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It’s been a long time since I’ve done any reviews on a debit card, since the previous ones were having problems with NYCC, (my favourite was still gCard), let’s take a look at the current batch of working ones.
Card: ChronoCash
Cost: $29.00
Validity: 2 years
Fees: Link to Chronocash’s Fees Page
Loading Fee: 3%
Ordering
Ordering was easy. A ID must be sent to them for you to activate your card though.
Delivery
The delivery of the card was fast, (about 2 - 3 days), but the user manual wasn’t really friendly since it’s all in French. I emailed the support to get the English one sent to me via PDF. The activation wasn’t as clear as it seem with the instructions, cumbersome.
Card Loading Time
Card loading took me 2 days (to be fair, it was a Saturday when I had it loaded) upon sending of funds to the E-gold account of Chronocash. Loading is done ON Chronocash’s website and not the admin panel of yours. (Instructions wasn’t clear)
An email was sent to me to acknowledge that the card has been loaded. +Plus point
Withdrawal
The card uses STAR and PLUS network, so withdrawing from your nearby friendly ATM machine shouldn’t be an issue. +Plus point
Remember, on your ATM, do choose the “Current Account” option when doing any Debit card withdrawals (A tip from Jude da man!). Since debit card withdrawals aren’t cheap, do not attempt to check your balance on the card unless you really don’t know how much is left in the card balance. - Should be included in the FAQ
The cash was withdrawn successfully.
Upon checking the balance on the admin panel after the withdrawal, I realize the balance is not updated (it’s been two weeks), so I reckon the balance check thing is pretty useless.
Card based?
The card is issued by Monterey County Bank, as with one of the FAQ question which seems to be REALLY what everyone is interested. I’d like to shoot a question to our readers, do leave a comment if you know anything about this issuing bank.
What would happen to my funds if Chronocash went out of business?
Your funds would be totally safe. The funds on the cards are held by the issuing bank not us. If Chronocash owed be closed, you could continue has to use your ATM Card by contacting the issued bank.
It makes big sense, so if anyone has funds stucked with Uniclear and the rest of the Old cards that has already been loaded (note, it has to be loaded), you may contact the issuing bank to see if you can get your funds out.
Conclusion
The Crap
- The activation instructions should be more clear.
- Much improvements have to be made especially on the updating of balance on the administrative panel.
- Not exactly zero anonymity
The Good
- Quick loading.
- Do E-bullion, E-gold and Bankwire with the card
- Cheaper Fee as compared to its peers.
- You can withdraw your funds almost everywhere.
- The support responds fast to your email queries.
To be honest, I am interested to be a distributor of a good card, but will still keep my option open for now.
Popularity: 3% [?]
I’ve never heard of the Star or Plus networks… I’ll have to check out ATMs in my area, might not be a goer here.
thanks for this report.
i would like to know if you know details of contacting the issuing bank of uniclear?? i had about 3 or 4 hundred dollars with them when they bust, any ideas if i can do anything about that?
regards,
mango
Kyte, Star/Plus are not so popular as Visa and Maestro, but still theere are many ATMs which use them. Check the ATMs in the big supermarkets and banks
Jude, is this one working with e-gold? I did not see e-gold on their fees page
mbongwe, yep the one doing with e-gold. let me check the fees again later.
I am in the same situation kyte, I don’t know if there is some ATMs in Spain with Star or Plus networks, I will pay more attention
ATM card bearing a PLUS logo = VISA and CIRRUS logo = MasterCard.
STAR works only in U.S.
Jose Leon, you can use atm card bearing a PLUS logo in any Visa/PLUS ATMs.
You can find the Visa/PLUS ATM nearest you here: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/
Thank you very much d-gold.
OK sounds good. Looks like gcard might be off the map completely which means those of us who have/had cards through them can kiss replacements goodbye. I had not even received mine, yet, before it all went pearshaped