Distressed Australian travellers left with no money after bank glitch

DISTRESSED Australian holiday-makers around the world have been left stranded without cash after a glitch with their Commonwealth Bank travel money cards.

Stressed young tourist woman sitting on wheel bag while on holiday. Picture: iStock.

DISTRESSED Australian holiday-makers around the world have been left stranded without cash after their travel money cards failed to work.

Jetsetters were left cashless after a problem occurred affecting potentially thousands of Commonwealth Bank travel money cards, leaving many irate customers without access to their funds.

Travellers began complaining about the issue on Monday and only realised the problem with their cards when they could no longer access their own uploaded funds.

Australian travellers have been left without access to cash after a glitch with Commonwealth Bank travel money cards.

Customer Vivienne Kelly, who was travelling in the UK, posted a complaint on the bank’s Facebook page and said she tried to get money out at the ATM but it was declined.

“I’m in London and about to fly to Barcelona,’’ she wrote.

“I tried to get money out at the ATM and it kept getting rejected, I know I have sufficient funds on the card.

“To say I’m concerned about arriving in Barcelona with zero access to cash after midnight is an understatement.”

She said she accessed the bank’s online app only to be informed she had no currencies on her card despite having Australian dollars, euros and British Pounds uploaded.

Another distressed customer, Juliet Johns, said she was on her honeymoon and was “freaking out” after she was unable to access funds on her card.

“Literally spent our last euros on dinner, tried three ATMs and nothing.....Venice, Italy,’’ she wrote.

A Commonwealth Bank spokesman apologised online for the error and also issued a statement today.

“Some of our Travel Money Card customers were unable to use the service early this morning due to a technical glitch which has now been resolved,’’ he said.

“Commonwealth Bank apologises to our customers who were inconvenienced by this and we thank them for their patience.”