Canadian MasterCard -- how best to use it?
Replies: 18 - Last Post: Dec 4, 2012 4:30 AM Last Post By: greslogo
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Ah, great... I just looked at a FAQ on my bank and it says I can't use my MC in Cuba anyway. I've contacted them to find out if this is still true. Grrrrrr...4
I've never heard of Global Payment....Any of the "Big Five" Canadian banks are fine. Royal Bank, TD/Canada Trust, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. No problems with PC Financial or Canadian Tire Mastercards as well. And for our friends in Quebec the National Bank Mastercard and Desjardins Visa also work too.
Citi Bank, Capital One, Maestro, MBNA, AMX, Diners, Egg, Santander/RBS, Abbey, Abbey National, Marks & Spenser, Alliance & Leicester, etc. are some of the US affiliated cards that are useless in Cuba. Any Mastercard from a Canadian Credit Union is crap too.
Since you pay interest from the moment you make a cash advance withdrawal simply load some cash onto the card before you leave Canada. Mastercard is no good in any ATM, you have to go inside the Bank or Cadeca and deal directly with a Teller. Make sure you tell your bank you'll be in Cuba so they won't red-flag any usage as suspect.
Sounds like you need to apply for a new Visa or Mastercard if you want emergency back-up in Cuba though...
Have fun.
Cheers,
Terry
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4. Since you pay interest from the moment you make a cash advance
withdrawal simply load some cash onto the card before you leave Canada.
withdrawal simply load some cash onto the card before you leave Canada.
Terry, just so I'm clear, even if my card balance is zero, the interest for drawing money would be less if I loaded it with cash?
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Matanzas, if you front load your credit card before leaving you don’t incur an interest charge as long as you don’t go over your credit balance. When you are leaving?Have a great trip.
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Hi Matanzas, flight center has Toronto non-stop direct to Varadero on Sunwing for $355 including all taxes, fee and tourist card. I am looking for 2 weeks sometime in Jan 2013.http://www.flightcentre.ca
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A side issue. Do 5 digit PIN's work in ATM's in Cuba ? At one time they did not, if I recall.
