Nationwide Debit Card - using abroad question

purplepatch

I have the Nationwide Debit Card and am planning to withdraw cash from the ATM and pay for everything with that on hols.

All the stuff I've read on here only seems to suggest doing this. Does that mean it can't be used for purchases abroad? It has VISA symbol on it, with debit written underneath, not sure what that means. It isn't a credit card though. I'm a bit confused. Can anyone advise?

Swirlywurly

If it is the debit card as opposed to the cashcard (which it is from what you're saying), then you can use it to make purchases abroad as well as withdrawing cash at no charge. If you have the cashcard then you can only withdraw money from cash machines but you can't buy things using your card.

I'm off to try and upgrade mine tomorrow, wish me luck!

ManAtHome

Quite a few places in EU countries charge an extra 2 or 3% if you use a card (debit or credit) - best to check first, if they charge, get the cash out instead. Also watch out for them charging in pounds instead of euros - very prevalent in Spain. Not much difference with a standard credit card as the charge is 2.75% ish either way, but a big loser if you have the Nationwide card as they don't charge for the conversion.

moonrakerz

With the huge amount of card fraud being carried out, it is an avoidable risk to use your debit card for shop purchases.

1. As a tourist in a foreign land you are more likely to be targeted anyway.
2. Any fraud carried out on your debit card is your money from your bank account, if you use a credit card any fraud is done with the bank's money - not yours.
3. Abroad, use a debit card ONLY in ATM's - in UK only use a debit card where you really have to, I tend to use it only in the big supermarket chains for cash back transactions.