Traveller letters: Problems with Westpac debit cards in overseas ATMS

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This was published 8 years ago

Traveller letters: Problems with Westpac debit cards in overseas ATMS

Musee des Confluences in Lyon.

Musee des Confluences in Lyon.

PAC MENTALITY I

I had a similar experience to Anne Rolston (Traveller Letters, August 8-9) involving a Westpac Debit card. Despite discussing my travel plans with Westpac and confirming that I could withdraw cash from overseas ATMs, my Westpac card could not be used at ATMs in London. In addition, I had several hundred dollars converted to Australian currency and debited to my account after one unsuccessful attempt to withdraw cash.

It took weeks for the cash to be credited back to my account. Westpac has informed me that they are aware of problems with some of their debit cards. So why are they not informing customers who are travelling with these cards?

Gillian Anderson, Northmead, NSW

PAC MENTALITY II

On a recent trip to Italy with friends, we decided to take up the offer of the free travel insurance provided by Westpac. We figured as we have paid for most of the components on the card, why spend another $800 taking out additional insurance? Our friends on the other hand paid the $800.

Ten days into our trip, my husband became quite ill with pneumonia and we had to seek medical assistance. We had a doctor visit our apartment, twice a day for a week to administer injections and provide medication, etc. I immediately phoned Zurich to advise of our situation and they could not have been more helpful, checking back to ensure everything was going OK.

When we returned home, we lodged the necessary paperwork, including receipts for such aspects as medication, vouchers and cancelled tours. We received a full refund, minus the $250 excess.

Our friends, however, had to lodge a claim for a lost diamond ear ring on the flight on the way over, only to receive a payout of $500, much less than the replacement cost. Check it out next time you travel.

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Carol Coghlan, Camberwell, Vic

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Australian travellers do indeed need to read the fine print when hiring a car in North America (Traveller, August 15-16) . Not only cover for loss or damage to the hire car should be sought, but also third party property damage and more importantly, third party liability - items we take for granted here in Australia, but which are not automatically covered by North American car rental firms.

For my recent trip to the US and Canada this year, I was unable to find car hire firms in either country which included it all. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find a global firm, Economy Car Rentals, which offered all needed insurances in the one competitive price, including third party liability up to $20 million.

I paid nothing more at the rental desks, received the cars I had ordered, and all financial aspects went through without a hitch. It made for great peace of mind during my six weeks of travel.

Carol Murphy, Port Macquarie, NSW

EIRE B AND BS

I have just returned home from a two-week family road trip around Ireland, and would like to recommend the marvellous bed and breakfasts we stayed in. They were all spotless, beautifully decorated, and with lots of little details like tea and coffee-making facilities, tissues, soap and shampoo, and hairdryer.

Not only that, but we were often welcomed with a cup of tea or coffee (with home-made cakes/biscuits), and lots of helpful information about the local sights, and pubs or restaurants for our evening meal. We found Ireland to be a delightful country, with magnificent, varied scenery, and charming (and talkative) people.

Janet Magnin, Grandfontaine, France

GOOD AS GOLD

Just one small correction to your otherwise excellent cover story on Central Asia (Traveller, August 15-16): the Registan at Samarkand contains two madrasas, one on each side, and a mosque at the back, which has a sensational golden ceiling, not three madrases as you state.

Jerry Bell, Armadale, Vic

ENGLISH LESSON

Sorry to hear about Matt Reed's road-trip around "tourist unfriendly" Japan. He must have had incredibly bad luck not to encounter any English speakers or signs wherever he went. Suffice to say, Matt is exaggerating just a little.

As a resident here since 2009, I can attest to varying levels of written and spoken English around the country, but it has definitely improved a lot in my six years. You can even reserve an English-language satnav with Nissan. Anyway, obviously Matt survived his two weeks by using his Japanese phrasebook and smartphone translator. After all, why would you go all the way to Japan to only speak English?

Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

LETTER OF THE WEEK

A pity none of your writers in your cover story, "Second to None" (Traveller, August 8-9) chose Lyon, which competes with Marseilles to be considered France's second city and has quite a different flavour to Marseilles. Like Paris, it has its basilica on a height overlooking a largely flat city.

Unlike Paris, it has architecture ranging from a charming, medieval quarter, through Empire to a suburb of ultra-modern buildings where the two large rivers that cut Lyon north to south combine. A compact city with a good tram and metro network, it is easy to walk around and, although it gets its share of visitors, it does not have the teeming masses of Paris, and its wide rivers, graceful bridges and gracious squares give it an open and spacious air.

With its own distinctive cuisine, its fabulous halles​ named after the local master-chef, Paul Bocuse, in the modern Part-Dieu district and its fascinating silk-weaving quarter riddled with ancient passages, Lyon offers many delights to the visitor.

Among them are astounding trompe l'oeil paintings turning blank apartment-building walls into amazingly realistic cityscapes you feel you could walk right into. Although not far from the French Alps, Lyon has a Mediterranean climate and the relaxed and friendlier style that goes with that, unlike bustling, impersonal Paris.

Late May is a good time to visit, when the Festival of Roses can suddenly delight you with a fountain in a central square completely dressed with colourful blooms.

Brian Macdonald, Watsonia, Vic

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