Emergency cash while traveling?

[Anonymous]

At least one of my cards offers emergency assistance while traveling. My understanding is that this would be along the lines of access to a few thousand dollars in local currency if you lost your wallet. Is this correct?

Has anyone ever used this? Does it just code as a cash advance? I'm guessing it wouldn't count against you like a normal cash advance might. Any experience?

[NRB525]

There would be a cash advance fee, if you take a cash advance. 
There are bank contacts who can work in your behalf to contact known vendors for support and then bill your card for the services. 

But if you are in a foreign country and need a reliable contact to provide financial resources and reliable local contacts to get you out of a jam, what is that worth to you?

You would be expected to pay all this off, of course, but having the "travel emergency support" is part of the benefits of the card. Using those benefits would not be held against you.

[UpperNwGuy]

American Express has an emergency cash feature on their charge cards.  You have to call customer service and explain your situation.  Then they give you a special code to input into the ATM.  They saved my butt ten years ago in South America, and that was using the old Green Card.

[M_Smart007]

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

American Express has an emergency cash feature on their charge cards.  You have to call customer service and explain your situation.  Then they give you a special code to input into the ATM.  They saved my butt ten years ago in South America, and that was using the old Green Card.

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@UpperNwGuy, Great Story!   ..

Just think ..if you would have left home without it?

[M_Smart007]

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@Anonymous wrote:

At least one of my cards offers emergency assistance while traveling. My understanding is that this would be along the lines of access to a few thousand dollars in local currency if you lost your wallet. Is this correct?

Has anyone ever used this? Does it just code as a cash advance? I'm guessing it wouldn't count against you like a normal cash advance might. Any experience?

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@Anonymous, Just a Thought, When I travel far (which is not to often)

I carry an extra Visa Card with no FTF and a Charles Schwab ATM card both seperate from my wallet.

Even a couple of Folded Checks.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all. I've been curious about this for a while.

I do carry backups, and backups for the backups, when I travel.

[staticvoidmain]

Open a Schwab checking or SoFi cash account. They offer fee-free international ATM withdrawals (plus they usually have the best exchange rates, since it is direct from the bank). I never had to carry much cash ever since I got their debit ATM cards.

[Anonymous]

Last year while on Antigua we needed cash.  We were in English Harbor, where there is only 1 ATM.  None of the debit cards for the 5 checking accounts that my husband and I have would work in the ATM.  After trying several credit cards as well, we were able to both get cash advances-me from my NFCU Flagship and him from his USAA card.  When we were hom from our trip a week later, we both called the banks explained the situation.  They both waived the cash advance fee and associated interest as we made immediate payments in full.

[notmyrealname23]

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@staticvoidmain wrote:

Open a Schwab checking or SoFi cash account. They offer fee-free international ATM withdrawals (plus they usually have the best exchange rates, since it is direct from the bank). I never had to carry much cash ever since I got their debit ATM cards.

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The same goes for a Fidelity Cash Management Account debit card (which, coincidentally, is a place you can deposit cashback from a Fidelity Visa Signature).

[Anonymous]

"Emergency cash" is a cash advance, so its bound by your cash limit. The cash and fees are billed to the card immediately,  no grace period. Other services, like roadside assistance or referrals, are also billed to the card, but as a purchase not cash.

I haven't used the emergency assistance, but I use the concierge on a regular basis, works the same way too.