Cash and the Cape

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:10
ThreadID: 34670 Views:1954 Replies:5 FollowUps:6
This Thread has been Archived
Just looking for some idea of how much cash people carry when travelling Cape York?

Just how many places don't have facilities for card transactions?

Sandy and Steve
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Sam from Weipa Auto Electrics - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:15

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:15
About 100,000 thousands good No where exactly do you plan on camping again?
No but seriously as long as you have about 250-500 you should be safe most road house's have eftpos or some way of taking you're credit card swipe. It is not as remote as you think up this way but cash is still king though.
AnswerID: 176989

Follow Up By: Member - Steve (ACT) - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:56

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:56
After 12 months of planning and now under three weeks till we head off, it was only this morning I started to think about cash.

Living in a city you get used to using a card of some sort for everything!

S&S
0
FollowupID: 433018

Reply By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:54

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 11:54
Hi Sandy and Steve,
The Cape is not that remote. It has quite a large population and most places accept credit cards or EFTPOS though there may be a surcharge for there use. Cash is prefered at most locations. We usually take $500 to $1,000 each and only use it where we need too. Be aware that while most places accept EFTPOS you may not be able to 'cash out' at many locations. Don't get in a position where you run down your cash researves. Sure as taxes you will need $2 more than you have at some point.

Steve
AnswerID: 177000

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 12:16

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 12:16
EFTPOS is cash to the Vendor. There should be NO surchage applied to such a transaction at all.

Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 433020

Follow Up By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 12:32

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 12:32
Sand Man,
That is what I thought. But when coming back through Qld last year about 50% and no surcharge 40% had a surcharge on credit cards and no surcharge for EFTPOS the other 10% were the other way round. The main dif was that the EFTPOS fee tended to be fixed either $1 or $2. They all had a sign and we just picked the one with no surcharge.

Steve
0
FollowupID: 433025

Follow Up By: Mr Fawlty - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 14:29

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 14:29
It is illegal to charge for an EFTPOS transaction but legal to charge for a credit card transaction. In fact if they have a sign saying that there is a surcharge for Eftpos transactions then you are entitled to recieve the goods for no charge, similarly places that have signs up saying minimum EFTPOS purchase is $XXX this is also illegal and they retailer has the choice of taking your payment or giving you the goods gratis...

I could be wrong this may only apply in the ACT but there has been much talk on Radio on this topic a few months back as some retailer was prosecuted & fined by the very financially stretched ACT Government, who, incidentally is about to bring in a "horror" budget tonight. Maybe they don't want to be reelected...
0
FollowupID: 433042

Follow Up By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 14:50

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 14:50
Don't know about it being state based. That is just the way it was. If I remember correctly you couldn't have a surcharge for either at one point. I don't know when the change occured but I remember thinking the law had been changed but had not seen it before. If one way is ok and the other not then I assume a few traders got it wrong originally. I suppose you just have to be ready for anything.
0
FollowupID: 433045

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006 at 11:17

Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006 at 11:17
I have no problem whatsoever if a Trader applies a small percentage to credit transactions to cover costs. Generally their Bank charges them for this facility.

But to the best of my knowledge, a Trader is not charged a percentage by their Bank for EFTPOS transactions and I will not deal with those who attempt to gain additional income.
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 433186

Reply By: Mr Fawlty - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 13:43

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 13:43
I found that many places wanted cash as they had very poor phone connections that ATM's & EFTPOS machines don't like. A simple trick I found was to buy a small safe from Bunnings and bolt it to the floor under the dinette (where I had room). Use cuphead bolts from the underneath & try and get at least one through a chassis member. A safe place to keep attractive small items, documents & cash & unless people know it's there it's even "safer". I find it does pay to take some measures against the actions of unsavory types.
AnswerID: 177019

Reply By: Sea-Dog - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 16:23

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 16:23
When I did the cape last year from the Sunshine Coast with the wife and kids I took $1000 cash and got home with about $600 of it still in my pocket and that was only because I gave the kids $200 to spend when we got back to Cairns as a bit of a bonus becuase they were so good through the trip.

You will find that nearly everywhere has eftpos and most things will cost you over the $10 limit to use it too.... a couple of ice creams goes over that price when you get out a bit. lol

Cheers
AnswerID: 177051

Reply By: Member - Steve (ACT) - Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 19:25

Tuesday, Jun 06, 2006 at 19:25
Thanks guys for all the help, that's given me an amount to work with!

Steve & Sandy
AnswerID: 177081

Sponsored Links