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Greed since Santander took over

2

Comments

  • Extant
    Extant Posts: 2,140 Forumite
    Inactive wrote: »
    You will be " Russian " off anytime soon then.. ;)

    I'm going to Moldova and Transnistria, too. I'll give you all my leftover rubles and leu if you can make a joke out of their names...
    What would William Shatner do?
  • withnell
    withnell Posts: 1,629 Forumite
    masonic wrote: »
    Halifax debit cards are Visa and they don't make a charge.

    Do they not make a charge, or do they just bundle the charge in with the total?

    It could just be the A&L now separate the charge on the statement, whereas previously it was included
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 29,633 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    withnell wrote: »
    Do they not make a charge, or do they just bundle the charge in with the total?
    When I bought some foreign currency earlier this year, the amount deducted from my account matched the value of the currency bought calculated using the exchange rate given on my receipt.
    It could just be the A&L now separate the charge on the statement, whereas previously it was included
    Yes, if A&L have recently started showing this charge explicitly, that may explain why the OP thinks it is new.

    Though somewhat out of date, this article highlights some of the banks who do and do not charge a fee for foreign currency purchases on debit card.
  • saintwarwick
    saintwarwick Posts: 57 Forumite
    masonic wrote: »
    I'm not sure how you've gotten away with this so long. A&L has levied a charge for foreign currency purchases on debit card since at least 2006.

    Well we went to Kos and the Algarve last year, Mexico in 2007 and Jamaica in 2006 and have never been charged a fee as in previous years so it looks like we have got away with it up till now. Still we are in the proces of changing banks now, just awaiting a reply from their response.
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 29,633 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    saintwarwick wrote: »
    Well we went to Kos and the Algarve last year, Mexico in 2007 and Jamaica in 2006 and have never been charged a fee as in previous years so it looks like we have got away with it up till now. Still we are in the proces of changing banks now, just awaiting a reply from their response.
    It will be interesting to see what their response is, but I'd imagine the reason is that your previous transactions were not recognised as foreign currency transactions.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,429 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    masonic wrote: »
    It will be interesting to see what their response is, but I'd imagine the reason is that your previous transactions were not recognised as foreign currency transactions.

    Foreign currency is usually classified as a 'Cash Advance' by Visa.

    This means that you'd normally incur the same fee if you took out money out of a non - LINK (Visa) cashpoint at home, or abroad. The only exception would be from your own bank, as that would be an account withdrawal (bypassing Visa), and or cashback from a shop etc.

    Nationwide is the only Bank/Building Society that I'm aware of that even partially absorbs this.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 29,633 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Heng_Leng wrote: »
    Nationwide is the only Bank/Building Society that I'm aware of that even partially absorbs this.
    You can add Halifax to that list (no charge). There may also be others.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,429 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    masonic wrote: »
    You can add Halifax to that list (no charge). There may also be others.

    Do they not charge 2.75%, plus £1.50 for each Visa Cash Advance?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Inactive
    Inactive Posts: 14,509 Forumite
    Heng_Leng wrote: »
    Do they not charge 2.75%, plus £1.50 for each Visa Cash Advance?

    Good question, I would like to know the answer to that one as well.
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 29,633 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Heng_Leng wrote: »
    Do they not charge 2.75%, plus £1.50 for each Visa Cash Advance?
    They do not charge anything for foreign currency purchases. Either that also applies to other visa cash advances, or they do not treat foreign currency purchases as a cash advance.
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