debit card abroad

callum9999

I'm pretty sure hospitals in America are obliged to treat you in life-threatening cases, even if they know you don't have insurance and can't pay it.

Someone should make a thread like this one of the stickies. I can't remember the last time there wasn't a question about which card to use abroad on the front page of this forum - there must be thousands in the archive!

money_honey

I went travelling to Australia in 2008 and I opened a bank account over there, and had money transferred from my UK bank account to the Australian one. I then closed the account when I left. To be honest it was a bit of a hassle! I don't know who you already bank with, but Barclays do free withdrawals to any other bank overseas in the Global Alliance network (in Australia this is Westpac, which has ATM's everywhere). I'm with Barclays and I didn't know about this before I went otherwise I just would have used my debit card.

I took a credit card as well and every time I needed to pay with a card (which tbh wasn't that often as I mostly used cash) I used the credit card just to be on the safe side.

chattychappy

money_honey wrote: »

Barclays do free withdrawals to any other bank overseas in the Global Alliance network (in Australia this is Westpac, which has ATM's everywhere). I'm with Barclays and I didn't know about this before I went otherwise I just would have used my debit card.

They say "free withdrawals" - but what about the exchange rate? Is it still subject to a loading? I'd want to check this very carefully.