MSE News: Metro Bank to charge for debit card use outside Europe

macalloa

aldredd wrote: »

As someone else has said, Norwich & Peterborough still offer a current account with worldwide free withdrawals.
They've recently tightened up the rules on what constitutes an 'active' account, but is easily maintained with a few monthly standing orders in & out the account.
http://www.nandp.co.uk/current-account/

The GOLD LIGHT account was dropped recently, that was the one which required 5 activities per month to keep it active - now it's only the GOLD CLASSIC account which offers the fee free ATM usage.

It requires a minimum £500 monthly deposit or a minimum balance of £5,000.

The £500 is not a minimum balance condition - the money can go into the account and out again in quick time.

Nolly_Noo

I too only opened a current account with Metro Bank for using the card abroad. However, I was so pleased with them that I was planning to move all of my banking to them.

Not any more!! My partner and I are currently on a 3 month trip in SE Asia and we rely on our cards to withdrawing money and booking flights and hotels etc. We only found out about the change two days ago from a MSE email that my partner received.

We left the country on the 7th Jan and there is a letter dated 13th Jan that explains these changes. I was VERY specific with the dates I was going to be away when I opened my account as I didn't want to be faced with a cancelled card due to spending in lots of different countries in a short amount of time. When I called Metro Bank they claimed that the information is available on my online statements and that they've done all they need to do to give me 60 days notice of this change.

I've scoured my internet banking and cannot find a single reference to the change and a glitch in their crappy website means that I can't actually download my statements, not that I need to, because I can see my transactions without doing so.

We are travelling until April so these charges are going to make a significant impact on our budget and there is nothing we can do about this while we're away, so I'm absolutely livid. I've told them that the day I arrive back in the UK I'll be in their brand going through my statements with a view for them to refund all charges made. They've messed with the wrong person!

I am aware that all they need to do is send a letter, but if I'm out of the country and don't receive it, does that mean that I've not been notified? I don't believe they've gone to reasonable measures to notify me of this change and therefore I cannot accept the changes to their terms and conditions. Any advice?

innovate

I reckon you will have a far better chance to get the charges reimbursed if you take a less confrontational stance and ask them nicely whether they would consider your particular circumstances. Kicking up a stink will get you nowhere.

Metro have done what they can be reasonably expected to do - send you a letter to the address registered for your account. I haven't kept the letter they sent me, so can't be 100% certain now what it said but I don't think they need customer agreement to implement the change.

gt94sss2

Nolly_Noo wrote: »

I am aware that all they need to do is send a letter, but if I'm out of the country and don't receive it, does that mean that I've not been notified?

I'm afraid not. All they need to do is send out a letter notifying customers of the change in T&C and legally its automatically deemed that you accept them if you keep using your account.

Otherwise, there would be several of us who wouldn't receive the notification for months..

The standard advice is to take more than one set of debit/credit cards when travelling overseas - not just due to T&C changes - but more importantly if one set gets blocked for any reason.

Regards
Sunil

ColdIron

A few things you should consider before you press your nuclear button

1) The charges don't come into effect until 17/03/14 so you have incurred no loss yet

2) The non-europe fees though no longer free are still amongst the best available. There is still no Cash withdrawal fee

3) You really should have a backup card, particularly a credit card for the S75 protection for flights and hotels, there are fee free ones available

4) The new fee is 1.9%, even if you spent £1,000 in the remaining few week you have left it will cost you £19. Come on, for someone who can afford a 3 month long haul holiday it's hardly 'a significant impact on our budget'

PeacefulWaters

Nolly_Noo wrote: »

They've messed with the wrong person!

No they haven't. They've made a strategic pricing change that affects the account and all customers who have it.

They're entitled to make the change. They've notified you in good time and in a reasonable way.

You can stop using the account if you don't like what they're proposing.

I am aware that all they need to do is send a letter, but if I'm out of the country and don't receive it, does that mean that I've not been notified?

No it doesn't. They've written to you at your registered address. They've exceeded the statutory notice period required. There is no expectation that they should send search parties out around the globe to track you down and personally hand you the notification.

I don't believe they've gone to reasonable measures to notify me of this change and therefore I cannot accept the changes to their terms and conditions. Any advice?

Yes. Try being realistic. You're in cloud cuckoo land.

Innovate's suggestion of a conciliatory approach on return home is sensible.

Withdrawing a bit more cash before the charge is introduced might save you a fee. Booking things ahead by paying now may also help. After the change, withdraw larger amounts of cash to minimise the number of £1 flat fees you pay.

Finally, even with a 1.9% loading, you're still getting an exchange rate that's significantly better than buying in branch at a high street bank or travel agent. And better than 95% of credit cards issued in the UK.

Hazzanet

Amusingly, the tables referred to were not present in the statement PDF.