Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

Oggyoi

Susie1 wrote: »

Yes that's right. I've just called, checked and ordered! They told me that there is no cash advance fee or daily interest. So if you pay off your card at the end of the month it's just as if you've paid for something in a shop.

Interestingly, they told me that the exchange rates at the in-store bureaux vary. They looked up what my local Tesco store rate was, then told me their rate which beat it. There was no difference between the rate for ordering on the phone or online. It all went very smoothly indeed. I'll be using them again.

That's good to know.
Presume it applies to any currency, as I am looking for some more Egyptian pounds in the next couple of months.

headpin

If you need to take cash then one of the best exchange rates I find is with the Change Group. Generally beat all others including Thomas Exchange Global. Free secure delivery on all orders or free colllection at their Bureaus. see https://www.changegroup.co.uk/cgi-bin/live/ecommerce.pl?site=changegroup_uk&state=page&page=splash&suppress_header=yes

shortguy4u

Hi all,

I am going to Thailand in 2 weeks and per the advice on the site I got an Abbey Zero card. Planning to use it for card purchases and cash withdrawal.

I understand that there is a cash withdrawal interest due but I just wanted to know if anyone knows if the interest is still payable if you have a credit balance on the account?

Eg if I was to make an internet bank transfer the day before i plan to withdraw cash so that my balance is in credit, would I still be charged interest. I would assume not, but wasnt sure. If there is no charge and providing that I can make it to an internet terminal to make the transfer, would this be the cheaper than the prepaid cards?

Thanks.

luci

You will need to check the T&C's of your card. Many cards do not allow you to have a credit balance.

£moneymiser

My daughter has just been offered a job with a tour operator for the summer and possibly after that as well. She has a current account (student) with RBS but it will cost her a fortune to withdraw any money or use her card. Any ideas on which bank to transfer to? She will be earning leas than £1000 per month

luci

The Nationwide FlexAccount is still the cheapest way to withdraw cash abroad.

Baldur

Nationwide offer the best rates for ATM withdrawals abroad via their Flex account Debit Card and are currently offering £75 to switch to that account - see http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/switch_to_nationwide.htm

Details of foreign transactions can be found here - http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/foreigntransactions.htm

daz60

they love sterling in turkey..they also like us dollars.

Gudari

I am soon also traveling to MExico, but got rejected by Abbey and even NW!!
Hopefully NW would give me the Cash Card, but despite some people posting it CAN be used abroad, according to NW this doesnt seem to be the case:

"Nationwide cards that can be used abroad

Only VISA and MasterCard / Cirrus supported cards can be used to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad, they include:

FlexAccount
Credit card "

Taken from their website typing "Cash card abroad" in their search box.

Nationwide savings accounts that have cash cards cannot be used to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad.

With Abbey and NW out, what would be a sensible thrid option)? (no prepaid cards, thanks)

Ta!

Baldur

Gudari wrote: »

I am soon also traveling to MExico, but got rejected by Abbey and even NW!!
Hopefully NW would give me the Cash Card, but despite some people posting it CAN be used abroad, according to NW this doesnt seem to be the case:

"Nationwide cards that can be used abroad

Only VISA and MasterCard / Cirrus supported cards can be used to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad, they include:

FlexAccount
Credit card "

Taken from their website typing "Cash card abroad" in their search box.

Nationwide savings accounts that have cash cards cannot be used to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad.

With Abbey and NW out, what would be a sensible thrid option)? (no prepaid cards, thanks)

The Nationwide Cash Card (i.e. the one issued with their Cashcard current account) *is* a Cirrus card and has been reported by many posters on these and other forums to have been used to withdraw local currency from ATMs abroad.

See question 3, under 'Questions & Answers' on the NW website - http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/foreigntransactions.htm