Cards for Abroad

chattychappy

adindas wrote: »

I remember someone here is mentioning about Travelex Cash Machines’ in London Heathrow which work exactly the same as if you were withdrawing Euro In Eurozone countries.

Do you mind to provide details the location of this cash machines. The cash machines which are before the departure gate, so you could withdraw euro even without flight booking.
Thanks

In my experience, Travelex ATMs always force you to use their exchange rate when withdrawing Euros at UK airports By coincidence, I was at LHR T4 yesterday and tried one with Clarity. It might be different for other cards, but I've tried a few.

It is Moneycorp machines that allow you to withdraw Euros without fee and don't force you to use their exchange rate (they give the choice). This only seems to be the case with Mastercard cards. None at Heathrow, though plenty at Gatwick. As you say, you can use them landside.

eDicky

chattychappy wrote: »

None at Heathrow, though plenty at Gatwick. As you say, you can use them landside.

There are also plenty of Moneycorp GBP/EUR ATMs at Stansted, including landslide. At Southend there are two airside, one of which is GBP/EUR/USD. Ensure that you select "Without Conversion".

adindas

chattychappy wrote: »

It is Moneycorp machines that allow you to withdraw Euros without fee and don't force you to use their exchange rate (they give the choice). This only seems to be the case with Mastercard cards. None at Heathrow, though plenty at Gatwick. As you say, you can use them landside.

I do not actually mean to name the ATM. Any ATM in London where I could withdraw cash as if I were in euro zone, using claritycard would do.

Unfortunately it is not available in Heathrow. The reason why I specifically interested in Heathrow as I could get there easily by tube. The cost (time & transport) of getting there is low, so the benefit of locking £/EUR while in the UK will outweigh the cost of getting it. Gatwick might be good but still a distance for me and not as accessible as Heathrow.

eDicky wrote: »

There are also plenty of Moneycorp GBP/EUR ATMs at Stansted, including landslide. At Southend there are two airside, one of which is GBP/EUR/USD. Ensure that you select "Without Conversion".

I put some money in Revolut but not significant as I do not really trust them. They might change the game again in the future make it more difficult to get money out of the card. without costing you a fortune.

The problem with Stansted is that the cost of getting there (time, transport) is high compared to the gain we will be getting by locking the exchange rate.

I am frequent traveller via Stansted. But when you are about to travel to Eurozone anyway, people do not actually need thiese cash machines as people could easily do this from the other end on the same day.

63skippy

Hi,

I have a Halifax Clarity Credit Card for going abroad in August. I was thinking along the same lines as others on here and preloading it with credit before I go abroad.

After a bit of clarification, I'm assuming by T&C you mean terms and conditions? Is preloading a card against the terms of Halifax Clarity, because if it's not, it's a free spending and cash option, seems too good to be true

eskbanker

63skippy wrote: »

Hi,

I have a Halifax Clarity Credit Card for going abroad in August. I was thinking along the same lines as others on here and preloading it with credit before I go abroad.

After a bit of clarification, I'm assuming by T&C you mean terms and conditions? Is preloading a card against the terms of Halifax Clarity, because if it's not, it's a free spending and cash option, seems too good to be true

Preloading is against their terms, as per the 'common enquiries' tab at http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/:

Can I put money on my card to increase my available credit whilst on holiday?

Credit cards are not designed to be used this way. Using the card in this way breaches the product's Terms & Conditions, which state:

7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

koru

I've unintentionally gone into credit a few times. In practice, they have never returned the surplus or raised an objection.

In any case, for a 1 week holiday, I've never incurred more than £2-3 interest, as I pay off the full balance as soon as I get home. In fact, the £5 "reward" for spending more than £300 that month has always more than met the interest cost. (Sadly, the £5 reward is being phased out, shortly.)

SpencerO

I was reading about the Interest on cash withdrawals is daily until paid off. If I put my card in Credit, I take it there is no interest? I was thinking about putting £2000 on the card before I go traveling, would this stop Interest???

eskbanker

SpencerO wrote: »

I was reading about the Interest on cash withdrawals is daily until paid off. If I put my card in Credit, I take it there is no interest? I was thinking about putting £2000 on the card before I go traveling, would this stop Interest???

You might wish to consider reading the posts immediately above yours!

63skippy

“
Thanks for your reply esbanker, I too eventually found the condition below :-

7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

This doesn't seem 100% clear to me that pre-loading is against their condition above. The wording specifically states making a transfer from another credit card or store card. I was proposing making a transfer/payment from my current account. Surely the wording would be more encompassing if they were trying to ban all 'in-credit' payments. At worst its a loophole!!

adindas

Well, you could argue or interpret whatever you want. But if you read this forum regularly you could find that there have been few people get their card blocked when they desperately need it abroad... The worst case might happen is they cancel your credit card.

I did it myself in the past for a few hundred £ (not thousands) and did not get trouble with it. If you want to take your chance you try it as well. But to me I will not do that again considering the risk, not worth taking ....

Common sense rule if they openly allow people to be in credit, especially if a few thousands £ involve, the petty criminal could use it for money laundry on regular basis.

63skippy wrote: »

“
Thanks for your reply esbanker, I too eventually found the condition below :-

7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

This doesn't seem 100% clear to me that pre-loading is against their condition above. The wording specifically states making a transfer from another credit card or store card. I was proposing making a transfer/payment from my current account. Surely the wording would be more encompassing if they were trying to ban all 'in-credit' payments. At worst its a loophole!!