The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area

skylight

I am looking for a pre-paid visa for online spending, and emergency use, but the charges are silly for most of them (like a per transaction fee or monthly fee etc)

Getting fed up with it now!

pin

iwanttosave wrote:

Oh right, nationwide told me there is still a dynamic conversion charge or sothing like that

Nope, not quite that. What DCC does is automatically convert the currency into your home currency. This is done by the retailer / ATM provider. The rate is normally poorer than the Nationwide rate.

This has come up many, many times, if you do a search you will see - Grumbler has started a post about it.

Also btw Travelex do a pre-paid card as well.

elisebutt65

The PO one is £10 to buy but I can't see any other charges listed there on the find out more bit apart from with the Sterling one??

So if you withdraw money 5 times then it's broken even with the Co=Op one???

too_many_details

Hi,

2 years ago me and my wife went travelling around the world starting in India and working our way through SE Asia, OZ, NZ, Fiji, Hawaii and Canada.

We used Nationwide CC and Flexaccount cards the whole time. Two things to note are:

1. We tried to withdraw an amount that would last a while (say a week) so we never withdrew cash in Fiji. Also, there was one occasion (in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan) where there was no ATM and had to break into the emergency AMEX travellers cheques I had. Otherwise, no issues at all.
2. Dealing with Nationwide Customer services is not pleasant. They closed ALL our accounts (which we were managing via internet banking) because of returned post back home. You'd think they would ask us first via email or the secure messaging system they provide on line but they didn't. It took a VERY expensive phone call from Indonesia (when we were low on cash anyway) and a further 4 days before our accounts were restored. The internet service may give the impression that the credit and debit cards are a unified service but they are not. Issues about the debit card can be dealt with through the web site but CC enquiries have to be by phone (and an 0870/0845 number which are not cheap from abroad).

HTH,

R

too_many_details

Another thing,

we just got back from Sardinia and I had issues using my cards there. I think the issue is chip and pin. One supermarket wanted my PIN for the CC (but i didn't know it - DOH!) and my flexaccount was outright rejected.

Another place took my debit card and didn't ask for a pin or even a signature!!!

Not sure whats going on.

Cheers

R

kirkie_2

Is it any good and has anyone got one?Have A Look Here

swizzle_2

Hi

Hope some one can help me here.

My family and I are going to travel to NZ at the end of the year, and I have got myself a Nationwide Flex a/c debit card and a visa from them. So I plan to pay for things-trips-meals out etc on the visa and draw cash with the debit card- in lump sums.

But what sort of rate do you get when you withdraw from an atm?
Thinking am I better to pay into my fathers HSBC bank a/c-based in england which will then go into his HSBC NZ a/c, he will then put money into his savings a/c until we need it.

Any idea`s?

Thanks

kathyadi

Hi what is the best deal for taking money to spend abroad, our friends are just taking a few euros then getting cash out of the cash machine when they get there, or is it better to take sterling and change it in Spain, Change it over here.

Is it best to get Stirling travels cheques or Euro travelers cheques?

Thanks

Weymouth_Man

kathyadi wrote:

Hi what is the best deal for taking money to spend abroad, our friends are just taking a few euros then getting cash out of the cash machine when they get there, or is it better to take sterling and change it in Spain, Change it over here.

Is it best to get Stirling travels cheques or Euro travelers cheques?

Thanks

If your looking for Euros above £500, have a look at M&S
http://www6.marksandspencer.com/pages/default.asp?PageID=Home&Product=TM

Peter-Pan_5

We have Nationwide Flex-account Debit cards we just get money from the ATMs while abroad and you get a better rate of exchange and no commision both ends.