*WARNING* Do NOT use NI bank cards on tolls in Republic!

Parisien

We normally have the change but the €1.40 ( approx £1.12) suddenly becomes £1.93 when you check your bank statement if using your NI debit card......£0.75 charge plus crap exchange rate.......as ever if the local banks can shaft you they will.

bigsy

Forgetting about the politics and geography of Ireland, you used a UK-issued sterling debit card "abroad" in the eurozone. Unfortunately these charges are widespread and aren't unique to local NI banks; I suspect the T&Cs of your debit card are pretty clear as to the costs of "foreign" use.

Have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money to see which cards don't suffer from currency loading. Well worth getting something better if you're travelling a lot.

Parisien

Not interested in the T&Cs, please don't lecture me, I use the card down south for ordinary purchases with no penalties......

BigAl94

Parisien wrote: »

Not interested in the T&Cs, please don't lecture me, I use the card down south for ordinary purchases with no penalties......

I think you do incur charges. All debit card transactions outside UK attract charges by the local banks.

Parisien

Not the local NI/RoI banking system as most banks have branches north and south, reciprocal agreement

sheerdelight

I live and bank in Northern Ireland and have an Ulster Bank Debit card and reading their charges as printed on the bank's website would suggest to me (and I am willing to be corrected) that purchases in the Republic of Ireland do indeed occur fees and charges. I am not aware of any reciprocal arrangement between the northern and southern branches that would preclude these fees and charges. It would be great if there was a reciprocal arrangement in place for banks that operate north and south.

dmxdave

All this over 81p......get over it! You probably went miles out of your way to avoid paying 1 or 2p a litre on fuel...

Parisien

Get over it??!!

Why not put that up on all other threads for those who don't want to be ripped off.......so a 60% surcharge on a small transaction is fair?

Parisien

You need to get to know you bank manager better Sheerlight......:)

D.A.

If you tell us which bank your card was with, then we can check whether or not there's supposed to be a charge.

qwert_yuiop

dmxdave wrote: »

All this over 81p......get over it! You probably went miles out of your way to avoid paying 1 or 2p a litre on fuel...

You could of course avoid the toll by taking the old road, which seems to be what the haulage companies are doing. Drogheda and Dundalk are still clogged with lorries. It is possible to drop off the motorway at the earlier junction and get back on. Possible but probably not worth it in a car.