Tips on Spanish ATM fees?

benjus wrote: »

Why? You already have two of the best cards for use overseas... just use these to withdraw cash.

I have never been charged to use a Spanish ATM - make sure you use an ATM run by a bank rather than the kind of "convenience" ATMs that charge for withdrawals in the UK. I don't know if ATMs are obliged to warn of any fees under Spanish law.

Also make sure that all transactions are in EUR and don't let any ATMs or retailers convert to GBP for you.

Yes and be very careful when you pay for stuff - it seems to be quite common in Spain for them to change the currency with asking you (this is not allowed by VISA & Mastercard). Check the amount and your receipt carefully. I usually play safe and tell them to charge in EUR when handing my card over.

I've just got back from a week in Ibiza and used my Clarity 5 times in different ATMs.

Every time they popped up with an offer to convert to GBP, at a really dismal rate.

So, just use as normal but when that screen pops up choose the "w/out conversion" option.

On checking my account when I got back (to pay it off) I wasn't charged any fees on any of the transactions - I just got the 'perfect' rate.

I've never had ATM charges in Tenerife from ATMs in banks (except those I expected from the UK card issuer). If you have the Halifax card, and avoid the ATM converting to GBP as others have mentioned, you should only incur the margin included in the exchange rate Halifax gives you (unavoidable, set by Visa/MC)

Of course, the Halifax card is a CC, so you get no interest free period on cash withdrawal, you will incur your monthly interest rate (1-1.6%) as well, assuming you pay off the balance at month end. That does reduce some of the benefit compared to using a debit card.

Or you could ask Harry if his dog has any Euro lying around...(sorry, couldn't help myself there)

Super_Hotspur wrote: »

I was recently in Lanzarote and took both the Metro Bank debit Card and Halifax Clarity credit card.
Using my Metro Card at a Santander ATM., I was advised of a 2%
fee for cash withdrawals.
Also using a Halifax Clarity Card to pay a bill at a hotel,
I was also told there is a local 2% handling fee, whether using debit or credit cards.
So these cards seem to be beneficial for eliminating UK bank Charges only.
So as we are not in the Euro currency system we are constantly being ripped off by banks somewhere, making them millions in bank charges.

That makes me nervous. I'm about to travel to Lanzarote and am planning to withdraw cash when I get there with Halifax Clarity. As Lanzarote is classed as Spain (I think?) aren't the procedures for charging for cash withdrawals the same as in Spain? Where other people say they've had no problem? I hope so!

Haven't used the Clarity on Fuerteventura for a couple of years now (use the Sanatnder 123 instead), but was never a charge from the local Santander ATM.

As YorkshireBoy posted, you will get a screen asking if you want the transaction settled in Euros or Pounds. Earlier this year it was the bottom left button which was 'No for Euros' - ie no charge for Clarity/123) - remember that as it was the same button for 'Do you want a receipt' (No) and 'Do you want another transaction' (No).