šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø Monzo in the USA [Discussion]

Monzo Chat Travelling with Monzo
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I have just returned from Chicago and Washington, and have a couple of things I need advice on if anyone already has experience:

TIPS: I traveled 22nd March - 29th March, and now nearly two weeks after my first transactions, none of the tips have come out. I have estimated around Ā£55 worth of tips which I have put into a separate pot just in case, but I was wondering how long they took to come out for others? The initial transactions of the food/drink have come out, itā€™s just the tips I am waiting on.

UBER: This was an absolute nightmare! They took my money when I requested the ride, then they refunded me (give or take a few pence) once the ride was over, then they took the money out again the next day (give or take a few pence)! It got very confusing as I was taking a couple of rides a day. Does anyone have any experience in Uber settling the costs up at a later date, I am definitely owed some money from them. Must be to do with the exchange rate?

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From reading on here, if you pay by Monzo in restaurants, the amount shows twice as authorised but not taken from you account twice if you pay by card for the tip as well until it is settled a few days later? Is this correct?
If you pay by cash for the tip does that avoid this problem?

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Thatā€™s true with any card, not just Monzo and including American cards. Itā€™s by design, not really a problem.

Tipping in cash may or may not prevent double authorisations, depending on the restaurant.

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Yeah but I will only have so much on my card which is why I am asking, with my CC obv that doesnā€™t matter.

So tipping in cash might not stop it happening?

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I pay with the card and tip with cash and have never had an issue with double or pending transactions.

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I have previously posted on here that Wells Fargo does not charge a fee for ATM withdrawals.
I had been using their ATM in Delaware and Pennsylvania. However, I was in Florida recently and Wells charged me $5 for a withdrawal! Seems their fees may vary state to state!

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Hi guys.

I have read the monzo in USA wiki page. I am going to Miami soon and i am really worried about some stuff.

1st. When I withdraw money at the ATM, how does it work. Will the Atm give me an optiom to use their rate or the bank rate? In this case should I pick ghe card/bank rate so I get the mastercard rate?

2nd. The wiki page metions atms will charge to withdraw money. I thought monzo absorbs this fee?

3rd. Paying at restraunts and shops with the card should be a breeze? The wiki page metions some hiccups but overall should be okay?

I probably have some other questions but I am a bit nervous and I am going in a few days. If i remember any, I will post them here.

I have never really used monzo aboard and normally take a wad of exchanged cash with me on holidays. I never have withdrawed money at forign atms. I am a bit of a noob at holidays xd.

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I havenā€™t taken cash out in the states, but have used my Monzo card in CA. When paying in restaurants I used Monzo to pay the bill and then cash for the tip. Iā€™ve seen that you can either be charged twice or that the tip wonā€™t go through. Hope that helps at least a little.

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  1. You should take money out and choose to be charged in the local currency to get Monzoā€™s rate.

  2. Monzo wonā€™t add on any charges (below Ā£200 in a rolling 30 day period) however, if the ATM itself charges you to use it thatā€™s beyond Monzoā€™s remit so they wonā€™t be able to absorb those.

  3. You should be fine but check out the following thread for more info on other peopleā€™s experiences: šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø Monzo in the USA [Discussion]

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Thanks, this is what I wanted to know

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Hey all,

Reasonably new to using Monzo, but have used it a few times without flaw in the UK.

I am travelling to Las Vegas in mid June and was wondering if anyone has tried to use their Monzo card in a casino in Vegas? Mainly withdrawing reasonably large sums at the cage in a casino?

Any help on this would be very appreciated!

Thanks

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You have a Ā£200 free allowance per month, 3% charge for foreign withdrawals thereafter

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Yep - used Monzo without a hitch. The most I drew out was $200 dollars at a casino. Whether using in casino ATMs or the service desk, youā€™ll get charged $4.99 for cash withdrawals. Thereā€™s no charge at big bank ATMs so try and avoid needing cash in the casinos and get it beforehand.

PS: @jackaoliver - Iā€™ve moved your post to the main USA thread

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Iā€™m surprised casinos charge ATM-like fees for buying chipsā€¦ Iā€™d expect them to behave more like online gambling which doesnā€™t charge ATM fees and is thus free for the bank (and excluded from the 200Ā£/month ATM limit).

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Yea, so In the UK you just go to the cashier and use your card in the same way as if you were buying any good or service on your card. i.e. ask for for Ā£200 and they charge you for a Ā£200 transaction.

The problem with Vegas and hence I am asking the question is because I would like to withdraw substantially more than Ā£200 for poker and therefore was just trying to work out how I can do that with my Monzo card in Vegas.

Thanks for your help so far, and any further help is appreciated.

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Even if Monzo lifted your daily withdrawal limit, with a 3% charge on cash withdrawals you would be better off getting cash via another card that does not charge.

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Hi all, anyone used Monzo in Disneyworld, Orlando?

Had a quick look but couldnā€™t see anything.

Off there in a few weeks, and planning on using only Monzo. Will follow the wiki and let you know how we get on!

Thanks,
James

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Hey - Iā€™ve personally not used it in DisneyWorld, hwoever Iā€™m off on Holiday in September so Iā€™ve been looking into it,

Over on The Dibb (disney travel forum), thereā€™s been quite a few people that have used monzo (both prepaid when it was still going and the CA) that have had no issues :slight_smile:

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Great, thanks, sounds like it should be fine. Fingers crossed!

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I used Monzo as a prepaid service in Feb ā€˜17. Only issue I had was with renting a car through Enterprise. They didnā€™t like the colour of the card. Scandalous!

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