HSBC Debit card abroad

hemophobic

I am going to Amsterdam next week, I never usually pay with cash because I don't like carrying change although I will get some euros.

I am wondering how much it will cost me to use my card. There is a 2.75% non sterling transaction fee, so if I spend £100 I am charged £2.75? What exchange rate do HSBC use?

hemophobic

Oh I checked my statement and it has answered my question, I bought tickets for Anne Frank house so it charged me in Euros.

19E cost me £16.06 (@ 1.1830) + 44p fee.

It doesn't seem too expensive to me?

Voyager2002

hemophobic wrote: »

Oh I checked my statement and it has answered my question, I bought tickets for Anne Frank house so it charged me in Euros.

19E cost me £16.06 (@ 1.1830) + 44p fee.

It doesn't seem too expensive to me?

It all adds up...

Nearly 3 per cent of everything that you spend (hotel, food, transport, drinks, admission fees...) will be enough to notice. And if you withdraw cash there or buy Euro in the UK to take with you the mark-up will be even more.

I am sure that HSBC is very grateful for your custom, although you cannot claim sole responsibility for the jump in their share price!

Infidel

I've got a HSBC debit card too.

When I researched this very same subject a while back it was listed as a 'card from Hell' when using abroad.

As the previous post has pointed out - withdrawing cash (especially small amounts) could get very expensive.

I worked out that withdrawing just £10 could have ended up costing almost £4 in charges when, minimum withdrawal charge, loading fees from both ends and the terrible exchange rate they give were taken into account.

I'm still looking for a viable and cheap alternative to carrying cash around. But so far haven't found one.

pollypenny

Ten years ago it was a good card, with no charges, but the benefits of the account were whittled away and it became expensive.

We switched to Nationwide Flex Plus.

eDicky

Infidel wrote: »

I'm still looking for a viable and cheap alternative to carrying cash around. But so far haven't found one.

In addition to the recommended credit cards etc, the simple solution to avoid fees and less than perfect exchange rates is Revolut:

https://revolut.com