DEBIT Card Charges

MCHopie

I recently bought some travellers cheques from thomas cook on my debit card and got charged a hefty fee for using my card, when i put my PIN in the machine there was no mention of a fee to be paid and the amount on the machine was what I assumed I would be taken from my account

I was hoping moneysavers might be able to help

do a company have to tell me if they charge me to use a card? ATM's have to I know
isnt the amount you enter your pin for the amount you get charged? If it can be more whats to stop any company just emptying my current account any time i hand over my debit card

and who is good to switch a current account to? Alliance and Leicester basically just called me a liar when I said that I hadnt been told about the charge and that they will charge me again to do anything about it

YorkshireBoy

MCHopie wrote: »

and who is good to switch a current account to?

If you want to buy foreign currency/travellers cheques in the UK on a debit card, then anyone who provides a Maestro card (as opposed to your Visa Debit card) such as Yorkshire Bank, HSBC, NatWest etc. However, Nationwide would be your best choice for overseas use including currency purchases in the UK.

Alliance and Leicester basically just called me a liar when I said that I hadnt been told about the charge

They told you in your account T&C's...

http://www.alliance-leicester.co.uk/current-accounts/interest-rates-and-fees/premier-current-account.aspx#7 (see the bottom entry in the table)

MCHopie

But Alliance and leicester didnt charge me, it was Thomas Cook

hippey

Did you buy this over the counter in the shop?

There is a fee to pay on these transactions, I think they advise this in a notice on the window (normally) In a debit card transaction it is like a cash advance although no interest to pay normally a fee of 2.75% (min £3 max £50) or something like this.

I think the charge is applied by the bank, but they have no control over it, I stand corrected if I'm wrong!

YorkshireBoy

MCHopie wrote: »

But Alliance and leicester didnt charge me, it was Thomas Cook

How much were you charged, and for what amount?

To be honest, I thought the charge was made by Visa, and A&L simply passed it on to you the customer?

MCHopie

I was charged 2% (26.80) of the value of the transaction by thomas cook, this appeared seperately on my statement and was on top of commission charges

just a bit annoyed as i could have paid cash if they had said

and i dont see how its different buying travellers cheques to say furniture/electricals etc

YorkshireBoy

MCHopie wrote: »

I was charged 2% (26.80) of the value of the transaction by thomas cook...

Doesn't look like it from their T&C's...

Payment


Payment will be taken by the designated Thomas Cook Store bureau. No payment will be taken via this webSite or a call centre.

Payment can be made either by, cash or credit/debit card. When paying by credit/debit cards the transaction will be treated as a cash advance by the card issuer, for which a charge will/might be levied. This is NOT a charge by Thomas Cook and we have no control over and have not liability for such charges. No such charge will be levied when payment is made by Maestro/Switch debit card.

Like I said, the charge is made by others.

Seems odd that they put the above on their website (for 'pre-order and collect at store'), but not in store? Maybe you didn't read what you were signing?

hippey

MCHopie wrote: »

I was charged 2% (26.80) of the value of the transaction by thomas cook, this appeared seperately on my statement and was on top of commission charges

just a bit annoyed as i could have paid cash if they had said

and i dont see how its different buying travellers cheques to say furniture/electricals etc

You should always expect a charge when purchasing currency, it is standard practice in the industry. Don't forget the retailers always get charged for you using your card. In most stores it is included in the shelf price. In money transactions they have to add it on top, as it is a processing fee. Agreed, they should have told you, but I think there will be a notice up somewhere that will inform you.

noh

MCHopie wrote: »

I was charged 2% (26.80) of the value of the transaction by thomas cook, this appeared seperately on my statement and was on top of commission charges

just a bit annoyed as i could have paid cash if they had said

and i dont see how its different buying travellers cheques to say furniture/electricals etc

What statement?
Do you mean your bank statement or do you mean a transaction receipt from Thomas Cook?
What is the description of the charge on the statement?

2% is what A+L will charge you for purchasing foreign currency or travellers cheques with your debit card. (see YBs link)
If Thomas Cook had levied a 2% charge for the transaction you would have ended up paying 4% (2% to TC and 2% to A+L) plus commission.

Nigel

MCHopie

Statement as in my bank account one, it was not on any paperwork from Thomas Cook as I would have queried it at the time
charge is named as "currency handling fee" on my statement

I spoke to A+ L and they stated categorically that the charge had not come from them, it has come from thomas cook, there is nothing they can do about it, I should contact Thomas Cook

if TC's T&Cs are right then it might be VISA who charged me but then again...

noh

MCHopie wrote: »

Statement as in my bank account one, it was not on any paperwork from Thomas Cook as I would have queried it at the time
charge is named as "currency handling fee" on my statement

I spoke to A+ L and they stated categorically that the charge had not come from them, it has come from thomas cook, there is nothing they can do about it, I should contact Thomas Cook

if TC's T&Cs are right then it might be VISA who charged me but then again...

The charge is levied by A+L.
It is detailed in their list of fees and charges previously refered to.

"A 2% charge (at least £2). The charge may also apply to buying foreign currency or travellers cheques at any outlet that provides foreign currency."

The A+L representative who told you the fee was levied by Thomas Cook was "categorically" wrong.
It is, as stated by YorkshireBoy, a 2% charge by Visa collected from you by A+L.

Nigel