When we are in Sydney, our credit card bills need to be paid via the web. We will not be traveling with our computer on this trip from the U.S.

Has anyone been in the same situation?

Where could I go to rent secured computer time (want to have my user name and password protected).

We will be staying near Hyde Park and would appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Waterlady,
I can see the dilemma, however, with my on line CC payments I can specify the date I want to pay it weeks in advance. Is that not possible with yours?
Not sure where your staying, but some hotels have business centers which have fairly secure internet facilities, but I suspect that you will never be comfortable using another pc for this kind of thing. I certainly wouldn't use an internet cafe.
So if it was me I would try to pay up front or arrange a cheque payment asking someone to post it.
If you find any good secure methods please let us know !
Good luck

Muck

Hi, Waterlady!

There are numerous internet cafes, and public libraries, where you can carry out your transactions, but whether they are 100% safe or not, who could guarantee?

I have used them, on occasions, when my home computer has broken down, and there has never been any trouble. I also did the same thing overseas, in France and Italy. Again, no repercussions. However, my brother-in-law, who is a computer expert, told me I was crazy to take the chance, and, after the last time, insisted I change passwords. He thinks I am the original naive traveller, who puts himself in harm's way at every opportunity, but always seems to walk out safely... a wide-eyed innocent abroad.

Your first task should be to see if your credit card provider is affiliated with any bank or financial organisation in Australia. Sometimes companies (especially banks) do have "sweetheart arrangements" (e.g. Deutschebank and Westpac). This might solve your problem.

Remember also that Australia is full of American Express agencies and Diners Club agencies, to name just two. Have you checked to find out if your provider actually has a branch on every street corner in Sydney?

Otherwise, you might be wise paying everything off in advance before you leave home... if you can't be sure how much, overpay by a genearous margin, and breathe easily for the rest of your holiday.

Good luck!

While I don't pay my bills, credit card or others, via the web - still use the USPS - I do pay my bills before departing on my holidays. If I don't have a statements ahead of time, I just call the CC company, find out what is due, write out a check, place in envelope, add a stamp and drop it into the mailbox. Old fashioned, but real simple.

Since you apparently don't have automatic pay, and have to initiate payment amounts monthly, I don't think your credit card company, or phone, or utility companies care where your payment comes or in what form.

If for some reason you have auto deposit to your account (your paycheck) and you have insufficient funds prior departure, still make out your bills, put a date in corner of envelope as to when they should be mailed, and ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to mail them on said dates. Prepare to pay your bills before you leave. It works for me.

All good suggestions. If you normally pay your bills on line, you can specify 'future date' instead of today's date for payment. This is what I've decided to do while I'm away.
Good luck.

Actualy you can pay in the bank can you not.Even setting up regular debits from your bank account would work. I paid my visa
through regular debits during my 4 month stay.Just keep eye on expinditures is all .

Your regular bank card should work in Oz also. My canadian bank card did.

My low tech method is to pay in advance by doubling up my payments for those months I will be out of the country. I take last year's payments for the months away and then double the amount. So far, it has worked quite well. If I intend to charge anything while away, I try to figure out an approximation and add that to the credit card payment.
Given that there is a 2.7% rate on making foreign currency conversions imposed by our credit card company and a very low ATM fee from our credit union, most of the travel bills get paid in cash.
Carol L

There are numerous, countless even, internet cafes etc in major Australian cities and suburbs, so you'll be ok. Also public libraries have internet connections. Most four star hotels these days also have computers where people can connect to the internet, as do backpacking hostels. Banking over the internet is pretty secure, so don't worry too much. Consider that whatever you are able to do technologically at home you can do in Australia.