Getting cash from a prepaid card before travelling

B_O_O_Y_A_R

I bought a UKASH prepaid Euro card when the rate first passed 1.4 for a holiday to greece in a month. This is the majority of what we are likely to spend.

With the advice now being to take cash - its an small island and most of the restaurants are only taking cash - whats my best option. I'm not sure ill be happy risking drawing out cash.

Withdraw £ here - this will incure a conversion and withdrawal fee?

Can you withdraw Euro at the airport (manchester) ? I know you can in terms of it exchanging for you but do the machines allow fee free withdraw or Euro from an account in Eur?


Any help appreciated



fees are here - https://www.ukash.com/en-gb/products/travelmoneycard/fees/
Just noticed I can only draw 350euro but other than that I think it would just be the 1.80 euro withdrawal fee I think

B_O_O_Y_A_R

Just figured I could also withdraw from a euro cash machine like the Rappels Bank ones. If i lets me do it in euros that is

benjus

I think most EUR ATMs in the UK will allow you to withdraw directly in EUR from a card denominated in EUR. I haven't actually tried it though.

brhodes134

We're in a similar situation. We have a Thomas Cook prepaid EUR card. I spoke with Thomas Cook money and the only way they could do it was to transfer the EUR balance to GBP and back to EUR (cash) again. In essence, it meant we lost over 10 % of the balance. Not good! There has to be an easier way! There is a Travelex EUR ATM at the airport we fly from, but I'd rather get this sorted before then, plus I'm not convinced a EUR withdrawal at a UK ATM will transact in EUR. I wouldn't be surprised if Travelex convert it to GBP for the ATM transaction but I'm just not sure!

Any further advice would be most welcome.

eDicky

Today I asked at two Moneycorp desks at Stansted about using a euro denominated card to withdraw cash euros from their ATMs. They both gave me same answer, that it will convert the euros to pounds then back to euros, so you will lose twice. I didn't have the courage to doubt them and actually try it.

However I seem to remember not long ago, somebody was able to empty her card euro for euro in a Raphael's Bank ATM at a London tube station. OP (or anyone), if you are able to try this, please post the result as there are probably many people in this situation.

B_O_O_Y_A_R

I used a Raphael cash machine outside of a thomas cook today and was able to draw out Euros. There was no mention of any conversion but maybe UKASH themselves will do a convert and back convert but hopefully not. I will check and let you know

Alter_ego

Our local M&S bank has a Euro machine

B_O_O_Y_A_R

I can confirm that no conversion took place. My account was just debited by $300. I did pay a $1.80 fee for withdrawal but this Ukash charge this for ATM withdrawals (in the UK).

All good then, just a few more visits needed !

B_O_O_Y_A_R

Finally - found this else where, so maybe avoid the M&S ones


"It looks, therefore, as though Raphaels Bank machines (including the one trackside in the departure hall at St Pancras?) operate as follows:
1. Withdraw GPB from a GBP account: no fee.
2. Withdraw GBP from a euro account (eg if you are a foreign visitor to the UK, or a UK resident with a euro account): Machine debits you in euro, at a rate including a big profit for Raphaels Bank.
3. Withdraw euro from a GBP account: Machine debits you in GBP, again at a big profit.
4. Withdraw euro from a euro account: no fee, possibly as Raphaels Bank did not actually plan.

Meanwhile, the machines in Marks & Spencers remain a con.
(a) Withdraw euro (or US dollars) from a GBP account: Machine debits you in GBP, at a rate including a big profit for the machine operator.
(b) Withdraw euro from a euro account: Machine debits you in GBP, at marked-up rate, and then your bank re-converts back to euro, taking its profit as well.

The NatWest/Ulster Bank euro machine outside 15 Bishopsgate debits you in euro, irrespective of what currency your account is in."

Wasn't sure how to quote across threads sorry but I can definitely confirm the Raphael one I used debits EUR accounts in EUR.

eDicky

B_O_O_Y_A_R wrote: »

The NatWest/Ulster Bank euro machine outside 15 Bishopsgate debits you in euro, irrespective of what currency your account is in."

This ATM no longer exists.

eDicky

B_O_O_Y_A_R wrote: »

I can definitely confirm the Raphael one I used debits EUR accounts in EUR.

Thanks for the updates. You have confirmed what somebody previously reported and we can now say that cash euros can be directly obtained from euro denominated cards, including prepaid travel cards, in a Raphael's Bank ATM, with only the card issuers fee (if any) for ATM use. Probably no other ATMs in the UK give this facility.

Another confirmed and useful way to obtain euros before arrival in Greece or elsewhere is from the multicurrency Moneycorp ATMs found in some southern UK airports and railway stations. Most credit cards and prepaid debit cards (but not normal debit cards) can be used, and when the choice of 'with conversion' and 'without conversion' is displayed on the screen, 'without conversion' must be selected, to obtain the straight MasterCard or Visa Europe exchange rate and avoid Moneycorp's own dreadful rates. This is not possible if the conversion choice is not given for a particular card, or by using any other ATMs. Only the card issuer's fees/loading for foreign use, if any, apply - this being zero with the Halifax Clarity card.