MilesBuzz! - Another way to get miles from T-Checks purchase

I signed up for a Compubank account at http://www.compubank.com/rewards/index.cfm?affinity=12210
from a link I saw here a while back. Using the Visa Check card I have been able to buy Travs checques from AAA using it. And since it is a transaction that did not use my PIN I got clickmiles from Compubank. SO far I have 22,500 miles.
I opened he acct by putting in $2500 to a money market account at Compubank using a AAdvantage Visa(got 2500 miles) then using the Compubank card I bought $2500 in tc. I then deposited that to my Compubank acct and went back a week later and bought more TC

Can you tell me how you deposit the AMex Traveler Check into your Compubank account?

I have a compubank account and have some traveller's checks, but I have never done it through the mail deposit before. Is it pretty safe to do so? I always thought traveller's check is equavelent to cash and you shall never mail the cash in for deposit.

How is using the Compubank VISA debit card at AAA different from using any other regular VISA credit card? How does AAA handle purchases of travelers checks with a card (limits, purchase/advance, fees)?

Last I checked several years ago, they only allowed you to use the AAA VISA. This is no longer true?

I have the same question. I am a AAA member and thought all purchases of T-checks were treated as cash advances (or there was a service charge of 1-2%) unless the credit card is AAA also.

SKYLVR - I called two different AAA offices in my area earlier this week to ask about paying for traveler's checks with my "VISA" card. They told me they would only accept the AAA VISA card, no other credit cards would be accepted. I live in San Jose, CA. Maybe the AAA where you live does not have the same rule??? I'm confused...

According to CompuBank's web site, the charges must be put through as 'credit' not 'debit' in order to earn clickmiles.

So, if AAA is putting the travelers check order through as a 'credit' to the card, it is going to be done as a cash advance on your credit card, and therefore no miles, and you will have the cash advance fee and interest starts from that moment.

If AAA is putting it through as a debit, then CompuBank will not charge you, but you shouldn't earn clickmiles.

See: http://www.compubank.com/rewards/about.cfm

steve100, don't you have those reversed?

I went to AAA in Orlando, Fl and was told that I could use a CC. I was warned that that my cc company might view it as a cash advance since I was basically buying currency. Since i DID NOT WANT TO PAY A CC fee I used the compubank card as I had money in that acct. It went through without me using the PIN ergo it was a CC transaction.
I then put the cc in my local account and transferred the funds from there back to Compubank ( as compubank allows transfers/wires for free). I have done this several times and no problems yet.

The office here in Orlando takes CC.

Thanks for the clarification skylvr. Since the card is basically a debit card and provides click miles, I see how this works. The merchant (in this case AAA) has no idea it is a debit, as opposed to credit, card. My guess is that CompuBank has no idea about the nature of your AAA transaction, you could be buying maps for all they know.

My understanding of cash advance fees is that they are levied by the card provider, not the merchant. The CompuBank card does not seem to charge for cash advances. I wouldn't expect it to since you can use it at an ATM to withdraw cash directly from your account.

As for AAA, the offices seem inconsistent with regards to acceptance of non-AAA VISA/Mastercards for purchasing travelers checks. AAA Mid-Atlantic, according to their literature, only accepts the AAA VISA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Nope, I don't have it reversed. On that link that I provided above, it clearly states, "What is a qualified purchase? Purchases qualify if they are made without using your secret pin code. For example, you will not receive miles for ATM withdrawals made using your CompuBank Check Card. To earn miles: When you are at the grocery store or gas station or anyplace where you have to swipe your card, be sure to choose the "credit" option"

If you are choosing the debit option, it shouldn't earn miles. (If you are entering a PIN, you are choosing a Debit transaction). If you aren't entereing a PIN, then it is a credit card transaction, and AAA shouldn't take it (unless it is their own credit card)

[This message has been edited by steve100 (edited 12-12-1999).]

Steve100, since it is a debit card, all transactions are treated as debits to your account. Even if it looks like a typical credit card transaction, the money is drawn directly from the account containing your cash. These types of cards do not carry a credit limit of any kind (the limit is basically equal to the cash you have in your account). A merchant will not know if your card is a credit card or debit card.

You are correct in noting that AAA should not be accepting the card, but as I posted, there appear to be different rules at different AAA branches. In searching the web, I discoverd that AAA Northern New England and AAA New Mexico will take cards other than AAA for T-check purchases.