to offer simple, lightning-fast and low-cost transactions. 

The Wise Mastercard is available to anyone with a Wise account, including citizens of countries like the US, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. You need a multi-currency Wise account to apply for the card.

A Wise card works like a debit card. Put simply, if there’s money in your Wise account, then you can spend it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can pay via Wise in more than 50 currencies worldwide. A set amount of money can also be withdrawn in cash, and this varies by country. 

It’s free to open a Wise account , and then you can apply for the card. This will open the door to spending money all over the world – without any unreasonable fees or poor exchange rates. 

The rates compare very favourably indeed to the likes of PayPal, which is why anyone who gets paid from another country tends to fall in love with Wise and its far lower fees!

“From a personal perspective, we love Wise – and so do the freelancers and partners we work with in the UK and Australia.”  

  • A Wise account – and card – is free
  • Wise fees are far lower than those charged by banks
  • Wise offers far more favourable exchange rates than the likes of PayPal
  • There are good security features to protect users
  • You can use Wise like a debit card or to withdraw cash
  • The Wise card isn’t yet available in many countries
  • You’ll need funds in your account to pay with or withdraw
  • Limits apply to how much cash you can withdraw via the card

Find out more about the Wise card here.

How to Bring Money to the UK – FAQs

It’s a good idea to have small amounts of cash to hand. You may need coins or notes when parking, or require some for tipping. When paying for small items it can also be simpler to hand over a few coins than a card or a banknote.

During our recent visit to the UK, we needed to use cash for parking on more than one occasion. Some taxis may also accept only cash, especially outside the major cities. 

If you’re planning a UK trip, it’s best to tell your bank that you’ll be travelling before you use your card overseas. That way they’ll know not to block it (as if they don’t know they may suspect fraud). 

It’s always a good idea to travel with more than one payment card, just in case one is lost, stolen or blocked. One Mastercard and one Visa card, for example, would be a good bet.

You may also need a second card if the first type isn’t accepted in the places in which you stay, eat or shop. Visa and Mastercard are widely used across the UK. 

Us dollars are not generally accepted in the UK. Nor, in fact, are Euros. With the exception of places like airport stores, you’ll need to use UK currency in cash or a payment card during your time in the UK. 

In most cases, paying by card is more convenient than cash, though we do recommend carrying a small amount of cash for parking, taxis, small purchases and tips.

Ideally, take a Wise Mastercard and a Visa debit or credit card with you – plus a small amount of cash. That way you’ll be covered every single time you need to pay for something. Whether that’s an ice cream, a taxi ride, a newspaper or a car park ticket!

For more on paying your way in London, don’t miss this article on Oyster Cards versus contactless payments . 

do travel agents accept cash uk

Yagi Studio/Getty Images 

The pound Sterling (£), sometimes just called " Sterling ", is the official currency of the UK . You can change your money into pounds in different ways, but you can't actually spend your own national currency, not even Euros , without exchanging it first.

As soon as you start planning your trip, start thinking about how you'll handle your spending money in the UK. Leave yourself enough time to consider the convenience, security and value of various options and to open new bank or credit card accounts if necessary.

These are the choices:

1. credit and debit cards - the easiest and the cheapest.

These are, hands down, the cheapest and most convenient way to pay for things and to get cash in the UK as long as you use them correctly. Consider the pros and cons.

  • Credit card companies apply a wholesale/interbank exchange rate in effect when your payment is processed. The rate will go up and down but it will always be a commercial rate, available to banks and large organizations—much better than the retail currency exchange rates available over the counter to consumers. So you get more for your money.
  • Most card companies do not add additional transaction fees on purchases of goods (though they do when you buy cash).
  • If you pay your credit card bills before interest is added on, or make sure you have enough money in your debit account to cover your spending, you won't be subject to any extra charges.
  • They're widely accepted—You can pay for just about anything with a debit card in the UK, from a carton of milk and the day's newspapers or beer in a pub, to large expensive goods. In the UK, people can even pay their taxes and electricity bills with a debit card.
  • Cash machines, or ATMs are everywhere. Most village high streets will have a selection of automated teller machines. They're available at petrol (gas) stations, in cinemas, at banks and in some shops. This makes getting some cash at any hour of day or night very easy.
  • Some cards are not recognized or widely accepted in the UK. You may have difficulty using Diners Club and Discover cards. American Express cards are sometimes refused. Stick with the big two—VISA and MasterCharge—and you shouldn't have any problems.
  • Some merchants may require a minimum purchase to accept a credit card. This is especially true in small, local Mom and Pop stores.
  • Bank charges may apply. Bank, building society and post office cash machines in the UK (which is most of them) do not apply an extra charge or commission getting cash. But your own bank or card company probably will. It's worth shopping around for the lowest currency transaction charge because this varies from card to card and between issuing banks. You might be charged anywhere from $1.50 to $3.00 or more per foreign currency cash transaction.
  • A small number of cash machines do charge for withdrawals and are worth avoiding. Cash machines in small convenience stores and at some motorway rest stops may be part of commercial networks that add extra fees—a minimum of about £1.50 but sometimes a percentage of your transaction. Try to avoid using these machines except in an emergency. Instead look for ATMs associated with the UK's big banks, with building societies (like savings banks) or with leading shops (Harrods,  Marks & Spencer ) and supermarkets. 
  • You may need to get a new card to comply with European chip-and-pin standards (more on that below)​.
  • One word to the wise —Use your credit card to buy things but use a debit or ATM card for getting cash from ATMs. When you use a credit card for shopping, interest is not charged until after the payment deadline (usually 30 days or the end of the month). But, when you use a credit card at a cash machine, interest starts accruing immediately. With a debit card, as long as you have money in the bank to cover your spending, no interest is charged.

The Chip-and-Pin Issue

The UK, along with most of the rest of the world, has been using chip-and-pin cards for more than a decade. The cards have an embedded microchip and customers are issued a unique, 4-digit PIN number they have to enter in ATMs or at point of sale machines to use their cards.

The USA has been the one holdout, relying instead on cards with magnetic stripes that usually require a signature. All that is finally beginning to change. The EMV (Europay Mastercard VISA) group, who developed the global, open chip and pin smart card technology, have been trying to persuade American merchants and card issuers to change to chip and pin for a long time. In October 2015, to force the issue, they changed their rules. Since then, if a card is used fraudulently, merchants or card issuers who do not participate in the chip and pin protocol will be held liable for the cost of the fraud.

Because of this, EMV chip-and-pin smart cards are becoming more widely available in the USA and older style cards are gradually being replaced to meet the global standard.

What This Means for You

If you already have a chip-and-pin smart card, you won't run into any difficulty using it where your brand of card is accepted. The card reading machines used in shops, banks and post offices will still have a magnetic stripe reader so you can swipe your card on the top or side of the device. 

But if your card requires a signature (either mag stripe and signature or chip and signature cards) you will have problems—especially when no human cashier is present to accept your signature. Without a chip, your card will be rejected by ticket machines (at train stations, for example) and by automated petrol (gasoline) pumps. And even with a chip, you will need a PIN number to use your card with these machines.

To avoid hassles:

  • All bank cards and credit cards have a 4-digit PIN number, even if your bank or card issuer has not given it to you. Ask for one for each of your cards before traveling. Then you'll be able to use your card in an ATM or swipe it at a point-of-sale terminal and authorise the transaction with your PIN number.
  • Get yourself a chip-and-pin card. Most of the bigger American banks are now offering them or replacing their customers' existing chip and signature cards with chip and pin cards. If your bank does not yet have them available, open an account at a bank that can give you one. 

And the Contactless Issue

Most debit and credit cards issued to UK consumers have a contactless payment feature. If the card has it, there is a symbol that looks like sound waves printed on the card, as pictured above. These cards can be used for payments simply by tapping them on terminals similarly equipped. Very conveniently, these cards can be used just like Oyster Cards for access to London Underground, London buses. London Overground and Docklands Light Railway. Some mobile phone apps that display the contactless logo can also be used to pay small amounts. 

If you are visiting the UK from Canada, Australia or a number of European countries, you may already have one of these contactless cards and you can use them in the UK wherever the contactless symbol is displayed on the payment terminal. As of 2018, US banks began to offer contactless credit and debit cards in partnership with international card issuers. Chase, for example, has offered this form of payment to its customers since February 2018. If you can, get your hands on one of these as its the most convenient way to pay small amounts. If you are able to use a contactless card, keep in mind though, that your transaction will still be subject to whatever foreign exchange transaction fees your bank or card issuer charges.

If you have an iPhone, you may be able to use Apple Pay wherever contactless payments are accepted and for more than the £30 contactless limit. The Apple Pay UK site has a list of some of the main businesses that accept this form of payment at point of sale. 

Traveler's checks.

Traveler's checks were once the gold standard when it came to carrying travel money. And perhaps, in some parts of the world they may still be a safe option, but they are currently the most expensive and most inconvenient option for the UK.

  • They are very secure—As long as you keep a record of the check numbers (separate from the checks themselves), and as long as you keep track of the emergency number to call in the country you are visiting, you can get lost or stolen checks replaced quickly, at no extra cost.
  • They are available in several currencies including dollars, Euros and pounds sterling.
  • They are expensive, possibly the most expensive way to take money abroad in fact. First off, you will usually be charged a fee of one percent of the total value of the checks you buy. If you buy them in a foreign currency—in other words you spend dollars to buy travelers checks in pounds sterling—the seller's retail exchange rate will apply and you may also pay a commission for the currency conversion. If you buy them in dollars, planning to exchange them for local currency when you arrive, you will still be stuck with accepting a retail exchange rate (usually much less advantageous than the interbank rate for the day) and probably a foreign currency commission too.
  • They are very inconvenient. In the UK, with the exception of tourist magnets like Harrods , and very expensive hotels, almost none of the shops, restaurants and hotels accept them. In fact, very few stores in the UK accept any kind of check at all. So you will have to seek out bureaux de changes, banks and post offices—during weekday working hours, to cash them. Bureau de change outlets, the European name for commercial currency exchanges, are profit making businesses and usually offer the worst exchange rates. And banks will only cash traveler's checks if they have what is known as a correspondent relationship with the bank that issued them.

3. Prepaid Currency Cards

One way around the chip-and-pin issue is to buy yourself a prepaid currency card, such as the Travelex Cash Passport or the Virgin Money Prepaid MasterCard. These are cards you prepay in either your own currency or the currency you want to spend. Some can be charged up with several currencies at once. The cards are associated with one of the major international card organizations—usually VISA or MasterCard, are embedded with chip-and-pin technology and can be used wherever those credit cards are normally accepted.

  • An easy way to chip-and-pin
  • Easier to control your spending. You charge up the card with exactly what you want to spend and then use it up like cash.
  • Security is assured as long as you protect your PIN number.
  • Up front purchase price and higher than average ATM cash fees can add to costs
  • Some can only be charged up with additional funds in person in a branch of the business that sold it to you, in your own country.
  • Hidden charges—if you leave a balance on the card, planning to use it for another trip abroad or other special purchases, you may find that balance nibbled away by monthly "inactivity" charges. Read the fine print.

​ And one last warning about prepaid cards:

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE these cards to guarantee your hotel or rental car bill or to buy petrol from automated pumps. In these situations, an amount - which can be £200 or £300—will be put on hold to guarantee that you will pay your bill. The problem is, even if you don't spend that much money, it can take as long as 30 days for those funds to be released. Meanwhile, you can't use the money you've put on the card for the rest of your trip. Use your credit card for the guarantees, then settle the bills with the prepaid card.

Then, of course, there's always good old cash—or at least there used to be (see below). You'll want to have some local currency in your wallet for tips , cab fares and small purchases. How much you carry depends on your own spending habits and confidence in carrying cash. As a rule of thumb, plan on carrying about as much in pounds sterling as you might carry in your own currency when at home.

There is a catch. In the UK, espcially the big cities, a small but growing number of businesses—notably cafes and bars—are refusing to accept cash and will only accept card payments. This is still pretty rare, but we were shocked in November, 2018, to offer a £10 note to pay for a coffee and croissant only to be shown a sign that said the restaurant did not accept cash. These days, an internationally accepted credit card is still the safest kind of travel money to have.

Know Before You Go: A Traveler's Guide to UK Currency

The Currencies of Ireland

Currency in Egypt: Everything You Need to Know

Whether to Use Cash, Credit, or Debit While Traveling

The Currency in Kuala Lumpur

A Traveler's Guide to the Yen

Currency Converters

Booking Hotels With a Debit Card

Can You Use Euros in England and Around the UK?

Tips for Using Debit and Credit Cards in Canada

Money in Germany

How to Exchange Money in China

Your Trip to the Czech Republic: The Complete Guide

9 Tips for Using Your ATM card in Europe

Exchanging Currency in London and the UK

Tips for Changing Your Money Abroad

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What is the law of travel agency and what do you need to know? Part 2: how do I become a travel agent, and what if I create package holidays?

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This article was first published in Travel Weekly on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

In this second part of our overview of the law of travel agency, we explain some of the legal practicalities to consider when setting up a travel agency and why the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 are important to understand. You can read part one: the basics of an agency relationship here . 

How does one become a travel agent?

In order to be a travel agent in the legal sense, the travel company must be appointed by its principal (e.g. a hotelier) as its agent. This is typically set out in a written agency agreement, which will determine the rights of the parties. In addition to this formal appointment, the travel agent must then ensure that it discloses the fact that it is acting as an agent to third parties (e.g. consumers) and that it does not give third parties the impression that it is acting as a principal.

The law will generally respect the terms of the contracts entered into by the parties. If the contract denotes a travel company as an agent, then that will usually determine the issue. However, there could be situations in which the courts would disregard the terms of the contract if it found that the contracts were a “sham” and/or did not properly reflect the economic reality of the relationships between the parties. Indeed, the UK tax authorities have tried to pursue this argument in relation to the business models of a number of online travel agents. So far it has failed, primarily because of the emphasis given by the courts on the importance of the courts respecting the terms of contracts.

How does the creation of a package holiday affect the travel agent’s status?

The involvement of the travel agent in the creation of an itinerary for the consumer might lead to the creation of a package holiday (or a linked travel arrangements) under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. Moreover, if the travel agent sells a flight to the consumer, whether on its own or as part of a package holiday, then the travel agent might be required to hold an ATOL pursuant to the ATOL Regulations 2012.

Does this change the status of a travel agent into a principal?

The short answer is “no”, provided that the travel agent is careful to ensure that the sale process and the consumer “paperwork” maintains its status as a travel agent. There is otherwise a risk that the travel agent may end up selling a package of travel services under a single contract to the consumer and so act as a principal.

The next part of our overview of the law of travel agency will focus upon the relationship between the principal and the consumer and secondly, on the relationship between the principal and the travel agent. We will look at the rights and obligations which arise under these relationships.

If you have any further questions or queries on these matters, please contact  Rhys Griffiths ,  Anna Tindall  or another member of our  Travel  team.

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What is the law of travel agency and what do you need to know? Part 4: what is the relationship between the travel agent and consumer?

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This article was first published in  Travel Weekly  on Tuesday 11 May 2021.

In this fourth and final part of our overview of the law of travel agency, we explain the relationship which exists between the travel agent and the consumer.

Previous parts

  • Part 1: the basics of an agency relationship
  • Part 2: how do I become a travel agent, and what if I create package holidays?
  • Part 3: what is the status of the principal in travel agency contracts?

The relationship between a travel agent and the consumer

Travel agents have been described as “ commercial chameleons ”, whose roles can change even during the same transaction. For instance, in a single transaction it is possible for a travel agent to act in a number of different capacities:

  • Travel advisor : The travel agent may assume the role of a professional advisor, taking instructions from the consumer as to their requirements and/or special needs and then advising the consumer as to where to go, where to stay, the best travel arrangements to make, and so on.
  • Marketing agent for principal : The travel agent may be appointed as a marketing agent for a principal (e.g. a tour operator), where it is appointed to promote the principal’s holiday to the consumer.
  • Sales agent for principal : The travel agent may be appointed as a sales agent for a principal (e.g. a tour operator), where it is appointed to conclude the holiday sale for the principal and to arrange for the consumer to enter into a contract with the principal.
  • Agent for the consumer : The travel agent may be appointed as an agent for the consumer when concluding a booking with a principal for which it is not formally appointed (e.g. when booking low cost flights).
  • Service provider : A travel agent may provide the consumer with a technology platform which enables the consumer to make bookings with principals. In this context, the travel agent is not likely to be acting as an “agent” in the true sense of the word. Rather, it is acting as a principal in the provision of a booking service to the consumer.
  • Post-booking agent for principal : A travel agent may be appointed as an agent for the principal in dealing with post-booking matters. This might include collecting balances from the consumer, managing amendment and cancellation requests by the consumer and issuing travel documentation to the consumer.
  • Post-booking agent for the consumer : A travel agent may be appointed as an agent for the consumer in dealing with post-booking matters. This will include remitting balancing payments to the principal, making amendment and cancellation requests on behalf of the consumer and passing on travel documentation to the consumer.
  • Organiser : A travel agent may be an organiser of package holidays if the agent is responsible for creating the consumer’s package holiday.

In order to identify the duties owed by a travel agent to a consumer, it is first necessary to identify the capacity in which the travel agent is acting towards the consumer, which may vary at each point in the transaction. Its duties will then be defined by reference to this capacity and the terms of any contract which may exist between the travel agent and the consumer.

The analysis we have described above will, of course, depend upon a careful analysis of the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. However, we would suggest that an agent is likely to owe the following duties to the consumer:

  • Travel advisor : A travel agent is likely to have duties under the law of tort to exercise reasonable skill and care in delivering advice to the consumer.
  • Holding the consumer’s money securely;
  • Using the consumer’s money to pay the principal;
  • Making accurate bookings with the principal;
  • Making amendment and cancellation requests on behalf of the consumer;
  • Promptly sharing with the consumer all information and documents supplied by the principal;
  • Ensuring that the consumer is made aware of all terms and conditions which relate to the booking with the principal; and
  • Not making a secret profit (i.e. booking fees must be disclosed).
  • Service provider : the terms of a booking service provided would typically be set out in a written agreement. We would anticipate these to be similar to those described above for an agent for the consumer.
  • Organiser : the travel agent will, of course, have to adhere to the duties set out in the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.

If a travel agent acts as an agent for the principal, it will in general have no liability to the consumer in relation to the performance of the travel services (unless, of course, the travel agent is also an organiser). Provided that the travel agent is acting within the scope of its actual or apparent authority, the travel agent’s acts will be taken as those of the principal and no claim will lie against the travel agent. Further, there is an implied duty at common law on a principal to indemnify an agent against all liabilities incurred by the agent in the performance of lawful acts within the scope of the agent’s authority. The consumer must, usually, therefore, bring its claim against the principal. However, there may be particular circumstances in which the travel agent may be so liable, including:

  • Collateral contract: in spite of the consumer’s claim lying against the principal under the contract for the supply of the travel service, it is possible that the travel agent may have agreed separate contractual obligations with the consumer. This might include, for instance, a situation in which the travel agent has offered credit to the consumer to pay for the holiday. It might also include more basic obligations set out in the travel agent’s contract with the consumer (e.g. in relation to handling amendment and booking requests). The agent will be bound by these obligations.
  • Breach of promise of authority : where an agent enters into a contract on behalf of its principal, it is taken to promise that it has the authority to do so. This is generally taken to be a contractual promise, and so if it transpired that the travel agent did not have the authority to make the contract, the consumer could bring a claim against the travel agent on this basis.
  • Tort: the agent may be liable in tort on general legal principles.

We hope you have found our four-part overview of the law of travel agency helpful and clear. It is, as one can see, an area which can be complicated because of the various roles which travel agents fulfil and the lack of clarity which typically exists in structuring the travel agent’s role in the first place. These are complications which can be resolved through some clear thinking as to the travel agent’s role, and contractual arrangements which mirror the intended structure.

do travel agents accept cash uk

Rhys Griffiths

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do travel agents accept cash uk

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Take cash in and out of the UK

Taking cash in and out of great britain.

You must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs if you’re carrying it between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and a country outside the UK.

If you’re travelling as a family or group with more than £10,000 in total (even if individuals are carrying less than that) you still need to make a declaration.

If you’re travelling to Northern Ireland and carrying more than €10,000 (or equivalent) you must follow the rules for taking cash into Northern Ireland.

The earliest you can make a declaration is 72 hours before you plan to travel.

Taking cash in and out of Northern Ireland

You must declare cash of €10,000 or more if you carry it between Northern Ireland and any non-EU country.

You must also declare cash of €10,000 or more if you’re arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. You do not need to declare any amount of cash when travelling the other way, from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

If you’re travelling as a family or group with more than €10,000 in total (even if individuals are carrying less than that) you still need to make a declaration.

Customs authorities may ask you to fill in a cash disclosure form if you send cash by freight, post or parcel between Northern Ireland and any non-EU country. This includes if you send cash from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Types of cash you must declare

You must declare:

  • notes and coins
  • bearer bonds
  • travellers’ cheques
  • cheques (including travellers’ cheques) that are signed but not made out to a person or organisation

If you are carrying cash in or out of Northern Ireland, you must also declare:

  • money orders
  • gold coins, bullion or nuggets
  • prepaid cards

What you’ll need to make a declaration

You’ll need to give details of:

  • who’s carrying the cash, the owner of it and the recipient of it - including passport or ID document number, and address
  • your journey - with any countries you pass through in transit, including flight numbers or ferry routes
  • the amount and type of cash being carried
  • the source of the cash - the country it came from and how it was generated (for example, through earnings or selling something)
  • what the cash will be used for

How to declare cash

If you’re leaving the UK, you must declare cash before you leave the country.

If you’re coming to the UK you can declare cash before you travel or as soon as you arrive in the UK.

Declare cash before you travel

Declare online for:

  • cash you’re carrying between Great Britain and any other country
  • cash you’re carrying between Northern Ireland and a non-EU country
  • cash you’re carrying from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

If you cannot use the online service you can make your declaration over the phone.

Customer Service Group Telephone: 0300 322 9434 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges

Declare cash when you arrive in the UK

At UK customs, follow ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs, and tell a Border Force officer you want to declare cash. You may have to use a courtesy phone.

They may give you a paper form to fill in or take your declaration themselves.

If there is no way to make a declaration at the port or airport when you arrive, call 0300 322 9434 and make your declaration over the phone.

If you do not declare cash that you should have, all the cash you are carrying can be seized by a Border Force officer. You may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back. This can be taken from the cash before the rest is returned.

Any cash can be seized if customs authorities have reasonable grounds to suspect a crime. They can keep the cash for 48 hours - after that they need a court order.

How to appeal a penalty

You can write to the Fraud Investigation Service if you disagree with a penalty. You must state why you disagree with the decision you’ve been given.

You have 30 days to appeal from the date of the penalty notice.

Fraud Investigation Service FIS POC Operations - Cash Declaration Penalty Team S0079 Newcastle NE98 1ZZ

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Merchant Advice Service

Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

Welcome to Merchant Advice Service, your trusted resource for valuable insights on  high-risk merchant accounts  tailored specifically for travel agents. If you’re a travel agent seeking to optimise your payment processing capabilities and navigate the challenges associated with being classified as high-risk, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of high-risk merchant accounts designed to meet the unique needs of travel agents. Let’s dive in!

Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

Understanding High-Risk Merchant Accounts

High-risk merchant accounts are specialised payment processing solutions intended for businesses operating in industries considered higher risk due to factors like chargebacks, industry regulations, and potential financial volatility. Travel agents frequently fall into this category due to the nature of their business and the inherent potential for cancellations and refunds.

The Importance of Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

The Importance of Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

As a travel agent, having a reliable and efficient payment processing system is essential for the smooth operation of your business. Merchant accounts tailored for high-risk industries provide customised solutions to address the specific requirements of travel agents. These accounts offer the necessary tools and features to effectively manage credit card transactions, minimise chargebacks, and mitigate risk.

Key Advantages of High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

Key Advantages of High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents

Expanded payment options.

High-risk merchant accounts enable travel agents to accept a wide range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, online payments, and even international transactions. This flexibility allows you to cater to a broader customer base and maximise revenue potential.

Chargeback Prevention and Management

Chargebacks can pose significant challenges for travel agents, often resulting from customer disputes, fraudulent activities, or cancellations. High-risk merchant accounts provide robust chargeback prevention tools and dispute management systems, helping you minimise the occurrence of chargebacks and handle them efficiently when they do arise.

Industry Expertise

Providers specialising in high-risk merchant accounts for travel agents possess valuable insights and expertise specific to the industry. Working closely with ABTA and ATOL, they can offer guidance on navigating the payment landscape effectively, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and capitalising on revenue opportunities.

Tailored Risk Management

Travel agents operate within a dynamic environment where risks are inherent. High-risk merchant accounts offer customised risk management solutions, including fraud detection tools, real-time monitoring, and secure payment gateways. These features enhance security, safeguard your business against potential fraud and financial losses, and provide peace of mind.

How to Obtain a High-Risk Merchant Account as a Travel Agent

How to Obtain a High-Risk Merchant Account as a Travel Agent

Obtaining a high-risk merchant account for your travel agency entails several key steps. Let’s outline the process to help you navigate it successfully:

Research and Select a Provider: Begin by researching reputable high-risk merchant account providers with experience in serving travel agents. Look for providers offering tailored solutions, competitive pricing, and excellent customer support.

Application and Documentation: Complete the application process by providing the necessary documentation, such as business registration details, financial statements, processing history, and any other information required by the provider.

Underwriting and Approval: Once your application is submitted, the provider will review your information and conduct underwriting to assess the level of risk associated with your business. If approved, you can proceed with setting up the account.

Account Setup and Integration: Work closely with your chosen provider to set up your high-risk merchant account, integrate it with your existing systems, and configure the required payment processing tools.

Go Live and Ongoing Support: After completing the setup, your high-risk merchant account is ready to go live. Ensure you receive comprehensive training on utilising the account’s features and have access to reliable customer support for any ongoing assistance.

Holiday company card processing

It feels a little unfair that UK based travel firms struggle to obtain merchant accounts. Despite falling under the travel category code, the following businesses should be able to secure reasonable rates and settling times;  

  • UK holiday lets  
  • Bed and Breakfasts  
  • Holiday parks
  • Caravan companies  

Merchants wrongly assume that travel and flight centre merchant fees due to the high-risk category tend to be hugely expensive. Transactions don’t have to be as costly as you may expect, using a provider who are specialist in travel payment solutions will ensure your application is underwritten expertly and therefore fair rates offered. If you are a start-up business with no transaction history, you may wish to start with one provider often at higher rates then move once business and turnover increases. We recommend comparing accounts regularly to ensure you do not pay over the odds for travel card payments.  

Merchant accounts within the travel industry don’t have to be complicated. For advice on secure travel payments speak to one of our expert advisers today for a no fee, no obligation quote.  

Travel agent online payment processing  

At Merchant Advice Service we specialise in securing merchant accounts for high-risk businesses. Our advisors’ experience in dealing with merchant services for travel companies and high-risk applications is extensive and we’re confident we can help you, no matter how unique your enquiry.  Whether you are searching for the best payment gateway for a travel website or airline payment solutions our advisers are on hand to provide expert, impartial advice. We focus in the following areas:  

  • merchant services for travel agents  
  • online travel agency payment processing  
  • payment gateway for travel website  
  • chartered jet merchant accounts  
  • airline merchant account  
  • airline payment processing  
  • airline payment gateway  

How Merchant Advice Service Can Support You

How Merchant Advice Service Can Support You

At Merchant Advice Service, we comprehend the unique challenges faced by travel agents in obtaining and managing high-risk merchant accounts. Our team of experts specialises in delivering tailored solutions to address your specific needs.

We can guide you through the process, assist in selecting the right provider, and ensure a seamless transition to a high-risk merchant account. To learn more about how we can assist you, visit our page on High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Travel Agents.

Conclusion

We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of high-risk merchant accounts for travel agents. By leveraging the benefits of a high-risk merchant account, you can expand your payment options, mitigate chargebacks, and effectively manage your travel agency’s financial operations. Remember to conduct thorough research, complete the necessary documentation, and seek professional guidance throughout the process. For more expert advice, visit our blog page!

Navigating the world of high-risk merchant accounts as a travel agent doesn’t have to be a maze. With the right payment processor and merchant account services, you can manage your cash flow effectively and accept credit cards with ease.

Features like a virtual terminal and rolling reserve options can offer added flexibility. Don’t forget to factor in processing fees and ensure you’re PCI compliant for secure transactions. For tailored advice and solutions, Merchant Advice Service is your go-to resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

What To Do If Your Card Processing Application Gets Declined

What To Do If Your Card Processing Application Gets Declined

Understanding Terminated PayPal Accounts And High-Risk Merchant Accounts In The UK

Understanding Terminated PayPal Accounts And High-Risk Merchant Accounts In The UK

Vape Business Merchant Accounts

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High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Online Gambling Payment Processing

High-Risk Merchant Accounts for Online Gambling Payment Processing

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Payment Solutions for Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom

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Software selling merchant accounts and payment gateways

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Tobacco merchant account and payment gateways

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Private Airline Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways 

Private Airline Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways 

Warranty Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways

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Property Management merchant accounts and payment gateways

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Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Studio Merchant Accounts

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Cryptocurrency Payments Processing

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Card Processing for Pension and Investment Claims Businesses

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Merchant accounts for Double Glazing and Home Improvement companies

Merchant accounts for Double Glazing and Home Improvement companies

Credit card processing for jewellers and watch retailers

Credit card processing for jewellers and watch retailers

Credit Card Processing for Dating Sites and Apps

Credit Card Processing for Dating Sites and Apps

PPI merchant accounts

PPI merchant accounts

CBD credit and debit card payments

CBD credit and debit card payments

Forex credit card processing

Forex credit card processing

International Merchant Accounts & Payments

International Merchant Accounts & Payments

MOTO merchant accounts

MOTO merchant accounts

Auction Company Merchant Accounts & Payment Gateways

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Merchant accounts for furniture shops

Merchant accounts for furniture shops

Call centre payment gateways and card processing

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A Guide to Online Pharmacy Merchant Services

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Merchant Accounts for Diet and Supplement Products

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Bad credit merchant accounts UK

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Merchant account for debt collection companies

Merchant account for debt collection companies

High-Ticket Merchant Services for High-Value Transactions

High-Ticket Merchant Services for High-Value Transactions

Merchant Accounts for Adult Companies

Merchant Accounts for Adult Companies

Merchant accounts for payday loan companies in the UK

Merchant accounts for payday loan companies in the UK

Unlocking Offshore Payment Processing

Unlocking Offshore Payment Processing

Payment Gateways For Tech Support Companies

Payment Gateways For Tech Support Companies

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Libby and the team at Merchant Advice Service are absolutely first class in every way. We have a furniture business and were let down by our existing payment processing company at a critical time for our business and without warning….

Very quick to respond and helped us find a provider for euro credit card payments from customers. First class service.

Superb service from Libby James. Forever my go to place for Merchant advice

Merchant advice service provide an excellent brokerage service to find a suitable merchant account and payment processing solution for your online business. Like any good broker, they know their business and I can highly recommend them if you wish to…

Great service, quick and professional responce. Libby and her team got our payment processing sorted where others failed. Highly recommended

We were struggling to get anywhere with finding merchant services for our business. I came across them and sent a message. I received quick, professional responses throughout and that has resulted in us getting sorted out.

We reached out to Merchant Advice Service when seeking a new payment partner, after multiple failed applications due to the sector we are in. Libby was super-helpful, very clear and supportive and we achieved a successful outcome. Top marks and…

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Hays Travel Mastercard

Hays Travel Money Card

The Hays Travel Mastercard® is free to use in millions of locations worldwide where Mastercard® Prepaid is accepted when you spend in a currency loaded on the card: including restaurants, bars, and shops. This easy-to-use pre-paid card allows contactless transactions, chip and PIN, worldwide cash withdrawals, and also 24/7 phone support. Take your currency card with you on every holiday, simply top up and go! Just call into your local Hays Travel branch today to purchase your Hays Travel Prepaid Travel Money Card. *The Hays Travel Mastercard is only available to UK residents aged 18 or over. A valid Passport or Drivers Licence must be presented in the branch at the time of purchase.

Hays Travel Money Card

BUY YOUR HAYS TRAVEL MASTERCARD

The Hays Travel Money Card is the safe and easy way to take your money on holiday!

  • BUY IN BRANCH

Google Pay Support

Connect to your google pay wallet

You can now link your Hays Travel Mastercard with Google Pay for swift and secure transactions wherever you go. Say goodbye to carrying physical cards and hello to effortless payments with just a tap of your phone. Simplify your travel experience today!

The Hays Travel Currency Card app

The Hays Travel Currency Card App enables you to fully manage your travel card account and stay in control of your holiday finances at home and abroad. The app enables you to:

  • Instantly top up multiple different currencies from anywhere in the world
  • Check your real time balance
  • Lock-in exchange rates when you top up and transfer money between currencies
  • Keep track of your spending and view transactions
  • Freeze/Unfreeze your card
  • Check your card PIN
  • Manage your personal details

Download our app here

Manage the card on the go via Hays Travel Currency Card App

mobile app

My Account Portal

Available currencies.

  • British Pounds
  • Australian Dollar
  • Canadian Dollar
  • Czech Koruna
  • Japanese Yen
  • Mexican Peso
  • New Zealand Dollar
  • Polish Zloty
  • Swedish Krona
  • South African Rand
  • Swiss Franc
  • Turkish Lira

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Can a travel agent save you money?

do travel agents accept cash uk

You could be spending hundreds of pounds more on a package holiday by booking with a travel agent instead of online, a Which? Travel investigation has found.

Our mystery shoppers paid multiple visits to Co-Op Travel, Hays , Kuoni and Tui branches and found a couple could have saved, on average, £252 on a one week holiday in Spain and £162 for two weeks in the Dominican Republic by booking the same holiday online instead. In the most extreme example, seven nights in Spain was £887 cheaper online compared to Kuoni’s quote.

If you weren’t tech savvy or hadn’t checked online before setting out, you’d have paid way over the odds.

We carried out 16 mystery shops in 12 high street stores across the four brands. Posing as holidaymakers, we asked for quotes for a one-week holiday in Marbella in June or a two-week holiday in the Dominican Republic in November. After leaving the stores, our shoppers phoned Which? researchers who checked the cheapest price for the same holiday online.

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Travel agent prices compared

Our mystery shoppers also tried to haggle with high street travel agents to see if they would be willing to beat or match online prices - with mixed results.

Two weeks in the Dominican Republic

Hays knocked £319 off a Dominican Republic holiday, making it just £50 more expensive than online instead of £369 more. Co-Op Travel took £285 off its original quote but was still £126 more than booking directly online with Tui (the tour operator). Even Tui itself wouldn’t match its own online price.

Table notes:  Prices were collected in February and March. Difference the highest difference we found at any store we visited. Online price collected on same day as in-store directly from tour operator's website. Price after haggling final price quoted after our mystery shopper returned to store with the online price.

One week in Marbella

The most Kuoni was willing to shave off the Marbella holiday was £207, which still meant it was £680 more expensive than online. Kuoni explained any more and it would have made a loss on the booking and that easyJet could probably offer it cheaper because they have greater demand and buying power for that destination.

What about travel agent customer service?

We also asked our mystery shoppers to rate the customer service they received. It was mostly excellent, with shoppers rating service as four or five stars in 11 of 16 visits. Hays and Kuoni, both Which? Recommended Providers , shone through. Hays in particular received glowing reviews; three out of four mystery shoppers awarded them the full five stars for customer service.

And it was this level of customer service that most companies told us makes the travel agent service stand out, when we put our findings to them

Hays told us: ‘Our customers understand and appreciate that self-service – while cheaper – does not offer the same sense of security and confidence as booking through an agent.’

On the Marbella holiday, Kuoni said: ‘The majority of the holidays we plan are tailor-made to customer requirements, including lots of multi-centre, tailor-made trips not easy to replicate online.’ It added: ‘If the customer is booking purely on price, we’d always be very open that they may in this instance be better off booking directly online.’

Similarly, Co-op Travel told us: ‘The advice and support our customers receive from our teams is far-reaching and  goes beyond the support that they would receive from an online booking system.’

During our visits to Tui, the travel agents instantly matched most holidays to its online prices (give or take a few pounds). But some of our mystery shoppers were told that an in-store booking afforded us the luxury of popping back to have any problems dealt with on the spot. However, a spokesperson for Tui assured us this service was open to all customers – even if they had booked online.

How does Travel Counsellors work?

Finally we took our prices to Travel Counsellors, one of the UK’s largest network of independent travel agents, to see if it could get us a cheaper price.

As a franchise, Travel Counsellors operates slightly differently. Its agents work remotely for themselves, under the umbrella of the company. Simply find a travel expert local to you on its website , phone them up and explain what you’re looking for. You then wait while they do the research and come back with a quote. They will walk you through the holiday and make any amends until it’s right, either over the phone or in-person if you prefer.  

All four agents failed to match the lowest prices we’d found for our two holidays; a Tui package holiday to the Dominican came out at £453 more with one agent compared to online with Tui.

However, the company admitted that you would probably find ready-made package holidays cheaper elsewhere. It said: ‘The value Travel Counsellors adds really comes in around more complex, long-haul itineraries and support for the whole customer experience, not just at the time of booking. So, in this context we don’t feel it is fair or representative of what we do and what our model is based on, or the value our travel counsellors really do deliver.’

And it did deliver. Three out of four of its agents were rated the full five stars for their attentiveness by our mystery shopper, who said they were ‘friendly, chatty [and] seemed   very keen to help.’

Should I book with a travel agent?

If you simply want the best price on a package holiday, no. Our research found prices were almost always cheaper when booked directly, online with the tour operator.

But when it comes to that big holiday with lots of moving parts it can be worth calling in the experts. The more unusual and more expensive the holiday, the more likely they are to be able to save you money and they can also offer insider advice. The customer service our mystery shoppers received was mostly excellent, and that can be invaluable if any part of your holiday doesn’t work out as planned.

Whoever you book with, make sure you book a package holiday. That gives you the best protections if things go wrong or get cancelled.

Our research

In February and March 2023, our fieldworkers made 16 mystery shops to 12 high street stores and four Travel Counsellors. For each holiday, both the online and in-store prices were collected on the same day.

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Helen’s tour to India has been cancelled. Pictured is a deserted New Delhi station.

Can I get a cash refund instead of a credit note? Coronavirus travel questions answered

Among the hundreds of questions we have received, one reader expressed concern over accepting a credit note. Plus we answer questions on future trips

  • Click here to ask a travel question

Do I have to accept a credit instead of a refund?

Helen, 33, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, and her partner booked an Intrepid tour to India and were due to depart on 10 April. On 14 March Intrepid announced it was suspending all trips (except those in Australia) from 16 March until 31 May. Customers booked to travel during that time were offered a credit worth 110% of the value of the trip. As with many readers who have written in, Helen wants to know whether she is entitled to a cash refund instead of a credit.

The short answer is yes; legally, under the current Package Travel Regulations , customers are entitled to a cash refund. However, Intrepid, as with many other tour operators is offering a credit note as an alternative in the hope customers will want to join a tour when normal travel resumes. Intrepid’s credit notes are valid until the end of April 2022, but Helen is worried that future departures may be fully booked due to pent-up demand. She is also worried that the 110% does not cover the cost of the original trip which she bought at a 25% discount. Guardian Travel put those two points to Intrepid but had not received an answer at the time of publication.

Helen’s other concern was that the credit note may be worthless if the company goes out of business. This week the Association of Travel Agents (Abta) has confirmed that credit notes will have the same protection as holidays. It says: “If you are not able to postpone, your travel provider may offer you a Refund Credit Note instead of an immediate cash refund. This Refund Credit Note can be used to book another holiday at a later date and, in the meantime, it is protected by Abta/Atol – if your original booking had that protection. So, you would be reimbursed if the travel company failed financially.”

Abta is also advising anyone with trips booked for later in the year to be patient. As the Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel is currently only in place until mid-April, it warned that customers “may incur cancellation charges or lose a deposit if you make a hasty decision”. For further information and advice go to Abta’s website

Why can’t I get a refund on flights in May?

Grounded BA aircraft.

Peter Brady from Aylesbury booked and paid in full for flights with British Airways to Italy from 24 May returning 31 May. He said after filling in the form with British Airways to receive a voucher and rebook for another time, he has received an email from British Airways saying that he is not eligible for a Future Travel Voucher. He wants to know why.

Unfortunately, airlines will only offer refunds while the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel or while flights are suspended due to closed borders.

Should I cancel my trip in July?

Coronavirus Outbreak Continues In ItalyROME, ITALY - MARCH 25: A general view of an empty Fori Imperiali road (Via dei Fori Imperiali) during the emergency nationwide lockdown

Kim, 60, from Warrington asks whether she should pay the full amount of her holiday by 20 April for a trip due to depart on 2 July. She says “I am unsure where I stand if I cancel until next year. Would I incur costs?”

A similar question was covered in last week’s Q&A but as so many readers have asked it’s worth reiterating: tour operators are trying to be as flexible as they can while facing drastic loss of business, so it’s always worth asking your travel provider – if you can get through to them. But, legally, refunds or credit notes only apply to holidays that have been cancelled due to Foreign Office advice or where the tour operator itself has suspended trips (for example Intrepid, above, suspended tours until 31 May). Any holidays after that comes under normal terms and conditions. The best advice is to wait and see whether travel restrictions/bans are extended so that they affect your holiday. If your holiday is cancelled then you will be entitled to a refund.

Can my child travel back to university in the UK?

EasyJet aircraft have been grounded.

Two readers have asked about children wanting to return to university. Alex, in Wiltshire, said: “My daughter who is at university in Belfast flew home a week ago. She needs to go back to Belfast to move out of her university accommodation and bring her belongings home. Easyjet has cancelled all flights from Bristol. Do you think it would be irresponsible for her and me to drive up to Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway and take a ferry to Belfast? The ferries still seem to be running.”

While the UK is on strict lockdown people should not travel anywhere other than for food or medicine or for a short walk.

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Understanding travel money: what you need to know

do travel agents accept cash uk

Taking travel money can mean you’re covered for almost any situation. But before you exchange money, read these tips. They include avoiding airport exchange counters and how to sell any unused travel money.

What is an exchange rate?

An exchange rate  tells you how much foreign currency you’ll get in return for your pounds sterling. For instance, a euro exchange rate of 1.12 would give you 1 euro and 12 cents for each pound you exchange. So if you spent £100, you’d get €112 in return.

Exchange rates can fluctuate. Checking the daily exchange rate can help you get the best deal when you want to buy currency. It can also help you decide which countries and regions are good value for money. But, keep in mind that past performance of a currency is not a guarantee of how it will fare in future.

What are buy and sell rates?

This is the exchange rate for selling foreign currencies to you. For example, if you're planning a trip to the US, you would exchange your pounds sterling for US dollars at the sell rate.

If you return home with unspent foreign cash, foreign currency providers in the UK will buy it back from you at this rate. For example, if you've just returned from Japan and have an account with us, you can exchange your yen back into pounds sterling at the buy rate at any Full Service Branch or Cash Service Branch .

Where should you get your travel money from?

You can buy foreign currency from:

  • post offices
  • bureaux de change
  • currency websites
  • some travel agents and large supermarkets

Spend some time looking at the options available and the varying rates, as well as any associated fees, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal.

HSBC Travel Money  has the same exchange rates online and in branches. There are no delivery fees for home or branch orders and the minimum order value is £100.

Why shouldn't you exchange your money at the airport?

It might seem more convenient to buy currency at the airport, but it can often be very expensive.

Airport currency exchange counters typically have no incentive to offer competitive rates. That's because travellers who are about to jet off have limited options. They might also pass higher operating costs on to travellers.

Some airport counters charge a service fee that can add up to as much as 10% of the total money exchange.

How should you pay for your travel money?

If you use a debit card to exchange your money in the UK, it’s likely that your bank will treat it like any other cash withdrawal, or purchase, so you won’t pay any fees.

If you buy currency using a credit card, you may have to pay a cash advance fee of around 3%. You’ll probably also be charged interest on your payment straight away. That’s because foreign currency transactions are handled in a similar way to withdrawing cash on your credit card.

What if you run out of cash outside the UK?

You can withdraw extra cash from a cash machine with your debit card. You can also use your cards to pay for goods and services at shops, restaurants and anywhere else that accepts Visa or Mastercard (depending on your card type).

Fees and charges may apply when you use cards outside the UK.

With an HSBC Global Money Account debit card, there are no HSBC fees for making payments or withdrawing cash outside the UK. Other non-HSBC fees may apply. 

Global Money is only available in the latest version of the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. You’ll need to have an eligible HSBC current account. This excludes our Basic Bank Account, Amanah, Appointee and MyAccount.

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What Do You Need to Offer Travel Agency Payment Plans?

Not too long ago, travel was out of reach for most people who didn’t have a large lump sum of cash to pay for flights, accommodations, and tours upfront. 

Today, however, the travel climate has changed.

To make travel more accessible for customers, many travel agencies now offer payment plans as part of their services. 

Payment plans make travel more affordable by allowing clients to pay for trips in installments. They also benefit the travel agencies that offer them, since travel agencies that offer payment plans attract more bookings and cater to a wider array of clients.

The question, then, is how you start offering payment plans.

In this blog, we’ll discuss what you need to offer travel agency payment plans, and how to roll them out as smoothly as possible for your company.

How do Travel Agency Payment Plans Work?

The specific terms and conditions of travel agency payment plans can vary widely from one agency to another. 

While some agencies offer payment plans only for certain types of trips or destinations, others provide this option for all their offerings.

The terms of a travel agency payment plan are defined in a legally binding payment agreement document that both the agency and the client agree to. Once the terms of the payment plan are fulfilled, the installment agreement is terminated. 

What are the Benefits of Travel Agency Payment Plans?

While payment plans can be convenient for both clients and travel agencies, there are administrative considerations, financial risks, and legal regulations that your agency needs to consider before you decide to offer payment plans. 

That said, travel agency payment plans also offer several benefits for both you and your clients. 

Here are some of thelargest pros of these plans:

1. Affordability

Payment plans make travel more accessible by allowing clients to spread the cost of their trips over an extended period of time. This arrangement can attract people who may not be able to afford large upfront costs, but who want to travel anyway. 

2. Increased Bookings

Travel agencies that offer payment plans and flexible payment options will likely see an increase in bookings. While many travelers are deterred by the high upfront costs of travel, offering payment plans can give them the push they need to book with your agency.

3. Higher Average Transaction Value

Great news for travel agencies: payment plans can lead to higher overall spending per client. When clients have the choice to pay in installments rather than in a lump sum, they may opt to purchase higher-end accommodations, upgraded travel packages, or additional services, thereby increasing the average transaction value.

4. Better Customer Loyalty and Greater Customer Satisfaction

Clients want options when it comes to when and how they pay, and they appreciate the flexibility of travel agency payment plans . As such, agencies that offer payment plans often see improved customer loyalty and satisfaction, and a distinct competitive advantage. 

How Travel Agencies Accept Payment for Payment Plans (Hint: You’ll Need a Travel Agency Merchant Account)

Travel agencies use various methods to accept payments for payment plans, but they all flow through a travel agency merchant account.

A travel agency merchant account is an account that allows travel agencies to accept credit card payments from customers for flights, hotels, tours, and other travel-related activities. This type of merchant account enables travel agencies to process electronic transactions securely and conveniently.

Here are a few types of payments you can process with a travel agency merchant account:

  • Credit/Debit Cards
  • Bank Transfers
  • Online Payments

No matter what type of payment options you choose to accept, it’s critical to choose a merchant account provider that ensures your payments are secure, compliant with all relevant financial regulations, and as streamlined as possible for clients.  

Seamless Chex Provides Intuitive, Robust Merchant Accounts for Travel Agencies

If you’re looking for a merchant account for your travel agency , look no further than Seamless Chex. Our team provides powerful, scalable travel agency merchant accounts that can help you offer simple, convenient payment plans and more accessible travel for your customers.

Ready to learn more? Contact us today. 

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The Best Merchant Services for Travel Agencies

Map, passports, flight tickets and a coffee

The top merchant services for travel agents

  • 1. Worldpay
  • 3. Instabill
  • 4. Retail Merchant Services
  • 5. CashFlows
  • 3 things to consider

Expert verdict

  • How we test merchant services

All providers have been reviewed and tested by our Research team. By requesting a quote, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral

Your customers are going places – make sure your business is, too! Compare our top 5 merchant services providers for travel agencies, and start accepting credit and debit card payments.

There are maybe four things human beings need to do: eat, sleep, breathe… and go on holiday.

And, now that COVID-19-enforced restrictions are finally easing – and the revered prospect of actually being able to go away is beginning to return to the table – your travel agency needs to be ready for an influx of sun-starved holidaymakers.

And, let’s face it – no one books a flight, package holiday, or luxury villa and pays with a wad of cash . Your business needs to be ready to accept credit and debit card payments: online, over the phone, and from your office or physical store.

In other words, you’ll need a merchant services provider – but not from just any old provider. You need a way of taking high-value payments while staying safe and avoiding chargebacks. And you’ll need a provider that understands the line of work you’re in and what its unique challenges are – particular as the country begins to emerge from what’s been a tough time for the industry at large.

Put simply, you need a merchant account that’s going to meet the unique demands of your travel agency.

The five merchant services providers below lead the way for delivering value, efficiency and safety for travel agencies Because – unlike a long-haul flight – choosing the right provider doesn’t have to be a long and arduous journey!

On a normal (that is, non-pandemic) year, Brits spend around £44 billion on holidays. Exactly how much sunburn that equates to we don’t know.

We compared five of the best merchant services on the market for travel businesses. Our handpicked suppliers reflect those best suited for the unique demands of travel agents. They’re suited to higher value, higher risk transactions, and have a track record in the travel trade.

Our top picks include Worldpay, Clover, Instabill, Retail Merchant Services, and CashFlows.

The top 5 merchant services for travel agents:

  • 01 | Worldpay
  • 02 | Clover
  • 03 | Instabill
  • 04 | Retail Merchant Services
  • 05 | CashFlows

Scroll on to read our expert reviews of each. Or – if you just want to cut straight to the chase, and start comparing quotes now – we can help.

Simply complete our form below to furnish us with a few details about your travel agency's requirements. That includes your expected monthly turnover in card, whether you've used a merchant services provider before – and, if so, who – plus some details about your industry, and what type of card payments you're looking to accept.

Once you're done, we'll use that info about your requirements to pair you with one or more leading merchant account providers for travel agencies. If any are a match, one or more of these suppliers will be in touch with you directly, to provide tailored, no-obligation quotes and advice. 

It's free for UK-based businesses, and takes just 30 seconds to fill in. Hit one of the buttons below to get started!

Best for all-round excellence

Worldpay Logo

With high-flying clients like Airbnb, Expedia and eDreams, Worldpay is one of the biggest names in the industry . With bespoke solutions that are completely tailored to your business – whether you’re a travel agent, or in cruises or hotels – Worldpay promises to craft the best, most bespoke payment service for you. It also claims to offer your clients a smooth and seamless payment experience: from desktop and mobile, all the way to virtual reality payments.

Worldpay also offers a customer support team specialising in travel sector payments. Its market-leading approach can help you reduce costs as well as fraud, while its innovative features can help you enter new markets and grow your business. If you’re a larger merchant operating internationally, Worldpay is the provider for you.

Like its bespoke payment solutions, Worldpay tailors its pricing plans to your business.

  • Accepts payments in 126 currencies
  • Over 20 years of experience
  • Not the best option for smaller businesses

Best for ecommerce solutions

do travel agents accept cash uk

With a strong selection of face-to-face and ecommerce payment solutions, Clover (formerly Fiserv) should be the first port of call for travel agencies with scalability on the brain . It has a history of innovation and success, processing the lion's share of all payments in the US, while boasting 50 years of experience supporting high-risk businesses on this side of the pond. Clover also aims to streamline and speed up your online transactions, meaning hassle-free staff, and even happier travellers.

Clover has a range of payment solutions ideal for your travel business. Its hosted payment gateway is ideal for taking big payments like flights or hotel bookings. And it takes the weight of PCI compliance  off your shoulders while slotting soundly into the look and feel of your website.

You’ll have to enquire for a unique package for your business.

  • Solutions for both smaller and larger travel businesses
  • Large variety of payment options available
  • No travel industry-specific customer support team

Best for high-risk transactions

Instabill logo

When you’re taking high value, high-risk payments every day, you need to make sure your payment provider can keep up. Luckily, Instabill takes on the responsibility. Its risk management and fraud protection tools are handmade for travel agencies, while its flexible merchant services packages are tailored to selling airline tickets, hotel reservations, and even timeshares . Instabill welcomes high-risk businesses with open arms, and accepting several currencies is no problem, either. Insta-brill!

People don't book their holidays and hotels on a 9 to 5 basis, and your merchant account shouldn't work this way either. Instabill’s secure servers handle transactions in real-time; what’s more, its dedicated phone support team are available around the clock. So you can get the advice you need, no matter what the time zone.

A quote will depend on your expected turnover and transaction volume. You’ll need to get in touch for more detailed pricing.

  • 24/7 customer support
  • Great if you do a lot of business in the US
  • US-based – not as honed to the specific needs of UK businesses

Retail Merchant Services

Best for customer satisfaction ratings.

Retail Merchant Services logo

It doesn’t matter whether you do the bulk of your business in person or online: Retail Merchant Services offers plenty of simple ways to take high value payments. Already comfortably catering to thousands of businesses across the UK – including hotshot hoteliers Best Western – we reckon it’s pretty well-equipped to help propel your business to new heights.

And in terms of what their customers are saying about them online, RMS soar above the competition. 4,420 reviewers awarded RMS five out of five stars on Trustpilot – 94% of the total. It’s not just RMS’ illustrious clients in the travel industry that love them – it’s the people on the ground too.

Prices are available on enquiry. Or you can fill out this form to get quotes and save by comparing top suppliers.

  • Customer service available late and on weekends
  • Understands UK businesses
  • Doesn’t offer support specifically for travel businesses

Pre COVID-19, there were around 40 million visits to the UK by overseas residents every year – who spent almost £50 billion annually!

Best for chargeback avoidance

CashFlows logo

CashFlows offers straightforward, intuitive, and – most importantly – affordable merchant services for UK travel agencies. It’s simple to set up, and streamlines your workload – think downloadable reports, transparent customer support, and top-notch fraud protection . That means you'll save both time and money, and be free to grow your business, rather than simply run it – not to mention resting easy, with fewer chargebacks cluttering your desk!

CashFlows claims to offer much lower rates than its rivals, but don’t give exact details about pricing. So you’ll have to enquire if you feel CashFlows is the option for you.

  • Flexible payment gateway solutions
  • Quick on-boarding process
  • Less experienced than other merchant account providers here

3 things to consider before choosing a merchant service provider

How do you take payments.

How you take payments will depend on how big your travel business is, where your clients come from, and how much money you take at a time. We’ve broken down the options based on how you want to accept payments.

You’ll need a  payment gateway provider  to accept online payments . These act as a bridge between accounts, facilitating payment and providing security. They’re hosted by the payment provider you choose, or integrated within your own website. Selling higher-value goods like flights or package holidays online? A payment gateway is a must-have.

✔ In store:

Does your travel business rely on face-to-face dealings with your clients? If so, it’s likely you take a lot of payments in person. Which means you’ll need a merchant account that offers some of the best credit card machines for small businesses . Cash payments are being phased out, and without a reliable PDQ solution, you are exposing your business to unnecessary risk.

✔ Mail or phone:

If this is how your travel agency does business, you need a merchant service with a  virtual terminal . As well as letting you take payments remotely, they’re great for storing data and tracking payments.

What kind of volume of card payments will you be taking?

This is a big deal, and will almost certainly decide which merchant service is right for your travel agency.

Each provider will have different pricing: some offer flat rates, others offer a fixed transaction fee, while you’ll often encounter a combination of the two. Other providers work on a sliding scale depending on the amount of card payments you take per month. Make sure you’ve compared quotes , and know which company will save you the most money in the long run.

Where is your business coming from?

Does most of your travel business deal with inbound clients from overseas? If you aren’t dealing with international payments now, you will be soon. Make sure you take into account what the fees are for borderless transactions – and pick the merchant account service for travel agents that’s the right fit for you!

Whether you’re a hotel hotshot or a brilliant B’n’B booker, there’s a merchant account for your business.

Worldpay is the best all-rounder and comes with a big name and one eye on the future. Retail Merchant Services has a track record of making their customers happy. And Clover can help your travel business branch out into a truly global outfit.

Convinced? Pop your details into our short form for tailored quotes . Or read on to cover your bases before you choose.

How We Test Merchant Account Products and Services for UK Businesses

We tested 11 market-leading merchant account products and services to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, regulatory compliance, customer support, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to UK businesses.

Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 25 subcategories – in fact, we covered 36 areas of investigation in total . We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and that's our product testing algorithm in a nutshell!

Our main testing categories for merchant account products and services are:

Compliance: the adherence of the merchant account product to relevant regulations and standards, such as data security, anti-fraud measures, and legal requirements.

Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the merchant account provider to users in resolving issues, answering questions, and providing guidance.

Customer Score: external customer opinion; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular merchant account – the market position and reputation a merchant account holds.

Features: the functionalities and capabilities provided by the merchant account product. This can include online payment processing, payment gateway integration, and fraud prevention.

Taking Payments: the process and options available for accepting payments through the merchant account product.

Price: the cost associated with using the merchant account product, including transaction fees, setup fees, monthly fees, and any additional charges.

Our site is reader-supported. Some featured providers are our partners, so we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our site. This is at no extra cost to our readers, and this doesn’t affect the independence of our reviews. Whether or not we have a partnership with a company does not affect our rating and review of the service.

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Cash payment to a travel agency - is this customary? - Vietnam Forum

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Cash payment to a travel agency - is this customary?

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' class=

I need to make a final decision on the 3 travel agencies I've been considering.

One of the agencies wants about 25% deposit now (cash transferred to their bank account) and the rest in cash upon arrival. Although their website states that they accept credit cards, they now tell me that they charge 3% premium to use it. I certainly don't want to carry that much cash with me and feel uncomfortable with this request.

The other two agencies accept credit card payment, but want photocopies (front and back) of the card. I read somewhere (I think on this forum) that this is illegal. One of the agencies comes highly recommended by a travel book I'm reading, and the other is a state owned.

Those of you who used travel agencies (I know you're out there, even though there are many DIY types here), how were payments handled?

' class=

These are all warning flags.

Understand, first, the implication of CP and CNP (Card Present and Card Not Present). A card holder usually accompanies a card and therefore certain things are assumed about the purchase.

Providing a photocopy is helping an Tour Op imply you were present for the transaction - something you do NOT want to do.

The same applies to the 3% commission - part of the cost of doing business. Tell them to forget surcharges - they are usually forbidden by their contract with the credit card processing entity. Ask yourself: Do you pay 3% at home?

As for cash - only the unwise / dumb would send CASH to a bank account in another country. If they are not equipped to handle credit cards they are most likely NOT trusted by the credit card processors - so why should you risk it?

Recommended by a book? Doesn't guarantee anything, especially in a country such as VN where the flux of change is so great.

Finally, why do you need a Tour Op other than for Ha Long Bay? DIY is very practical here - as millions prove every year.

My travel agent let his staff to wake me up early in the am after my 40hr of travel. I felt back to sleep, then the phone rang again. Lost my good sleep, I walked over to pay 100% upfront for my 4wk. The only good thing is I did not have to carry a large amt of cash, but many bad things about prepayment and advanced booking.

On the other hand, pay in rear can create problems for agencies. Customers change mind, cancel, etc.. travel agents wasting time to do booking, answer questions, end up not making a dime or making cheapshot for small booking at low end hotels. This is not fair for agencies.

Tight schedule, 2-3wk, you can pay cash on arrival or pay by CC online if they use secured payment system -- never give copy of CC.

Do a search, this question has been asked before. A recent post from "simbatran" who just finished his trip.

His advise, YOU DO NOT NEED A TRAVEL AGENT

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k877835-Do_I_have_to_pay_immediately_when_I_book_on_line-Vietnam.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293921-i8432-k917690-o10-Recommended_travel_agents_in_Vietnam-Vietnam.html

<<Posted on: 11:26 am,

You do NOT need an agent.

I took 2 tours with Saigon Tourists (www.dulichthu-dong.com, Corner Le Thanh Ton/Dong Khoi) and Sinh Cafe. ( http://www.sinhcafevn.com ), somewhere in De Tham street.

I was extremely satisfied with both.

You might book but do NOT pay from outside VN. I simply called them in advance and provided them with name, contact and promise them I will be there at certain date and time to pay. They will wait for you as discussed. That's what they did to me. Very professional and trustworthy.

They are very flexible in accomdating your need. Many of their tours depart multiple time per week, some short tours are even daily. Sinhcafe is very flexible, you can join at the last minute if you got there early, perhaps before 7 AM, buy the ticket and go, provided spaces are still avail which usually are.

If you want to stay in one place longer, simply tell them in advance, they will have your flight ticket open, or if travel by bus, they will arrange to pick you up on another return trip of another date, no extra charge. That's what I did.....

do travel agents accept cash uk

Despite what others may say the 3% for credit cards is usual and legitimate (Visa and MasterCard, Amex =4%).

It is a charge made by the bank not by the agency.

If any company doesn't charge this it just means that they have already factored it into their price - before they even know have you will pay. Surely that would be more of a worry no?

The first company sounds like the safest to me.

Hi Selling & book,

You're confirming everything I was feeling, especially when cash transfer was mentioned.

I'm one who likes to have everything booked ahead of time, especially flights , because I've encountered too many sold out situations that really played havoc with our schedules. We're already finding that one of the flights we want for Siem Reap is sold out, and it's 3 weeks from now.

So yeah, I'm going to throw up my arms and hand this over to a travel agent to deal with!

do travel agents accept cash uk

i look at it this way , martin is going to want his money when i arrive at hanoi , so if i encounter any problems on the way up , im sure he will do whats in his power to fix it , i just have to remember to take his contact details with me .

since he has booked all my hotels , its not like i can hide from him , he knows where i am every step of the way . there prices are very reasonable i think and the service so far has been great , with my many questions and making up my mind and all the changes...he has been great .

you can contact martin at [email protected]

i hope this helps

I agree to pay the credit card penalty---However, it is not levied by the Bank ( amazingly) ---its because Cards , particularly Am Xpress used to run a 120 day payment system and the fee is charged by the service provider to " carry" the card company until he is paid ---a quite reasonable thing to do. This issue has flared on many occassions over the years in the International Financial Circles. Provided you ask the fee when booking in its OK ---you know!---many hotels have a sign at reception that tells you exactly the fee each card attracts.

i have been charged 1 % by my travel agent in aus for paying with a CC , i think travel is the only thing i have ever had to pay the extra % rate on . everyone else is happy to just recieve the amount spent .

weird isnt it ....why do only travel organisations need to be the only places that charge it ? grocery stores dont have to , resturants dont do it , department stores dont , only anything to do with travel , accom ...and here in aus they even have the luxury tax on top of all that for hotel rooms!

the mind boggles.

you might know this , here in aus this morning on the news the aus $ was .7815 ...i went to get my american $$ today and we only got .7534 .... why such a big difference and why dont we get the .7815 ?

I bought my USD on Tuesday when " Official Bank Rate" was .7915( This is the interbank rate and we minnows cannot buy at that rate)--The actual bank gave me the USD at .7792 ( less 1.5% fee) ---normal. Whilst I do not go for a while I think that the AUD is near enough at its peak ---hence the reason I bought--collected money 2 hours ago!

I am now happy--no ATM's for the trip.

With regard to card penalties here in Australia , we do not see, ---all traders factor in the cost because most people run on plastic!

Your rate is poorer, I suspect because you are in Port Macquarie(?)---they would have not had sufficient USD there?---Have to get it from Sydney?---If this is the case , they charge $5 service fee and $10 to courier it up? Is this what happened?

Years ago I sat with my bank and because I transact a fair bit of money around the world, we came to the conclusion that if they levy this fee, they loose a very good customer!( a family of 50 years standing)

Regardless, Battling you have done the right thing even at that rate , because you will rest easy travelling with USD( and into VND straight away in $100USD hits).

I commend you on the mighty effort you have put in for your trip!---When the time comes ---GO AND HAVE A BALL!

If it makes you feel better , last year the Australian Interbank Rate was .77c approx ---It had been stable about this for a while ---then for a period of 8 weeks it fell to .73c--an amazing fall ---This window , I was forced to buy in at approx .715c ---Within a week of leaving Australia, it had recovered its position to .77c---so I lost out---this year, I bought early because the rate at this moment is nudging .80c --a 3 year high---2003 was the last time it hit this figure. I am hoping it will not hold up here---probably retreat a little ---but your guess is as good as mine.

Have a nice night!

P.S ---and to make all Australians feel happier , my trip in 2001, the Bank rate was .4995c. Carried a truck of money in and came out with a $.

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If your travel plans have been cancelled by the operator, then you may have the right to a refund. This advice only applies when the company (or operator) cancels travel plans. It doesn't apply if you wish to cancel your travel bookings yourself.

Getting Your Payment Refunded

If your holiday, flight, ferry, cruise, or train gets cancelled, you have the right, under various EU laws, to your money back. However, given the unprecedented times the world is currently facing, in light of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are offering refunds in the form of rebooking or a voucher to be used when worldwide travel restrictions have been lifted. This may be a faster remedy and you can of course accept this option.

Some European governments are currently putting in place emergency laws for such arrangements with a push towards consumers negotiating with holiday/travel companies in order to find a mutually beneficial solution. This is mainly due to the fact that most businesses are faced with huge cash demands at a time they are not fully operational. Consumers, where practicable are being encouraged to compromise.

There is no legal obligation on any passenger to accept a rebooking or a voucher, and you can insist on a refund, but at this time there may be long delays before monetary refunds are processed and pursuing through the courts will be a lengthy process.

1.  Flight Cancellations

Regulation 261/2004 on Air Passenger Rights provides that in the event that the airline cancels, the passenger will be entitled to a refund, or re-routing to their final destination. Some airlines have been offering vouchers to allow passengers to travel at a future date, and some airlines have removed the online refund facility to push passengers into accepting vouchers. Passengers are within their rights to accept the vouchers, but there is no legal obligation to. If you would rather a refund, you do not have to accept the voucher, and you can insist on a refund instead. However, under the current extraordinary circumstances, it may be some time before these can be processed and governments are encouraging consumers to negotiate with companies in order to reach a mutually suitable resolution. Airlines are obliged to provide the refund within 7 days but given the unprecedented nature of the effects of coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, this is very likely to take much longer.

2.  Hotel Cancellations

Hotel bookings will fall under the contract law of the country the hotel is based in (this is usually the case, though the terms and conditions should specify). If a hotel cancels the booking, then under law, they are unable to supply the service that you have 'contracted' for, and should refund you. If a hotel offers vouchers instead of a refund, you can accept, but you don't have to. You may be able to insist on a refund instead. However, under the current extraordinary circumstances, it may be some time before these can be processed and governments are encouraging consumers to negotiate with companies in order to reach a mutually suitable resolution. If the hotel has not cancelled the booking, but you wish to cancel, you do not have the legal right to your money back so it is worth checking the terms and conditions of the booking. Sometimes hotels allow you to cancel and claim a refund and information on this is usually found in their cancellation procedure.

3.  Package Holiday Cancellations

The Package Travel Regulations provide that where the operator cancels the holiday, they must provide a refund or option to rebook and the consumer has the right to choose which option they prefer. If you wish to use the Regulations when making a claim to your holiday provider, ensure that the holiday you have booked is in fact a package holiday. Please see our advice on package travel here.

4.  Ferry Cancellations

Regulation 1177/2010 provides that if a ferry service provider cancels a ferry service, they must refund or rebook you. You will be able to decide on what you'd prefer and a ferry operator cannot refuse to refund you. Under the law, refunds must be provided within seven days but given the unprecedented effects of coronavirus, we advise allowing ferry companies more time to process refunds. However, under the current extraordinary circumstances, as with other holiday/travel services it may be some time before these can be processed and governments are encouraging consumers to negotiate with companies in order to reach a mutually suitable resolution.

What to do if you're only offered a Voucher

We are aware that many travel companies (particularly airlines) are pushing consumers towards a travel voucher instead of a refund. Some companies are even removing the refund option from their online refund process. A number of governments across the European Union are currently implementing emergency laws to protect businesses and consumers during the pandemic, by requesting that consumers work with businesses in order to reach a mutually suitable outcome to cancellations etc as some business may hit financial difficulties if refunding all cancelled services and monetary refunds may take a long time to be processed.

However, if the travel company or hotel are only offering a voucher, and you would prefer a refund, we advise that you write to the company to inform them of your preference for a refund. You can email or write a letter to the company but be sure to keep a copy for your own reference. This will come in handy should you need to escalate the case further.

Where some laws state that refunds must be provided within seven days, the unprecedented effects of coronavirus has caused delays in companies being able to respond to all communications and therefore we advise to allow the travel company a longer time in which to process your refund.

Paid by Credit or Debit Card?

If you paid by credit card, and the cost was over £100, you can make a claim under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This provides that the credit card company is jointly liable for a breach of contract or breach of law. This means that if the travel company refuse to refund you, you can make a claim with your credit card company directly. We suggest that you contact them and ask to make a ' Section 75 Claim '.

If you paid by credit card and it was less than £100 or you paid by debit card (any amount), you will have a similar claim under the chargeback procedure. Unlike section 75, chargeback is not a legal right, but more a voluntary procedure that is carried out by the banks.  The procedure allows a consumer to dispute a transaction made using that card, resulting in the consumer claiming the money back from the bank. As this is a voluntary process, the banks set their own timeframes in which you can claim. If you wish to claim using this process, we advise that you contact your bank and state that you want to start the chargeback process.

However, under the current extraordinary circumstances, it may be some time before these can be processed and governments are encouraging consumers to negotiate with companies in order to reach a mutually suitable resolution.

For further information on Section 75 claims or Chargeback , please visit our dedicated page .

Money blog: Britons to see big rise in many bills next month - here's how much everything is going up

April 1 is nicknamed National Price Hike Day, as it's when government bodies and private companies traditionally increase the cost of goods and services ahead of the new financial year. So what can we expect in 2024? Comment on any of the stories we're covering below.

Thursday 14 March 2024 20:16, UK

  • What prices are going up in April - and by how much?
  • Santander explains (for Money blog readers) why it has raised mortgage interest rates - while lowering a savings rate
  • Bank transfers could be delayed four days under new fraud laws
  • Nestle shareholders stage intervention on its 'unhealthy' food
  • Savings Guide : The highest-interest accounts to save for your kids
  • Ed Conway : Has UK seen shortest recession in modern history?
  • Cheap Eats : Reigning Great British Menu main course champion picks his favourite in Staffordshire
  • Basically... Non-dom status is being scrapped - but what is it?

Ask a question or make a comment

EasyJet packages will not offer attractions such as zoos or anything that involve animals in performances and sporting events.

Launching a new animal welfare policy, the tour operator said it was committed to experiences that do not threaten the welfare or conservation of animals.

Amazon has opened its first disaster relief hub in Europe , housing items needed after incidents such as earthquakes, wildfires and floods.

The centre, in the online giant's base in Rheinberg, Germany, will be filled with 1,000 pallets of relief items like tents, blankets, and hygiene kits.

HSBC has warned people could see a spike in impersonation scams as the end of the tax year approaches .

Fraudsters stole £1.1m from HSBC customers in March last year, with people more likely to expect to be contacted by HMRC to clarify details on their tax returns before April.

Scammers posing as HMRC via phishing emails, calls and texts may try to persuade people to send them money in addition to stealing personal details that will be harvested for use in future scams.

John Lewis has returned to profit for the first time in three years but staff face another year with no bonus.

The company behind Waitrose grocery shops and the John Lewis department stores recorded a profit of £56m, after a loss of £234m in the previous financial year.

It said it would not hand a bonus to workers "after careful consideration" (they have given staff a bonus every year bar two since 1953) but would increase overall pay.

Adidas has posted its first annual loss in more than 30 years , as it continues to deal with the impact of the end of its lucrative deal with US rapper Kanye West.

The sportswear giant said sales in the US were likely to fall again this year as stores deal with a drop in demand and excess stock.

Chief executive Bjorn Gulden said the results were "by far not good enough" but the end of 2023 was better than expected.

Adidas was left with Yeezy shoes worth $1.3bn (£1bn) after cutting ties with West over his antisemitic comments in 2022.

Welsh Water has been ordered to pay out nearly £40m after the industry watchdog found the firm misled it over its record of tackling leaks and saving water.

Regulator Ofwat said an investigation that started in May last year found evidence of a "significant failure of governance and management oversight".

The company will have to pay £24.9m in redress to its customers, which will lower bills, while a further £15m fine will be absorbed by the water firm, according to Ofwat.

One of the most commented on stories in the Money blog this week has been Santander announcing a hike to some of its mortgage rates (it lowered others).

Several readers wrote in wondering how mortgage rates could go up at the same time the bank was lowering rates for some of its savers.

This was representative...

I've just received notice of an interest rate reduction on my Santander Easy Access Limited Edition (Issue 3) a/c from its current 5.2% to 4.2% w.e.f 20th May. How can Santander justify this reduction whilst simultaneously increasing their mortgage rate? Geoff

We got in touch with Santander to ask what was going on.

They told us: 

  • We take into account a range of factors when setting our interest rates, including market conditions, the investment required to continually improve services for customers – including investment in our branch network – and the interest rates we receive;
  • While mortgage rates continue to fluctuate, our average mortgage rates have fallen by around 1% since September, when the savings product was launched, while base rate has remained unchanged.

Elsewhere, our post earlier today about Britons increasingly giving up baths due to the cost has prompted several readers to share their experiences...

I shower at the gym and there's hot food if I'm hungry. Council run and it's a stone's throw from my house and cheap. no cheese
I bath once a week now and wash daily with cold water because I can't afford the energy prices. I've lost my self pride and feeling of worth. Arthur north east
Have tried putting the plug in the bath while showering. If you have a decent wash, shampoo your hair and maybe shave your legs. The bath is just as full as if I'd taken a soak in the first place! Have a go, you'll be surprised. Questioning what we assume

A short time later this correspondent got in touch with a second message...

Just googled it and a standard bath holds 135-175 litres of water. A 10-minute shower takes 165 litres. Fact-checked with my own experience. Things are being branded eco and carbon neutral when they are plainly not.

Finally, in response to our Basically... explainer on non dom status, which the government has suggested it is banning...

I am trying to understand the report – is scrapping the non dom status a joke if there is a four-year grace period before it is enacted? EmilieS

If you missed it, here's the explainer...

1 April is nicknamed National Price Hike Day, as it's when government bodies and private companies traditionally increase the cost of goods and services ahead of the new financial year.

So what can we expect this year?

TV and broadband

BT, EE, Plusnet and Vodafone customers will be charged 7.9% more from April. These companies pin their prices to December's inflation figure plus 3.9%, which is common practice in the industry.

Virgin Media and O2, which merged in 2021, are upping prices by 8.8%, as they use the retail price index from January plus 3.9%. There are caveats which mean some O2 customers will see prices rise by less than this.

Sky is also implementing price rises, meaning most Sky TV and broadband customers will pay an average of 6.7% more from 1 April.

Council tax

Most people who live in councils with responsibility for social care in England will see their bills rise by the maximum of 4.99%.

In areas where the councils don't oversee social care, the rise for most will be 2.99%.

Birmingham City Council, which has declared effective bankruptcy, has been given permission to hike council tax by 21% over two years due to a black hole caused partly by equal pay claims and a botched IT systems rollout.

Council tax has been frozen by the devolved government in Scotland, while rises in Wales range anywhere from 3% to 21%. Northern Ireland uses a rating system instead of council tax, and rises are also expected here.

The annual cost of a standard colour TV licence will rise to £169.50 from 1 April - an increase of £10.50 on the current price of £159 a year.

Rent for social housing

The CPI rate of inflation in September - 6.7% - is used to determine the yearly rise in rents. 

For 2024-25, the limit will be 6.7% plus an additional 1%.

The average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales will go up by an average of 6% from April . 

Water UK said the increases would leave households with an average annual bill of £473.

Vehicle excise duty will rise on all but the cleanest new and used cars in April.

Increases are generally calculated in line with the RPI rate of inflation and are expected to be about 6%.

Train fares

Rail fares will rise by 8.7% in April for those in Scotland, after the Scottish government argued previous fare freezes were not sustainable. 

For those in England and Wales, fares rose by 4.9% on 3 March. 

The Royal Mail will raise the price of stamps again as the company struggles with a decline in the number of letters being posted.

The price of a first class and second class stamp will increase by 10p to £1.35 and 85p respectively from 2 April.

KitKat and Quality Street maker Nestle is being urged to become less reliant on selling products with high levels of salt, sugar and fats.

A coalition of shareholders have put forward a resolution calling for the company to improve its impact on consumers' health, which will be put to a vote next month.

More than half of the food giant's sales last year were below a recognised threshold for being healthy, or healthier. 

The coalition, led by shareholder activist group ShareAction, has raised concern over potential public health impacts of unhealthy foods, as well as reputational and regulatory risks.

It's demanding an annual report from Nestle on how it performs in several areas, including the healthfulness of its food and drink sales.

The coalition includes Britain's biggest asset manager Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM).

ShareAction chief executive Catherine Howarth said Nestle "has an enormous influence on billions of people's diets and lives", and has "consistently failed" to explain how it will "shift the balance of its sales towards healthier food options".

"Concerned investors have been left with no option but to bring forward a resolution at the company's AGM in April," she said.

Maria Larsson Ortino, LGIM's senior global ESG manager, said the company wanted to "press home" to Nestle "the importance we place on nutrition".

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Share price gains at Deliveroo were short lived despite a near-doubling of its 2023 pre-tax profit to £85m, from £45m in 2022. 

Order numbers haven't changed on the platform but values grew 3% as the cost of food and takeaways rose throughout the year.

After an initial 3.7% share price rise the daily gain stood at 0.3% with stock still below the value when they first came onto the London Stock Exchange. 

Having the best day of the most valuable companies that make up the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) was Burberry, with a 2.62% share price growth. There were no financials released from the fashion house today but Saltburn actor Barry Keoghan was announced as the new face of the label a week ago. 

Overall it's a flat day for the FTSE 100.

£1= $1.2814 and €1.171.

The oil price is up with a barrel of Brent crude costing $84.68.

Research from the comparison website Uswitch shows rising energy costs have left homeowners thinking about how they wash.

Nearly half of bath-owners (46%) have reduced the number of baths they take, and a brave 12% have swapped washing in hot water to taking cold baths. 

Meanwhile, 42% of bath-owners have cut down on the amount of water they fill the tub with.

Maybe you're a shower user instead?

The latest statistics show also people are also reducing the time they spend in the shower, with 44% cutting down.

Uswitch found 26% of consumers turn off the hot water while they are shampooing their hair to save energy, while 24% use energy efficient nozzles.

Another 21% try to shower at the gym or their workplace to save costs at home.

And when it comes to UK cities, Edinburgh residents have cut down on baths the most, with 49% of owners ditching their tub.

Over in Belfast, just 15% have cut back on baths.

First-time buyers are spending two more years paying their mortgages back, according to new data.

Between 2021 and 2023, the average term for payments rose from 30 to 32 years, according to TSB, in a sign of the difficulty Britons are facing getting on the housing ladder.

Overall, first-time buyers accounted for 35% of all mortgage completions with the bank in 2023.

More than half (57%) of first-time buyers took out a joint mortgage for their first home, with 43% purchasing their home solo. 

Roland McCormack, TSB mortgage distribution director, said: "Across the UK, the drive to get onto the property ladder is bigger than ever – with first-time buyers taking out extended repayment terms to acquire a home."

Each Thursday we look at a different savings option, explain the pros and cons and reveal the best deals on the market (see table below for that).  This week we're talking about the best savings accounts for children. Here's the rundown from  Savings Champion founder Anna Bowes ...

It's great to get children interested in saving as early as possible and there are a range of different types of children's savings accounts available - the most common being easy access accounts and regular savings accounts. In addition, you can choose a Junior ISA, which gives many children (and their parents) a tax-free account to save into. 

If you, your friends and family were able to gift a total of £9,000 a year to a child (the current Junior ISA allowance), at a rate of 4.95% (the current best JISA rate), you could give them almost £265,000 when they reach 18. Now that's a gift worth having!

Children have their own personal allowance, so for the majority there will be no tax to pay on their savings interest. 

If the gross interest earned is less than £100 for each parent's gift, it will be treated as the child's under a "de minimis" rule. 

This means that provided the interest earned does not make the child a taxpayer, they will be able to offset this against their personal tax allowance, so it will often be free of tax. But if the interest is more than £100 for each parent's gift, then it will be treated as that parent's interest for tax purposes and therefore they may need to pay tax at their marginal rate - if it takes them above their personal allowance and/or personal savings allowance. 

Gifts from any other family members or friends will not be viewed in the same way. Instead, any interest earned will be treated as belonging to the child themselves and therefore can be earned tax free if they are non-taxpayers.

The exception to this rule is on funds deposited into a JISA, child trust fund or NS&I premium bonds - the returns from these are tax free for all. 

Click here to look at the best children's savings accounts on Savings Champion

Uswitch has penned an open letter to the big four broadband providers calling for an end to delays for cross-network broadband switching.

The long-awaited One Touch Switch process makes switching easier for consumers by standardising the process across different networks.

However, the UK's "Big Four" broadband providers - BT, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk - today missed their second target date to implement this.

This missed deadline comes weeks before the major broadband providers roll out a series of mid-contract price rises.

"The timing of the missed deadlines - just before industry price rises - adds deeper urgency to the issue," Angus McCarey, CEO of Uswitch, wrote in the open letter.

"By our estimates, industry price rises have already cost consumers an extra £427m on their broadband bills since 2023 and they are about to go up again."

The first deadline to reform the switching process was 3 April 2023 and a second target date 14 March 2024 was set by Ofcom and TOTSCo. 

This week has seen a new target date of 12 September set.

Uswitch research shows 28% of UK broadband customers intend to switch their broadband providers this year, which would unlock savings of up to £1.43bn based on average savings.

We have reached out to the "big four" for comment.

A Sky spokesperson said: "We're committed to implementing the One Touch Switch process and have been working with industry to implement this as soon as possible. It's a significant change and collectively we need to ensure that it works as seamlessly as possible for customers from day one."

A TalkTalk spokesperson said: "We're working closely with other providers to support the implementation of One Touch Switching, and are committed to delivering it as quickly as possible for consumers."

A BT consumer spokesperson said: "We fully support the move to OTS and remain committed to delivering it by (or ahead of) the deadline. This is a highly complex, pan-industry endeavour to build, integrate and test a new switching system. It's critical that trials are properly completed across all major CPs to ensure best possible customer experience when switching."

Virgin Media did not reply.

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do travel agents accept cash uk

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  3. #MoneyTips before traveling abroad. #traveltips #moneytips

COMMENTS

  1. What are the rules on paying with cash?

    The forthcoming Financial Services and Markets Bill will ensure that people can continue to conveniently withdraw and deposit cash - and a new amendment, called for by Which?, will ensure that people can do so for free. This will be monitored and enforced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). With its new powers, the FCA could stop banks ...

  2. How Should I Bring Money to the UK? Guide to Cash & Cards

    Put simply, if there's money in your Wise account, then you can spend it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can pay via Wise in more than 50 currencies worldwide. A set amount of money can also be withdrawn in cash, and this varies by country. It's free to open a Wise account, and then you can apply for the card.

  3. What are the rules on paying with cash in the UK? Why ...

    Shops and services should be legally required to accept cash, MPs told. Businesses should not legally be allowed to refuse cash, MPs were told during a debate in March. People on lower incomes, the elderly and disabled people are among 10 million who would become "financially excluded" in a cashless society. It comes after nearly 60,000 people ...

  4. Travel agents, how are they paid?

    As a former travel agent, the following normally happens: You buy a package holiday through a travel agent - the travel agent is just the agent selling holidays on behalf of the package holiday company (tour operator) - they (tour operator) pays the travel agent a commission for selling their holiday.

  5. What Kind of Travel Money Should I Bring to the UK?

    In the UK, espcially the big cities, a small but growing number of businesses—notably cafes and bars—are refusing to accept cash and will only accept card payments. This is still pretty rare, but we were shocked in November, 2018, to offer a £10 note to pay for a coffee and croissant only to be shown a sign that said the restaurant did not ...

  6. What is the law of travel agency and what do you need to ...

    The short answer is "no", provided that the travel agent is careful to ensure that the sale process and the consumer "paperwork" maintains its status as a travel agent. There is otherwise a risk that the travel agent may end up selling a package of travel services under a single contract to the consumer and so act as a principal. Next part

  7. What is the law of travel agency and what do you need to know? Part 4

    Service provider: A travel agent may provide the consumer with a technology platform which enables the consumer to make bookings with principals. In this context, the travel agent is not likely to be acting as an "agent" in the true sense of the word. Rather, it is acting as a principal in the provision of a booking service to the consumer.

  8. Ways to Pay

    Pay by Credit Card or Debit Card. Enter your Booking Reference - HAY-XXXXXXX. To pay over the phone, please call your Hays Travel shop or call us on: 0333 033 9985. What our customers are saying about us. GET EXCLUSIVE OFFERS AND MUCH MORE.

  9. Take cash in and out of the UK

    You must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs if you're carrying it between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and a country outside the UK. If you're travelling as a family ...

  10. Travel Company Card Payments

    If you're a travel agent seeking to optimise your payment processing capabilities and navigate the challenges associated with being classified as high-risk, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive overview of high-risk merchant accounts designed to meet the unique needs of travel agents. Let's dive in!

  11. Travel Money FAQs

    What payment options do you accept? ... Eurochange Ltd is a travel money and international payments provider; registered with His Majesty's Revenue & Customs as a Money Services Business (MLR Number 12117902); and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 for the provision of payment ...

  12. Hays Travel Money Card

    The Hays Travel Mastercard® is free to use in millions of locations worldwide where Mastercard® Prepaid is accepted when you spend in a currency loaded on the card: including restaurants, bars, and shops. This easy-to-use pre-paid card allows contactless transactions, chip and PIN, worldwide cash withdrawals, and also 24/7 phone support.

  13. money

    Some only take cash; some only NFC, some you need an app or make a phone call to an automated system & give the non-human clerk your card details. Many times you will only find out which when you get there. Systems are being updated constantly & one that was cash last year could be pay-by-app this year.

  14. Should travel agents be forced to keep your money in trust?

    Another option is to change the way that ATOL is funded. At present, a travel agent pays £2.50 per passenger as an ATOL levy. This number ignores the financial stability of the operator and the value of the holiday sold. Companies which do not keep money in trust could be asked to pay more into ATOL. This would both reflect the additional risk ...

  15. Should I accept a holiday company refund credit note or ...

    These can be turned into cash refunds, but the date when you are able to do so varies from four weeks to a year. Others, like Lastminute.com, are encouraging customers to take a voucher by threatening to levy a fee on cash refunds. Most Abta member travel agents and tour operators say they are operating under Abta guidance in issuing credit ...

  16. Can a travel agent save you money?

    Travel agent prices compared. Our mystery shoppers also tried to haggle with high street travel agents to see if they would be willing to beat or match online prices - with mixed results. Two weeks in the Dominican Republic. Hays knocked £319 off a Dominican Republic holiday, making it just £50 more expensive than online instead of £369 more.

  17. Can I get a cash refund instead of a credit note? Coronavirus travel

    The short answer is yes; legally, under the current Package Travel Regulations, customers are entitled to a cash refund. However, Intrepid, as with many other tour operators is offering a credit ...

  18. What Is Travel Money?

    currency websites. some travel agents and large supermarkets. Spend some time looking at the options available and the varying rates, as well as any associated fees, so you can be sure you're getting the best deal. HSBC Travel Money has the same exchange rates online and in branches. There are no delivery fees for home or branch orders and ...

  19. What Do You Need to Offer Travel Agency Payment Plans?

    2. Increased Bookings. Travel agencies that offer payment plans and flexible payment options will likely see an increase in bookings. While many travelers are deterred by the high upfront costs of travel, offering payment plans can give them the push they need to book with your agency. 3.

  20. The Best Merchant Services for Your Travel Agency

    Our handpicked suppliers reflect those best suited for the unique demands of travel agents. They're suited to higher value, higher risk transactions, and have a track record in the travel trade. Our top picks include Worldpay, Clover, Instabill, Retail Merchant Services, and CashFlows.

  21. Cash payment to a travel agency

    This is not fair for agencies. Tight schedule, 2-3wk, you can pay cash on arrival or pay by CC online if they use secured payment system -- never give copy of CC. Do a search, this question has been asked before. A recent post from "simbatran" who just finished his trip. His advise, YOU DO NOT NEED A TRAVEL AGENT.

  22. Travel Cancellation Refunds

    1. Flight Cancellations. Regulation 261/2004 on Air Passenger Rights provides that in the event that the airline cancels, the passenger will be entitled to a refund, or re-routing to their final destination. Some airlines have been offering vouchers to allow passengers to travel at a future date, and some airlines have removed the online refund ...

  23. Middle East latest: Israel condemned over strike on food distribution

    Aid agencies have warned the strip's 2.3 million population faces a growing risk of famine unless food supplies are stepped up sharply and have accused Israel of not doing enough to ensure ...

  24. Money blog: Britons to see big rise in many bills next month

    Uswitch research shows 28% of UK broadband customers intend to switch their broadband providers this year, which would unlock savings of up to £1.43bn based on average savings. We have reached ...