Santander debit card

Sharmaine

I've just returned from my hols in Spain and used my Santander debit card to withdraw cash from a Santander ATM. Checked my statement earlier today and confirming there were indeed no charges applied for doing so. I aso successfully used my debit card during the flight. In previous threads there's been a bit of discussion about whether the Santander unembossed visa debits were online or offline - mine's an unembossed card and I've always wonderd if it was really just an electron in disguise. IN fact the stewardess even said 'oh we don't take electrons', presumably thinking this cos it was unembossed card. However, it worked fine. Last year I had a co op visa debit card (which as discussed in previous threads most people agreed was an 'electron' in disguise) and it wouldn't work. So I guess there's our answer......you might have a visa debit santander branded card which is unembossed but it certainly isn't an electron in disguise as some of us thought.

questionabout

This is good news and there always seems to be a lot of confusion on card types on here. Seems the banks keep everything behind close doors (even the staff don't really know) to keep us on our toes

Sharmaine wrote: »

IN fact the stewardess even said 'oh we don't take electrons', presumably thinking this cos it was unembossed card. However, it worked fine.

How did you get her to try? Did you ask her to do it anyway? ...Or did she realise there was no Electron Logo on the Card?

adindas

Good news ?
Is there any other experience from Santander Debit card users in Spain that we could learn?

ADINDAS

Sharmaine

questionabout wrote: »

This is good news and there always seems to be a lot of confusion on card types on here. Seems the banks keep everything behind close doors (even the staff don't really know) to keep us on our toes



How did you get her to try? Did you ask her to do it anyway? ...Or did she realise there was no Electron Logo on the Card?

Hi - I was just about to purchase using cash and then just thought would give it a go. The stewardess automatically assumed it was electron just cos it didn't have the raised numbers on the card (the Santander branded visa debits are just flat and cheapo looking with the numbers unembossed) and said as much - I just said 'oh no it's visa debit' and could she just give it a go and bingo - it worked. I was well pleased as now I can risk using it at the petrol pump at Asda etc. Haven't been brave enough to do that one before just in case it was a b....y electron and got refused - I would have been well embarrassed.

Too true about even Santander staff not knowing much about these cards. I had asked previously in branch why my card wasn't embossed and the girl behind cashier desk said she'd just received a new one which was the new 'flat' type and didn't think there was any difference between those and the raised number type, but couldn't confirm.

Glad users have found the post useful anyway.

Oh and should just mention something important - when withdrawing cash from Santander ATM in Spain you must stipulate that you wish for the transaction to be actioned in Euros. If you choose sterling you will get charged and it won't be at the local rate.

adindas

Dear Sharmaine

It is very useful post that we could learn about cash withdrawal in Spain. I just notice my Santander Visa Debit which come with my Preffred In Credit Rate A/c that the !6 digits No in front of the debit card is embossed (raised number). The Visa logo is exactly the same with my other Debit/Credit card.

I just notice that Visa logo is very plain if we compare it with Master Card which has Hologram in it.

So it it clear now that both cards are actually the same

ADINDAS

Sharmaine wrote: »

Hi - I was just about to purchase using cash and then just thought would give it a go. The stewardess automatically assumed it was electron just cos it didn't have the raised numbers on the card (the Santander branded visa debits are just flat and cheapo looking with the numbers unembossed) and said as much - I just said 'oh no it's visa debit' and could she just give it a go and bingo - it worked. I was well pleased as now I can risk using it at the petrol pump at Asda etc. Haven't been brave enough to do that one before just in case it was a b....y electron and got refused - I would have been well embarrassed.

Too true about even Santander staff not knowing much about these cards. I had asked previously in branch why my card wasn't embossed and the girl behind cashier desk said she'd just received a new one which was the new 'flat' type and didn't think there was any difference between those and the raised number type, but couldn't confirm.

Glad users have found the post useful anyway.

Oh and should just mention something important - when withdrawing cash from Santander ATM in Spain you must stipulate that you wish for the transaction to be actioned in Euros. If you choose sterling you will get charged and it won't be at the local rate.

siamese0109

adindas wrote: »

Good news ?
Is there any other experience from Santander Debit card users in Spain that we could learn?

ADINDAS

I've just got back and did a test run too. We used it at a Santander bank with a Telebanco machine on the wall outside. I withdrew €40 on 2nd September and the account was debited by £33.03 with no extra charges. I make that just over €1.21 to £1.

This site shows sterling at 1.20 that day so definitely a good deal. :T

System

siamese0109 wrote: »

I've just got back and did a test run too. We used it at a Santander bank with a Telebanco machine on the wall outside. I withdrew €40 on 2nd September and the account was debited by £33.03 with no extra charges. I make that just over €1.21 to £1.

This site shows sterling at 1.20 that day so definitely a good deal. :T

I wonder if they enforce the 1000 per month minimum credit.
Might be useful for Spanish holidays or expats jumping ship from Nationwide.

adindas

[FONT=&quot]Dear siamese
Good news. I think to get a better deal is to use “Santander Cash Machine”. Here is what is stated in the T&C.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]“Santander cash-machine fees in Spain – for adult current account customer paying in a minimum of £1,000 each month. Withdrawal from a Santander [/FONT][FONT=&quot]cash machine[/FONT][FONT=&quot] in Spain is Free[/FONT][FONT=&quot]"

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Santander debit card is using Visa. Here is the Visa Wholesale exchange Rate.
http://corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_services/consumer_ex_rates.jsp[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Probably Telebanco that you were using is owned by Santander is not it ??[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]ADINDAS[/FONT]

siamese0109 wrote: »

I've just got back and did a test run too. We used it at a Santander bank with a Telebanco machine on the wall outside. I withdrew €40 on 2nd September and the account was debited by £33.03 with no extra charges. I make that just over €1.21 to £1.

This site shows sterling at 1.20 that day so definitely a good deal. :T

adindas

We could only know this if someosne is doing a test ..
But from thier T&C they require £1,000 per month
ADINDAS

Heng_Leng wrote: »

I wonder if they enforce the 1000 per month minimum credit.
Might be useful for Spanish holidays or expats jumping ship from Nationwide.