Santander - Give me a Debit Card PLEASE!!!

purplebiro

Hi All,

A rant and a call for advice!

I signed up for a Santander account offering free cash withdrawals worldwide at the start of the year, intended to be used on a holiday in India in December.

The card they issued me with on opening is a flimsy plastic thing with the words "online card" printed on it. I've phoned up several times now to have a proper card issued and have been told variously that "it will work fine in all cash machines and shops in India" (really? I really doubt it and don't want to find out they're wrong on the other side of the world), "our system is broken and it won't let us issue you a card" and, of course, been hung up on 3 times.

Does anyone else have any advice about how on earth to get myself a proper visa debit? Or any sympathy?! They've got nearly a grand of my money and at the moment I can't get to it (not least because their wait times are appauling and I've never managed to get them to set up internet banking for me because they're so incompetent).:mad:

Toe-Jam

Visa Debit transactions are done in real time abroad, so it doesn't matter which visa debit you have the transactions will be done "online".

i'm not sure what card you are referring to, but as long as it has the visa debit or visa electron it will work.

Maestro is the preferred card in India, and they usually deal in cash, and the atms are every bit as good as ours and take all the cards.

glennc1981

I've never heard of that kind of card, but to be honest you'd probably be better off going to another bank if Santander aren't willing to co-operate. Remember, you are the customer, and the customer has the right to go to any bank. If they want to mess around with you, go to a bank that will wlecome you. I wish you luck.

pmduk

purplebiro wrote: »

Does anyone else have any advice about how on earth to get myself a proper visa debit?

Just try a proper bank! eg anyone other than Santander!

purplebiro

Thanks all.

I'm going to give them one last chance in branch tomorrow and then I'll see what else I can get. Later today I phoned to try AGAIN and was told that "there's no such account that gives you free cash withdrawals abroad" when I sent the rep away to check this with his supervisor I double-checked and I still have the paperwork for when I set up the Zero account. When he came back he said again that there's no way I could have free cash withdrawals abroad. I told him I had the paperwork for the Zero account and he said "oh, well, if it's a Zero account then you'll be fine". Reassuring? Not much.

glennc1981

Do they know their left to their right? lol

adindas

Is this new ? As far as I know for WorldwiceCash withdrawal with Santander Debit Card is not free of charge. There will be foreign Loading Fee and Cash Withdrawal Fee.

It is only free to be used in Santandar Cash Machine in Spain.

Have I missed something here WHy purplebiro is mentioning free cash withdrawal ?. Is there any weblik that we could refer ?

If somone could shed the light about this, it will be great.

Cheers
ADINDAS

purplebiro wrote: »

Hi All,

A rant and a call for advice!

I signed up for a Santander account offering free cash withdrawals worldwide at the start of the year, intended to be used on a holiday in India in December.

T:mad:

simax

adindas wrote: »

Is this new ? As far as I know for WorldwiceCash withdrawal with Santander Debit Card is not free of charge. There will be foreign Loading Fee and Cash Withdrawal Fee.

It is only free to be used in Santandar Cash Machine in Spain.

Have I missed something here WHy purplebiro is mentioning free cash withdrawal ?. Is there any weblik that we could refer ?

If somone could shed the light about this, it will be great.

Cheers
ADINDAS

In the Interest and Fees document, Page 6, states on a Zero account, as long as the transaction is in local currency (if offered), the withdrawal will be fee-free worldwide.

Linky: http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/StaticBS?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1223405223597&cachecontrol=immediate&ssbinary=true&maxage=3600

(In the middle of the page, right hand side)

Cheers

Toe-Jam

The Zero account is free to use abroad, No transaction fees etc Make sure thats the one they have set up or else it is really expensive to use a santander card abroad. The other thing you should know is Santander are WAY over the top on card security and you might find your card randomly stops working (mine was blocked last week for example, all i did was spend £13 in a chemist. Especially in India and the middle east, they block it for next to nothing. Make sure you have the Fraud Departments phone number with you, not the general customer services number, because as you found out they don't know which day of the week it is.

adindas

Dear Toe_jam and Sinax and all

Thank you for reply. I just read from the link you have provided

-Withdrawal from a cash machine or bank abroad: Free
-Currency conversion for using your Visa debit card abroad or online in a currency other than sterling: Free
-Buying goods and services abroad (not cash withdrawals) and in a currency other than sterling: Free

I wonder why some people in this forum miss this opportunity. A lot of people in other threads are talking about replacing their NW flexi account. Some suggestion is Metro Bank ehcih can only be opoend in Brach in Lodon or Cumberland BS which only available for local people to barch.

Why do not they just open this Santander Zero Account ???
Also I ahve nit seen in the Martin Guide mention about this a/c. I know Sanatander Sero credit card but not credit card.

Is there any snatch here that prenvent people of doing so. thank you again in adavce for your reply.

ADINDAS

coolio_2

If your use is abroad use look at the Halifax clarity card