FTF/Cash Advance Fee

[JediNeo]

Greetings all. I've been wanting to order something from an overseas retailer. Their payment options are Visa, MC, money gram and western union. Unsure if I want to pay directly with a CC. I was told if I use money gram/western union I'd be charged with a FTF and if used a card it would be considered a cash advance. Anyone have experience with this? Any help is appreciated.

[user5387]

I have used MC debit with a low balance for this type of situation.

If you do Moneygram / Western Union, using debit / prepaid should avoid the cash advance issue.

[JediNeo]

Thanks for the info. Was planning on using my 0% promo to carry the balance a little. Oh well, looks like I'll just pay in full with a debit.

[Creditaddict]

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@JediNeo wrote:

Greetings all. I've been wanting to order something from an overseas retailer. Their payment options are Visa, MC, money gram and western union. Unsure if I want to pay directly with a CC. I was told if I use money gram/western union I'd be charged with a FTF and if used a card it would be considered a cash advance. Anyone have experience with this? Any help is appreciated.

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why would the visa/mc be considered a cash advance for the retailer?

[JediNeo]

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@Creditaddict wrote:

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@JediNeo wrote:

Greetings all. I've been wanting to order something from an overseas retailer. Their payment options are Visa, MC, money gram and western union. Unsure if I want to pay directly with a CC. I was told if I use money gram/western union I'd be charged with a FTF and if used a card it would be considered a cash advance. Anyone have experience with this? Any help is appreciated.

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why would the visa/mc be considered a cash advance for the retailer?

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I was told the cash advance fee would apply if I used a CC card as payment thru money gram or western union. Although if I paid the retailer directly via Visa/MC I'd only be charged a FTF. Just hesitant to use my CC directly with a retailer I have no experience with.

[user5387]

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@JediNeo wrote:

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@Creditaddict wrote:

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@JediNeo wrote:

Greetings all. I've been wanting to order something from an overseas retailer. Their payment options are Visa, MC, money gram and western union. Unsure if I want to pay directly with a CC. I was told if I use money gram/western union I'd be charged with a FTF and if used a card it would be considered a cash advance. Anyone have experience with this? Any help is appreciated.

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why would the visa/mc be considered a cash advance for the retailer?

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I was told the cash advance fee would apply if I used a CC card as payment thru money gram or western union. Although if I paid the retailer directly via Visa/MC I'd only be charged a FTF. Just hesitant to use my CC directly with a retailer I have no experience with.

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Cash equivalents like money orders and wiring funds and so on often incur a cash advance fee.

[Creditaddict]

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@JediNeo wrote:

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@Creditaddict wrote:

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@JediNeo wrote:

Greetings all. I've been wanting to order something from an overseas retailer. Their payment options are Visa, MC, money gram and western union. Unsure if I want to pay directly with a CC. I was told if I use money gram/western union I'd be charged with a FTF and if used a card it would be considered a cash advance. Anyone have experience with this? Any help is appreciated.

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why would the visa/mc be considered a cash advance for the retailer?

---

I was told the cash advance fee would apply if I used a CC card as payment thru money gram or western union. Although if I paid the retailer directly via Visa/MC I'd only be charged a FTF. Just hesitant to use my CC directly with a retailer I have no experience with.

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I MUCH rather use a credit card with the retailer as you have the full protection of your credit card then!

[Creditaddict]

I think you actually have way less protection by wiring the money to them, not to mention the fees of doing a cash equivilant!

[JediNeo]

Never thought about that. Thanks, I'll pay the retailer directly with my visa.

[JediNeo]

I think my concern dealing directly with the retailer is CC fraud. Lucky I've never had to experience that. In my mind it's easier to lose $x.xx via money gram vs trying to correct issues with possible fraud/ID theft.