1. Hotels, car hire, bicycle hire and deposits of all kinds
Don’t use your Caxton card for the security card swipe when you check into a hotel or hire a car. Use any other card for this and only use your Caxton card to settle the bill. This is because of something called ‘shadowed funds’. When a card is swiped you might not know that a ‘shadow’ is put on the card. Your Caxton card holds a prepaid balance and the shadow will stop you from getting to your travel cash. A shadow can last for up to 30 days. Use any other card for the security swipe and your Caxton card when the payment transaction is required.

2. DCC Dynamic Currency Conversion - Don't pay in Sterling!
Sometimes you will get the choice of paying in euros/dollars or in sterling – always choose the local currency. This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). Retailers and ATMs may give you the choice and you might think that paying in sterling saves you money. It doesn’t. If you pay in pounds the retailer converts your payment at their exchange rate and you lose out. Remember to check the screen before authorising transactions. If the value is shown in pounds – ask that it is changed!

This is where you can be caught out.

If you were using the ATM in the picture the correct button to press would be "NO".

However some ATMs will pose the question as a double negative: "Are you sure you would not like to pay in Pounds?" The answer to this is "YES"

3. Overseas ATM fees and charges
Caxton FX does not charge a fee for overseas ATM withdrawals. The vast majority of UK debit, credit card and prepaid card issuers do charge fees for overseas ATM withdrawals. When you use an ATM overseas the ATM owner may charge you a fee. This is not Caxton FX charging you, this is the ATM owner.


Almost every ATM in Thailand will charge for an ATM withdrawal, usually 150 Thai Baht (about £3), regardless of the amount you withdraw. A large number of banks in the US will also charge, but they normally inform you of this before letting you proceed.


We point this our in section 12 of the T&C's, "When you use you Prepaid Card at an ATM, you may also be subject to applicable fees, surcharges rules and regulations of the relevant ATM, or other financial institution or association." Unfortunately if the ATM owner chooses to charge for a withdrawal, there is nothing we can do to prevent it, nor can we refund this charge as it is not levied by Caxton FX.

4. Automated French Petrol Stations
Automated petrol stations on the continent (not just France) usually take a security deposit of €120 (Normal approval) when you first swipe your card. No money actually leaves your account at this point, but your available balance is reduced by €120.

A couple of days later (it can be up to 15 days), they will process a settlement increase for €120 which will raise your available balance by €120. Simultaneously, they will process a settlement decrease where they will remove funds from your card to cover the actual amount of fuel dispensed for example €45. In the period between the Normal approval and the settlement decrease your account will appear to have been debited by €120, but it has not.

Only when the Settlement decrease goes through has money actually left your account.

This procedure is not unique to Caxton FX cards or indeed any pre-paid card, all cards issued by any institution are treated in the same way whether they are debit, credit or prepaid cards.

5. Toll booths
Caxton FX currency cards require a merchant to seek authorisation before they provide the goods or services. The majority of European toll roads do not seek an authorisation, therefore you cannot use your Caxton FX currency card at most toll booths.

6. Checking the balance
Check online or by text 24 hours a day – you can also do it over the phone between 08.00 hrs. to 18:00 hrs. GMT, Monday to Friday. You are unable to check your balance at an ATM.

7. Get the best exchange rate
Load your card when the rate is at its best – money loaded on the card is frozen at the rate of that day .

8. Changing your PIN
Change your PIN at any UK cash machine. But don’t leave it until you are away – overseas cash machines won’t allow you to do this. Some ATMs may tell you that you will be charged for this service – you won’t be .

9. Better to be safe than sorry
It might be obvious, but look after your card – you might lose some or all of the funds on it if it gets lost. A good back up plan is to take a secondary card and leave it in the hotel safe. That way, if your card does get lost or stolen you can block it and use your back up.

FSCS statement: The Prepaid Card is an electronic money product and although it is a product regulated by the Financial Services Authority, it is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. No other compensation scheme exists to cover losses claimed in connection with the Prepaid Card. This means that in the unlikely event that Newcastle Building Society becomes insolvent your funds may become valueless and unusable and as a result you may lose your money.