Spending Overseas: The cheapest way to pay Article Discussion Area

dzug

Sounds a very odd statement to me. Did he say how much it was, and whether it was a Post Office fee or a Mastercard fee? The latter would not constitute 'loading' as it happens before the transaction gets to the PO.

dzug

prgirl_cesca wrote: »

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1?mediaId=26800661&catId=19300207

Does anyone know if this is good?

I'm going to America for 2 weeks in September and I don't really want to be using a credit card (I want to keep track of my spending and not have a scary bill). I have a barclays current account (and a barclaycard) and I'm not planning any major purchases. I'll only be taking about £600 with me, but I know travellers cheques are outdated and don't really want to be taking that much cash with me. I am saving about £200 a month so want to 'upload' it onto a card as I'm saving, but I suppose I could do that with another account too.

Help! Any advice appreciated!

Depends what you mean by good. It's convenient and secure, but the charges are high. (£10 to buy the card and £5 to redeem it are killers to start off) If you can control your spending it will be cheaper (in charges) to use your Barclays cards or even take TCs or cash. If it stops you spending too much then maybe it's worth it for you.

rache-r

Not sure if this is the right way to ask this question but this whole reply/new threads thingy has got me very confused! I don't think I should be allowed on here unsupervised!!! Anyway here goes . .

Has anyone had experiance of the Post Office Travel Money Card? Is it a good way to take 'cash' abroad. We're looking for a way to avoid hefty charges and interest and it seems reasonable. It seems much better than credit cards but how does it compare to debit cards?
Cheers
Rache

gardner1

try caxton fx card
1.464 euro exchange rate
atm fee 2 euro
no other fees

leesharp

Hi,
just like to add that ive used my Nationwide debit card in Ireland,Poland,Hungary,with no problems and great rates too.
Hope this helps

Lee.........

moob_2

gardner1 wrote: »

try caxton fx card
1.464 euro exchange rate
atm fee 2 euro
no other fees

Still isn't as good as the Nationwide Card - no fees, period.

moob_2

dzug wrote: »

You shouldn't get charged in the NY area at a machine run by a major bank.

You MAY be charged in the following states - where state law has outlawed Visa/Mastercard's standard contract which says they can't charge overseas cards:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi,
Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming

However that list is a little old and charging may be creeping in elsewhere. It's not a big fee - usually a flat $ or two.

dzug:

You seem to know your stuff, but I was wondering where you acquired this info from? I've been trying, very hard, to search for banks that don't charge for ATM use in the states (specifically Florida), and have only found that Citibank don't charge.

Is there some form of understanding on the Visa network, that major banks do not charge a fee for using their ATMs that are badged with the Visa logo?

I phoned Nationwide to ask about this, but they don't have any answers other than 'my friends have never had any charges over there'

I was hoping to be able to compile a list of US banks that don't charge for Visa Debit withdrawals - hopefully without the need for personal experimentation when I'm over there!

Cheers.

dzug

moob wrote: »

dzug:

You seem to know your stuff, but I was wondering where you acquired this info from? I've been trying, very hard, to search for banks that don't charge for ATM use in the states (specifically Florida), and have only found that Citibank don't charge.

Is there some form of understanding on the Visa network, that major banks do not charge a fee for using their ATMs that are badged with the Visa logo?

I phoned Nationwide to ask about this, but they don't have any answers other than 'my friends have never had any charges over there'

I was hoping to be able to compile a list of US banks that don't charge for Visa Debit withdrawals - hopefully without the need for personal experimentation when I'm over there!

Cheers.

I got the list off another travel forum some time ago and saved it to a file. Not sure I could trace the original again.

The situation is that Visa do (or did) not allow banks to charge overseas users a fee for using their ATMs over and above that charged by their home bank. However the US states I listed decreed that this provision was anti-competitive - ie Visa could not enforce the condition. Therefore in those states SOME banks charge.

Now that list might have been added to, and Visa may no longer be as hot on enforcing it as they once were.

It's not usually very much - a $ or two - and will also I think be charged by the bank to its own home customers.

moob_2

Cheers dzug.

So it looks like I should be fine in Florida as long as I don't use a portable ATM in small shops etc.

Citibank's website to search for ATMs is quite handy as there are tons of them across the US.

hollydays

Going to Italy in about 6 weeks-thinking of applying for a Nationwide card.Are there any better cards at the moment?