No fee cash withdrawl on debit cards abroad?

HAPPYCHAP_2

I have a Nationwide flex account which was great to pull money out of an ATM in Thailand, I got the FOREX rate with no charges or deductions at all. They changed all that in June and started charging the 085% bank charge to withdraw cash everywhere other than Europe so it has been back to taking large wodge’s of cash which I would rather not do and I wanted to put a question out there asking if anyone knew of any other cards with no charges to withdraw monies in Thailand and the US and give the FOREX rate? Thanks.

jonesMUFCforever

Why do you think Nationwide stopped this practise?

Because they were losing money on it so in short I don't think anyone else will issue a card on those terms.

Paul_Herring

if anyone knew of any other cards with no charges to withdraw monies in Thailand and the US and give the FOREX rate?

There aren't any, and Nationwide's still the cheapest in this regard.

baggies666

I will always use Nationwide on my trips to Thailand rather than carry lots of cash around, 0.85% is not bad for the extra security of not carrying cash.

NickX

You could use Santander Zero for making purchases whilst in Thailand. This will be fee-free.

However, do not use it for cash withdrawals as you will be charged interest.

Also the 0.84% charged by Nationwide is much better than most other providers that charge in the region of 2.75%, so its not the end of the world really.

td_007

HAPPYCHAP wrote: »

I have a Nationwide flex account which was great to pull money out of an ATM in Thailand, I got the FOREX rate with no charges or deductions at all. They changed all that in June and started charging the 085% bank charge to withdraw cash everywhere other than Europe so it has been back to taking large wodge’s of cash which I would rather not do and I wanted to put a question out there asking if anyone knew of any other cards with no charges to withdraw monies in Thailand and the US and give the FOREX rate? Thanks.

Essentially Nationwide are passing on the cost they incur from Visa to you (they used to take the hit previously) As others have mentioned 0.84% is not really a big deal - just 84p for every £100 way below what other cards would charge. Why not consider using Nationwide/Abbey/Post Office 0% foreign usage consider as far as possible for purchases and make minimum cash withdrawals using the debit card?

HAPPYCHAP_2

'Nationwide/Abbey/Post Office 0% foreign usage' Sorry, do you mean that those cards are o% ofr purchases with no charges or exchange charges? I didn't realsie that, if so thats good thanks. Yes you are right its only 84p per hundred, also it is getting very hard out there to find a cash machine that doesn't charge about £30 per withdrawl of any amount, there are a couple. Also, using cards to pay for things there is a lottery, in some areas it is just understood that your card will be copied. Thanks for the tips though.

like_a_kipper

going to thailand on hols soon.santander/nationwide cards sound good........ but ...does anybody over there take them?or will i still need wads of cash?

HAPPYCHAP_2

Hi,

Your card should use the visa or mastercard system so yes it will be ok. Over there they don't understand the visa debit card, they call it the visa Electron so if you say that they will get it.

All cards regardless of what they are called use one of only a few systems to operate and you should see it on the card, ie visa mastercard etc.

Cheers.



Happychap.

withnell

Remember that the loading on FX rates in money shops in the UK will probably cost you as much as the .85% anyway!

like_a_kipper

still dont know whether to take wads of cash.should be o k in bangkok and chang mai and sukhotai as these are tourist areas. what about outside main towns?out near myanmar border areas.