Eden Wizard’s Under 9 football club gets surprise visit by All Blacks' Dan Carter. Source: Mastercard/Youtube
Kiwi travellers planning to rely on Mastercard’s cash passport while overseas are at risk of being left high and dry after some of the cards were distributed with incorrect numbers.
The prepaid cards are aimed at helping to ease the stress of converting currencies and making payments while overseas.
But those who purchased one of the cards in January could face seeing “declinada” if they trying buying a beer in Barcelona, or an awkward moment when settling the tab in Tangier.
That’s because some Mastercard cash passport cards sent to Kiwi customers in January had CVC (card verification code) numbers that did not match those in the banking system due to a manufacturing error, meaning they could not be used.
Mastercard said fewer than 200 cards were affected.
A New Zealand cash passport customer who contacted the Herald said he went to book accommodation on Tuesday ahead of a trip to America and found he couldn’t access his card.
When he called the contact centre, he was told his card was being replaced. If he had not been proactive or tried using the card before his departure, he could have ended up in LA without access to funds, the man said.
Mastercard's Cash Passport currency cards were sent out with incorrect CVCs.
An email later sent to the man from Mastercard suggested the issue affected cash passport cards purchased between January 1 and 31, 2024.
“Unfortunately, due to a manufacturing error, your card cannot be activated or used to carry out transactions via ATMs, merchants and online,” the email said.
“In order to resolve this issue for you, we will be sending you a replacement card to your home address as soon as possible.”
The email offered the chance to cash out funds free of charge.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you,” Mastercard said.
A statement supplied by a Mastercard spokesman said the issue is limited to fewer than 200 cash passports in New Zealand.
People travelling abroad who are impacted were advised to contact cash passport services via the number on the back of the card, to either arrange a cash out of their funds to their original bank account or sort out emergency cash via Western Union.
“As we became aware of a manufacturing issue at a vendor for Cash Passport cards in New Zealand, we proactively contacted the limited number of cardholders impacted,” the statement said.
“As of today, replacement cards have been produced and sent to the cardholders.
“We have provided additional ways for these cardholders to access their money as they needed, even before they received the new cards. If cardholders have not received their replacement card or require assistance, they should contact CashPassport Card Services on the number on the back of their card.”
