Avoiding bank charges in NZ/Aus

Ken_S

I have a Halifax Clarity Card for overseas cash and it's worked well in Europe. But I'm off to Oz and NZ soon and their banks charge for withdrawals using a foreign card except for Westpac who waive the fee for those issued by a Global Alliance Partner. It seems only Barclays in UK are in the Global Alliance and obviously I don't want to get their card because of the Barclays charges. Anyone know how I might avoid the charges while still benefiting from the Clarity deal? Best I can see is withdraw loadsa cash in one hit on arrival, then pay for as much as possible using my Clarity as a credit card.

Nasqueron

When I worked there about 10 years back we had basic current accounts for wages and they charged you to withdraw your OWN money, let alone via credit card lol.

You might get away with having an account with someone like HSBC who are all over the world and maybe? they would let you withdraw from your current account in an HSBC branch but that's a complete guess sorry.

guesswho2000

I've been using ANZ & NAB ATMs and they don't charge a cent to withdraw cash? That's using a Clarity MasterCard too.

System

Utter tosh.

The European banks were ALL charging for every ATM withdrawal - it's just Halifax didn't pass it on to you as they won't in Oz or NZ.

The only thing you need to worry about is surcharging but as far as I know, this isn't common in either Oz or NZ

Ken_S wrote: »

I have a Halifax Clarity Card for overseas cash and it's worked well in Europe. But I'm off to Oz and NZ soon and their banks charge for withdrawals using a foreign card except for Westpac who waive the fee for those issued by a Global Alliance Partner. It seems only Barclays in UK are in the Global Alliance and obviously I don't want to get their card because of the Barclays charges.