Using Nationwide Debit Card aboard

spring85195

Hi,

Just a quick question.

I have applied a Nationwide debit card, the felix current account one.

My girl friend is going to france for 3 months this summer, just want to ask how is the exchange rate compare with traveller's cheque or the exchange rate at the banks.

Is it the best deal to get money in france?

doodle_bug

You wont get better, get the euros out of a machine in France, you'll get the exact exchange rate on the day with on commission or charges.

grumbler

spring85195 wrote:

...how is the exchange rate compare with traveller's cheque or the exchange rate at the banks.

See http://www.corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_ex_rates.jsp?src=look and compare.

Is it the best deal to get money in france?

Yes, but be aware of Direct Currency Conversion and avoid it:
http://www.corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_ex_faq.jsp#faq4
DCC and ATMs abroad: for the attention of Nationwide card users
How can I avoid DCC when using Visa abroad?

Need_More_Money_2

Not sure what the exchange rate is at the moment, but when I've done this before it's worked out better than travellers cheques because they don't charge you a fee for withdrawing the money or commission on the exchange.
BUt note, that although nationwide don't charge you it is possible that the foreign bank could. I've never been charged though

spring85195

Any idea which bank in france charge extra for using nationwide debit card?

mr_fishbulb

I've used my nationwide card in Singapore, Malaysia. Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, and Belgium so far. I can honestly say the exchange rates are the best I have seen when compared to banks with those currency exhange boards.

No fees by Nationwide. The only time I've been charged was in Vietnam, that was by the Vietnamese banks and it was about £2 per transaction.

spring85195

mr_fishbulb, does the bank machine tell you they are going to charge youfor the transaction when you take out the money? or did you find it out from the statement?

mr_fishbulb

spring85195 wrote:

mr_fishbulb, does the bank machine tell you they are going to charge youfor the transaction when you take out the money? or did you find it out from the statement?

The vietname one did. It told me I was going to be charged 20,000 dong for taking out 2 Million.

But it could depent on the bank I guess. I'm not sure if there is a legal requirement for them to tell you. I think there is in the UK, but not sure about countries abroad.

hostertlady

going to Greece, small resort, propably only got one or two banks there, what do i need to look for so i dont get charged?