Getting USD/Euro fee free without a loaded exchange rate

glider3560

adindas wrote: »

Well, I do not know about the link. But as previously mentioned. I have tried my Metro Debit card (MasterCard) in a few of Raphael Banks cash machines in the tube stations in London to withdraw Euro. None of them were ever giving me an option to proceed without conversion A colleague of mine has tried it as well, same result.

That is because the card has both Link and MasterCard applications. In a UK ATM, it will always use Link. Link has no requirement to give a DCC opt-out.

adindas wrote: »

In a developing country in Asia I have used my MasterCard a few times to withdraw cash; I did not remember I have ever had an option of whether to preceded with conversion or not. For purchase using CC sometimes yes but not for cash withdrawal.

Even in euro zone, I have been using Both my Santander Zero (visa) and Metro Bank Debit card (Master) to withdraw Euro in euro zone. If I am using LOCAL bank (e.g Volksbank in Germany for instance) and not GLOBAL Bank (e.g Deutshce Bank) I do not remember I ever have an option for DCC conversion. Just Euro currency and the card issuer will convert it using Master/Visa card exchange rate

There is no requirement for them to offer DCC. The only requirement is that IF they do offer DCC, then they must also offer no DCC.

lafesta

glider3560 wrote: »

That is because the card has both Link and MasterCard applications. In a UK ATM, it will always use Link. Link has no requirement to give a DCC opt-out.

......
There is no requirement for them to offer DCC. The only requirement is that IF
they do offer DCC, then they must also offer no DCC.

Very useful info.

Do you happen to know what are the rules in case of VISA ?

adindas

glider3560 wrote: »

That is because the card has both Link and MasterCard applications. In a UK ATM, it will always use Link. Link has no requirement to give a DCC opt-out.

1) How could we know that the chip in the card have link or not ?
I could see the Mastercard logo but can not see link logo on the card ...
Is there any logo on it or what ...???

2) Based on previous explanantion, it has been claimed that Halifax does not have Link appplication on it. Which other zero fee cards for foreign transaction do not have link ??

glider3560 wrote: »

There is no requirement for them to offer DCC. The only requirement is that IF they do offer DCC, then they must also offer no DCC.

I do not quite understand this bit. Like I previously mention in Raphael cash machine in London there is no way I could withdraw cash in Euro without DCC conversion using both my Metro (Master) and Santander Zero (Visa) debitcards.

Your explanation here is because these cards have "Link application" on it so it will be overridden by Link rather than to apply the Master/VISA DCC rule.

I understand many cash machines in the train stations here in London are offering Both EURO and Pound. Not just Raphael Banks but I have seen MoneyCorps cash machines in Stratford as well. And many of them (if not all) will not allow people to withdraw cash without involving DCC. I have clarity card to be used for purchase abroad, but I have not tried Halifax Clarity card for cash withdrawal as I have more superior cards for cash withdrawal , e.g. zero fee for foreign transaction debit cards. I will try clarity card at some point if this is the only way that will allow me to withdraw foreign currency here in the UK without conversion.

You said that Halifax clarity does not have Link application in it, so my understanding based on your explanation DCC rule can not be overridden by Link (e.g as there is no Link on it). A few question in order to broaden discussion helping us understand in depth and therefore could take advanatge of it of these particularUK cash machines.

3) If someone withdraws Euro or US$ in any of the cash machines offering EUR or US$ here in the UK using Halifax claritycard (as clarity does not have Link in it). Given that DCC is on offer in the menu which many (if not all) cash machines offering both £ and EUR are this league. Is he going to get a clean Mastercard exchange rate if they proceed with non-DCC option ??

4) Not sure about this but is not that Master/Visa DCC rule only applies when you withdraw cash in a foreign country and not in the country where the card is issued, in this case UK ??
IMHO If this DCC rule applies to the counttry where the card is issued VISA/MASTER might get fired by non bank money changers such as MoneyCorp, Travellex which have their own atutomatic money changer cash machines as it is a lost leader. For UK bank there are not too much problem as they could still recover it from cross selling of other products.

Probably glider3560 or someone else who have good knowledge of Link and Master/VISA DCC rule could answer the above questions to help us understand why for cash machines which could dispense foreign currency here in the UK, some of them offer to proceed with DCC, some do not ??

chattychappy

There are two Moneycorp ATMs at Heathrow T3 departures. They are upstairs (opposite the entrances to security). They offer USD/Euros loading free, provided you choose "without conversion" when offered the choice.

The machines look quite new.

There are also some Travellex ATMs. Make sure you use the Moneycorp ATMs and choose "without conversion".

eDicky

chattychappy wrote: »

There are two Moneycorp ATMs at Heathrow T3 departures. They are upstairs (opposite the entrances to security). They offer USD/Euros loading free, provided you choose "without conversion" when offered the choice.

The machines look quite new.

There are also some Travellex ATMs. Make sure you use the Moneycorp ATMs and choose "without conversion".

Did you try any Visa cards, to see if the conversion choices are given?

chattychappy

eDicky wrote: »

Did you try any Visa cards, to see if the conversion choices are given?

No, I didn't think to do that. But I'll be back on Tuesday so will try then (if I remember!)

adindas

Thank you to those who contribute intensively to this thread especially to eDicky, ChattyChappy, glider3560. Together we could crack the mystery of getting free loading Euros and US Dollars (?) in the UK.

From my previous reports, I and my colleagues have tried Metro and Santander Zero Debit cards (please notes this is zero fee debit card and not credit card) withdraw Euros from Tube /Train station in London. There is no way I could “Proceed without conversion” as this option is simply not there.

A few days ago I was in Stansted Airport and therefore had the chance to sample few Money Corps cash machines using my specialist cards. I was not particularly looking for MoneyCoprs cash machines but I could only see MoneyCorps cash machines offering Euro and Pound on my way through to the departure gate. Starting from the one close to the toilet on the main departure entrance and all the way through until my departure gates. I have tried I think about eight of them.

I have the following cards, Metro Debit card, Santander Zero Debit card, Halifax Clarity Credit Card, Santander Zero Credit Card in this testing. Apart from interest for Credit card, all of these cards are zero fee for foreign currency withdrawal. Here is what I have done and the following results.

For each cash withdrawal of these eight cash machines testing, I tried all four of the my credit and debit cards in the same machines to observe the impact. For withdrawal using the Halifax Clarity Credit Card, Santander Zero Creditcard, all provide the option to proceed without conversion. None of my debit cards (e.g. Metro Debit card, Santander Zero Debit card provide this option) and the only option for cash withdrawals using Debit cards is to proceed with DCC which was poor exchange rate from MoneyCorps.

So my conclusion sofar (please free to discuss or correct it)

1. UK Debit cards (if not all) have “Link application” attached to them. So if you try to withdraw money here in the UK (not outside UK) using debit cards, this link application will take effect and/or overriding the MasterCard rule for DCC. So you will not have option for DCC if you try to withdraw money with debit cards, even the one with zero fee for foreign currency withdrawal.

2. UK Credit cards (might be all UK credit cards ?), do not have Link application on it so if you withdraw money using Mastercard credit cards such as Halifax Clarity Creditcard, Santander Zero Creditcards, “Link application” will not take effect as there is no lonk application in there. So here you will have the option of either proceeding “with or without DCC conversion” following Mastercards DCC rule. But in the country where the credit card is issued (e.g. Halifax, Santader zero CC) the DCC rule might not apply to all cashmachines or the cash mahines operator might refuse to provide this option as there is very little money to be make (if any).

3. [FONT=&quot]My conclusion above is also in line with eDicky experience in report #33
"Yesterday I was able to check again about using the N&P Visa debit card in the MoneyCorp ATMs at Stansted. There are about 15 airside and landside. None of the ones I tried gave the options of proceeding with or without conversion with my N&P card (Comment:this is a debitcard). My Halifax, Clarity Mastercard(Comment: this is a creditcard) worked well in any machine, giving the chance to proceed without conversion and get the Mastercard rate ...".
[/FONT]
4. Final conclusion: If you want to get free loading Euro use zero fee credit cards instead of debit cards. It might only be working for MasterCard due to Mastercard DCC rule but could also be working for Visa creditcards (?). This might work for the whole cash machines in the UK, not only for MoneyCorps in the airports (?). But to prove this someone might want to try Mastercard Credit Card in other cash machines (part from moneycorps) in the city and see whether "proceed without conversion is in the menu".

glider3560

I popped into the Moneycorp branches on Oxford Street and Piccadilly this morning. Both have ATMs, but only dispense sterling :-(

Also tried the Raphaels Bank machines at ICE branches on Oxford Street and dotted around Luton Airport. None of these gave "proceed without conversion" options for any card (including my Halifax Clarity). I am wondering whether these are using Link for the credit card transaction?

Also, I could not find the Ulster Bank ATM at the Natwest on Bishopsgate. There are now two branches on this road: one on the ground floor of an RBS office and the other a distinct branch. The first one has a GBP machine outside. The latter has some machines inside for office hours only, none were labelled as dispensing EUR, but the branch was closed. Did not have the address of the old branch, but think this has now closed down. Not sure if the ATM is still there though?

adindas

To proceed without DCC only work for Money Coprs Cash machines, I think we will need more evidence to see whether this is a case ??

But sofar noone has suggested that their Mastercredit cards (e.g Halifax clarity and Santander Zero) card work in other cash machines, apart from MoneyCorps Cash Machines.

Also regarding DCC rule from Mastercard. Could it be that it will only apply in overseas cashmachines and not in the country where the card is issued ??

glider3560 wrote: »

I popped into the Moneycorp branches on Oxford Street and Piccadilly this morning. Both have ATMs, but only dispense sterling :-(

Also tried the Raphaels Bank machines at ICE branches on Oxford Street and dotted around Luton Airport. None of these gave "proceed without conversion" options for any card (including my Halifax Clarity). I am wondering whether these are using Link for the credit card transaction?

Also, I could not find the Ulster Bank ATM at the Natwest on Bishopsgate. There are now two branches on this road: one on the ground floor of an RBS office and the other a distinct branch. The first one has a GBP machine outside. The latter has some machines inside for office hours only, none were labelled as dispensing EUR, but the branch was closed. Did not have the address of the old branch, but think this has now closed down. Not sure if the ATM is still there though?

glider3560

adindas wrote: »

Also regarding DCC rule from Mastercard.. Could it be that it might only applies in overseas cashmachines and not in the country where the card is issued ??

I think this could be true.

Take a look at this brochure from Evalon (https://www.elavon.co.uk/welcome/~/media/Welcome-Centre-PDFs/DCC%20Staff%20Training%20Manual.pdf). The page headed "The Regulations" says " the CHOICE of completing
the transaction in either their card billing currency or the local currency."

Given the local currency is GBP, then strictly reading a GBP option must be offered, but no other option needs to be given.