Using credit card for cash in China

pauljoecoe

Will I be able to use my Halifax Clarity Card easiy in China?(Bejing, Shanghai, Xian)

Will ATM's charge a fee?

nearlyrich

We used UK credit/Debit cards in those places in 2007 however we bank with First Direct and they are part of HSBC who have branches all over the major cities in China. ATM's usually charge a fee for credit card withdrawals whether here or overseas you really need to look at the terms of your agreement with the Halifax. Also recommended that you tell your card providor if you are travelling so they don't flag unusual usage and stop your card...

pauljoecoe

We are with FD too. What are the charges associated with using their debit card?

The Halifax Clarity card has a good exchange rate and doesn't charge any fees. It will charge interest from day of withdrawl but thats not really an issue as can pay it off virtually immediatly or certainly after 2 weeks.

The question really is about whether the banks ATM will charge a fee. I have found in europe you can often find free ones. In USA (Florida) there was always a charge.

So China?

Jaffa_cake

You will get charges no matter what card you use.
Using a foreign card (foreign to China) will almost always hit you with charges.

Some banks here, eg, Bank of China, ICBC, Bank Of Communications, Construction bank, Agricultural Bank, they all have there own "TIE -INS" with foreign banks.
So for example your Santander card might not give you cash from a BoC ATM, but will from say ICBC ATM.
Your Barclays may be, give cash from Construction but not Agricultural.

Just a matter of trying different banks ATM's
They generally all have an English option.
Your cards won't work in supermarkets when you try to buy food or stuff in supermarkets.
You will need cash there.
The hotels will take credit cards, but not visa debit, or any debit come to think of it.
You can draw out up to the daily limit on your card.
But the ATM's will only give out 2500 rmb as a time (about £250) so you can put your card in again to draw some more if you want.
I think the ATM rate for the UKP is giving about 9,9 rnb for £1.00
Gone are the lovely days when I could get 15 !!!

What else?

J.C.