Visa Travelers Cheques

About Visa Travelers Cheques

Visa Travelers Cheques currently in circulation are issued in U.S. dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euro, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars and Japanese yen. They are accepted at millions of banks, financial institutions and merchants around the world, according to local customs and practices. Dual-Signature Visa Travelers Cheques are also in circulation and carry two people’s signatures as original holders yet may be used independently by either of the holders.

What if they are lost or stolen?

Visa Travelers Cheques can be refunded if lost or stolen, subject to certain terms and conditions being satisfied. These conditions are set out on the reverse of the Purchase Agreement Form, which you signed at the time of purchasing the cheques. If travelers cheques are lost or stolen, you should immediately call the Issuer, if the number is available on the reverse of the Purchase Agreement Form. If not you can find their contact details by calling the relevant toll-free number – just choose the country you are in from the list below:

If the country you are in is not listed, or if you experience any difficulty in connecting, please call US 1-303-967-1052 or send an email to vtc@visa.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Bank of America please call 1-214-209-0519 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm Central Time or send an email to Travchqdept@bankofamerica.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Citicorp please call toll-free 1-800-645-6556 or call collect 1-813-623-1709. Automated cheque verification is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (if you select the English or Spanish option). If you need to speak to a customer service representative you can do so Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm EST. Outside these hours calls will be recorded and responded to the next business day. Alternatively, please send an e-mail to citicorp_travellers_cheques@citi.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Interpayment Services Ltd or Banco do Brasil or Chase Manhattan please call UK +44-1733-457026 from 8 am to 5 pm (GMT or BST), Monday through Friday, or send an email to tcassistance@travelex.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Sumitomo please call toll-free +800-08006666 or send an email to travelerscheques@ea.smbc.co.jp.

Before a refund can be arranged, the Issuer will ask a few simple questions:

• What are the cheque serial numbers? They can be found on the Purchase Agreement, which you signed when you bought the cheques. Remember to keep this separate from the cheques.
• Where and when did you buy the cheques?
• How and when do you think the cheques were lost or stolen?
• Who is the Issuer of the travelers cheques? The name can be found on the right hand side of the Visa logo. The name of the Issuer is also stated on the reverse of the Purchase Agreement form given to you.

Tips before you travel

• Do not countersign the cheques until you want to use them.
• Make a note of the serial numbers and keep them separate from the cheques.
• Be as careful with your cheques as you would be with cash.
• Make a note of the contact numbers for your destinations – and keep them separate from your travelers cheques.
• Keep the copy of the purchase agreement form separate from your cheques.

Do not be a victim of Travelers Cheque Scams

Visa Travelers Cheques are a safer and more secure form of payment than cash and are accepted around the world at millions of banks, financial institutions and merchants (according to local customs and practices). But like all forms of payment, criminals are increasingly targeting consumers with counterfeit travelers cheques. It is important that consumers be alert for scams and consider the following security tips when using Visa Travelers Cheques:

• Safeguard the cheques against loss or theft as you would safeguard cash.
• Keep the Purchase Agreement Form, which lists cheque numbers and contact information, separate from the actual cheques.
• Notify the police in case of loss/theft.
• Do not use the cheques in any illegal game or prohibited activity.
• Do not accept Visa Travelers Cheques from a third party, if unknown to you and you have no recourse against that party.
• Do not accept Visa Travelers Cheques that have been sent to you unsolicited or from an unknown source via mail or courier. Report their receipt immediately to the police. DO NOT ENCASH TRAVELERS CHEQUES FOR THIRD PARTIES WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO YOU.

Accepting Visa Travelers Cheques

Check the Visa Travelers Cheque(s) for the following security features:

Paper		Feels like currency (A counterfeit cheque generally does not feel right - It usually feels smoother or thicker)
Watermark		A watermark should be visible on the front side of the cheque when the cheque is lifted to the light (A counterfeit cheque may not have a watermark on the front side or the watermark may appear on the back side of the cheque)
Raised texture		(A counterfeit cheque generally does not have this feature)
Holographic thread		The current design contains a silver, metallic, shiny strip with the word 'secure' repeated (A counterfeit cheque may have a dull strip)

If you are in possession of cheques and suspect they may be fraudulent, please call toll-free on the relevant customer service number listed to obtain the contact details of the relevant issuing institution.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Bank of America please call 1-214-209-0519 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm Central Time or send an email to Travchqdept@bankofamerica.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Citicorp please call toll-free 1-800-645-6556 or call collect 1-813-623-1709. Automated cheque verification is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (if you select the English or Spanish option). If you need to speak to a customer service representative you can do so Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm EST. Outside these hours, calls will be recorded and responded to the next business day. Alternatively, please send an e-mail to citicorp_travellers_cheques@citi.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Interpayment Services Ltd or Banco do Brasil or Chase Manhattan please call UK +44-1733-457026 from 8 am to 5 pm (GMT or BST), Monday through Friday, or send an email to tcassistance@travelex.com.

If the Visa Travelers Cheques bear the name of Sumitomo please call toll-free +800-08006666 or send an email to travelerscheques@ea.smbc.co.jp.

Acceptance and Verification

For your protection, please follow these 5 simple steps when accepting Visa Travelers Cheques.

Step 1. Check the Visa Travelers Cheque(s) for the security features mentioned above.
Step 2. Ensure that the presenter countersigns the cheque in the lower left corner in front of you.
Step 3. Ensure that the signature and counter-signature match.
Step 4. If the cheque is already counter-signed, ask the presenter to sign it again on the reverse side and ask for identification.
Step 5. Ensure the amount presented is consistent with your normal business transactions.

If you have any questions about the above procedures, or require Acceptance Guidelines brochures please send an e-mail to vtc@visa.com.