france and tolls - debit card or cash?

balancelife

Hi,

Last year when I went to france we took some euros and mainly used our debit card at tolls and in supermarkets etc and withdrew some more cash over there. worked really well but now I understand that nationwide flex account card has changed and charges to use it.

I m wondering what the best options are for when we are over there for two weeks next month. We have a nationwide flex account debit card and their gold card credit card too. I read that the rules on credit card changed too but I dont really quite understand it, we've had ours for 3 years.

thanks

jackyann

Nationwide have change their rules - they now charge for transactions in Europe, less than other providers - you can look up the details on this site.
If you are old enough, Saga's Platinum card is free to use abroad.

simongregson

Just pay the tolls on your nationwide gold CREDIT card (this is their old card, not the new one they introduced thisyear) . All French toll booths accept card payments.

general reference

Nationwide debit - 2% fee on purchases and cash, extra £1 per cash withdrawal
Nationwide Credit - No fee on purchases. £3 or 2%(higher) on cash withdrawals + interest at 27.9%pa

So your best bet is to try and pay everything possible on your credit card, use the nationwide card for cash withdrawals and use this to pay where cards aren't accepted. Most shops etc. accept cards in France, as do all petrol stations etc. so you may be able to get away with not withdrawing very much cash anyway.

SailorSam

The Post Office do a prepaid card, which maybe safer 'cos only the amount you've loaded can be spent.

knightstyle

First do you have to use the toll roads? We used to drive from Caen to our house and it would cost about 40€ but now take the free dual carridgeways, Rennes, Nantes, Cholet and then to our house, took 15mins extra and much nicer route.
Note that new speed cameras in France do not have warning notices and there is talk of removing the existing warning notices.
We use a Halifax credit card for all our purchases, no problems and no charges.

zagfles

knightstyle wrote: »

Note that new speed cameras in France do not have warning notices and there is talk of removing the existing warning notices.

Well they couldn't have made much money out of the existing ones . A massive sign 1km before then a speed limit reminder half km before.. anyone caught by one of them should be done for driving with defective vision

zagfles

SailorSam wrote: »

The Post Office do a prepaid card, which maybe safer 'cos only the amount you've loaded can be spent.

So you might run out of money...

lolarentt

We used to use N'wide credit card but have now switched to Halifax basic credit card which is free of charges abroad and so gives business ER. As well as France (we have a place there so lots of vists!) this has worked well this year in NZ, Turkey and the Canaries. They ask you to tell them when you're going away but we have never bothered (did query the need for this on the phone) and never had any problem, even with largish amounts (eg 700 euro hotel bill in Canaries).

simongregson

You can't use prepaid card to use automated toll machines in France, so I would avoid - the OP already has an ideal card to use for payments in France.

balancelife

Thanks, sounds like the gold card is the plan. I wanted to avoid getting another card, just wanted to work out cash or existing cards. We don't really use our credit card in the UK everything tends to go on the debit unless its over £100.

I will use the gold card like the debit then except got withdrawing money which will be the debit card.

Is it worth me getting any euros over here or just waiting til we are in France? (i have enough left from last year for a coffee etc!)

With the interest on the card, and this may sound like I'm stupid but bear with me- we have a direct debit set up to pay any credit card bill automatically each month. By using our gold card abroad we won't end up paying any interest still will we? Does that make sense? When the bill comes it will automatically be paid off in full, do no charge. ? I will not withdraw cash from this, but will from the debit meaning a 2% of the amount withdrawn plus £1 for the transaction. So £100 would cost me £103?

As for the toll, yes where possible we will be telling the sat nav to avoid tolls but I'm not sure yet on how much that will work!

That's all been v helpful guys, thanks v much!

knightstyle

If you only use the card for payments, no charge. If you use the card to withdraw cash small charge, if you withdraw cash and immediately pay of the whole outstanding balance you will only pay a penny or two. I have just done this but haven't got the statement yet. You may only be able to withdraw £300 a day even if you have two cards on the same account.