Abbey/Santander Zero - no it aint!

callum9999

Degenerate wrote: »

Being organizationally seperate does not exempt them from their obligations - it's up to the parent to sort out comminications between the group companies to make sure that their responsibilities are met.

I would add, I'm not sure how true this is for Santander anyway - they have made significant moves towards consolidating their international operations. I've found myself talking to Spanish people about my Abbey current account on several occasions.

I will admit, the wording on the website isn't clear if read by someone who doesn't understand Santander UK is a different entity to other Santander's. However, they have made no such obligation. They said "we [Santander UK as it is the Santander UK website] do not charge ATM fees but other providers might do". In context, the Santander branches the OP visited was a different provider, and the OP was charged a withdrawal fee by that different provider - as everyone else in the world would be.

Degenerate

callum9999 wrote: »

They said "we [Santander UK as it is the Santander UK website] do not charge ATM fees but other providers might do". In context, the Santander branches the OP visited was a different provider, and the OP was charged a withdrawal fee by that different provider - as everyone else in the world would be.

With common Santander branding, any reference to "we" or "us" can be reasonably expected to mean the Santander group, and "other providers", "third party" or "independent" ATMs to mean non-Santander group ones. This is the decision they made when they choose to create a common brand to market products across the group - it is down to them to make it clear when something is limited to the local subsidiary. Furthermore, the Zero card is a specialist product for international use, giving added reason why the promises made can be expected to apply worldwide.

withnell

Degenerate wrote: »

With common Santander branding, any reference to "we" or "us" can be reasonably expected to mean the Santander group, and "other providers", "third party" or "independent" ATMs to mean non-Santander group ones. This is the decision they made when they choose to create a common brand to market products across the group - it is down to them to make it clear when something is limited to the local subsidiary. Furthermore, the Zero card is a specialist product for international use, giving added reason why the promises made can be expected to apply worldwide.

Read the posts above about HSBC - its a similar issue for my Citibank USD account. I can't walk into a US Citibank branch and do transactions on it. They're ultimately owned by the same company, run under the same name, but are independent.

Would you expect to walk into NatWest and withdraw money from an RBS account?

Degenerate

withnell wrote: »

Read the posts above about HSBC - its a similar issue for my Citibank USD account. I can't walk into a US Citibank branch and do transactions on it. They're ultimately owned by the same company, run under the same name, but are independent.

Completely different issue. You can't walk into a US Citibank and access your account because their systems don't interoperate with the ones that run your account. Nowhere in your T&Cs were you promised that you could access your account at any Citi branch.

If the original poster had tried to use an Argentinian Santander ATM and it didn't work, they would be in the same position. Actually it did work, the systems inter-operated and they were able to access cash, but they were charged a fee - something Santander promised them not to do.

td_007

Degenerate wrote: »

If the original poster had tried to use an Argentinian Santander ATM and it didn't work, they would be in the same position. Actually it did work, the systems inter-operated and they were able to access cash, but they were charged a fee - something Santander promised them not to do.

The OP could have used his card in any ATM and it would have worked - it has got nothing to do with it being a Santander ATM.

What is your understanding of "independent ATM provider" - who do you think they are?

callum9999

Degenerate wrote: »

Completely different issue. You can't walk into a US Citibank and access your account because their systems don't interoperate with the ones that run your account. Nowhere in your T&Cs were you promised that you could access your account at any Citi branch.

If the original poster had tried to use an Argentinian Santander ATM and it didn't work, they would be in the same position. Actually it did work, the systems inter-operated and they were able to access cash, but they were charged a fee - something Santander promised them not to do.

Thats not how ATMs work!

I can use my Nationwide card in an HSBC (or any banks) cash point, doesn't mean their systems are linked.

Degenerate

td_007 wrote: »

The OP could have used his card in any ATM and it would have worked - it has got nothing to do with it being a Santander ATM.

I didn't say it did. What I said was, Santander have promised not to charge for ATM use.

What is your understanding of "independent ATM provider" - who do you think they are?

In this context, any ATM provider that isn't part of Santander Group.

Degenerate

callum9999 wrote: »

Thats not how ATMs work!

I can use my Nationwide card in an HSBC (or any banks) cash point, doesn't mean their systems are linked.

That's ridiculous, of course their systems are linked, how else do you think the ATM knows what available funds you have and how to debit your account? The ATM provider's networks are linked either directly or via the Cirrus(Mastercard) and/or Plus(Visa) international networks.

(We're off the subject now anyway, the point I was making is that a Santander ATM should not be charging because Santander have made a commitment not to charge.)

withnell

Degenerate wrote: »

(We're off the subject now anyway, the point I was making is that a Santander ATM should not be charging because Santander have made a commitment not to charge.)

I agree. They made a commitment to not charge a cash advance fee - none was charged

The OP was charged a fee by the machine. In the UK, there is a reciprocal agreement that means that customers can use other bank's cash machines free of charge. In the context of a website promoting the card as the 'only one in the UK' to not charge when withdrawing cash, you can in the UK withdraw cash fee free from any Santander cash machine.

speedbird1973

Degenerate wrote: »

That's ridiculous, of course their systems are linked, how else do you think the ATM knows what available funds you have and how to debit your account? The ATM provider's networks are linked either directly or via the Cirrus(Mastercard) and/or Plus(Visa) international networks.

(We're off the subject now anyway, the point I was making is that a Santander ATM should not be charging because Santander have made a commitment not to charge.)

But I can get a remaining balance on my tesco credit card from Bank of Bongo Bongo ATM is darkest Peru - the functionality is provided via Visa and Mastercard (i think), if not then it's a third party agency not santander.

Would you expect to be able to swipe your clubcard in Tesco in Prague??