which of these debit cards will be best to buy currency online

anna42hmr

I will be needing to buy Canadian dollars for my trip to canada soon, however i know many cards charge for buying it online (as it is online i can find the better exchange rates at the moment)

I used to have an old Maestro debit card from natwest which didnt charge but no longer have that card.

Which of the debit cards that I have would be cheaper to buy Canadian Dollars, I have a debit card from lloyds, halifax and nationwide. All of which are visa debit cards.

jonesMUFCforever

All of them may charge a fee of about 1.5% so take this into account.

Mikeyorks

Work your way down this article to the point 'Getting the cheapest foreign cash' (just over halfway down). Then go down to the heading 'Beware when paying on Credit or Debit cards'. At the bottom of that para is a link to 'full list of cards that charge'. If you open the link there is a table of Debit cards that do and don't.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

(hard work ..... but it doesn't sub link!)

System

I think Halifax doesn't charge - Lloyds definitely does, Nationwide may not.

[Deleted User]

lloyds and halifax i believe charge but nationwide unsure
have you tried the other banks that have no charges for using card abroad / purchasing canadian dollars?

rb10

Halifax Visa Debit card does not charge for purchasing currency online in the UK.

It is probably cheaper to get it from an ATM when you are out there, using a Halifax Clarity (Reward) credit card.

dzug1

Nationwide defintely don't charge

anna42hmr

thanks all for the replies, managed to find copies of the t&c's for lloyds and they charge up to £4.50, nationwide seemed a bit confused when i rang them as to wether they do or dont (i am assuming this may have something to do with the changes at now charging for use out of europe?) i just got off call with halifax as their website and terms do not specify, and they have told me they dont charge so have used them and ordered my currency from tesco.

thanks for the help all.

ipswichandy

Hi Anna and all other Halifax Debit Card holders..
So, did you get charged to purchase foreign currency from Tesco? I have been calling Halifax Customer services and been in branch but no-one has been able to give a definitive answer!

Only seems that MSE and Forums say that Halifax DONT charge for purchase of foreign currency from a Bureau De Change!

Surely the banks should make this crystal clear to the 'layman' customer rather than having to trudge through and interpret the T&C of accounts....at least Natwest T&Cs make it clear they DO CHARGE for such transactions.

:money:Thanks MSE! At least your site helps the customer..

jen245

I have a fairfx US dollar card that I top up with my Halifax debit card, and I've never been charged

anna42hmr

ipswichandy wrote: »

Hi Anna and all other Halifax Debit Card holders..
So, did you get charged to purchase foreign currency from Tesco? I have been calling Halifax Customer services and been in branch but no-one has been able to give a definitive answer!

Only seems that MSE and Forums say that Halifax DONT charge for purchase of foreign currency from a Bureau De Change!

Surely the banks should make this crystal clear to the 'layman' customer rather than having to trudge through and interpret the T&C of accounts....at least Natwest T&Cs make it clear they DO CHARGE for such transactions.

:money:Thanks MSE! At least your site helps the customer..

Hi

no charges have appeared on my account for the order (yet any way, but as order was around 6 weeks ago, i would imagine if they were to charge would hgve been on there by now, will be testing it again soon as ive decided to get an extra couple hundred dollars soon as well but may go into post office or marks and spencer for that small amount)