DCC and commission Spain

adindas

Reading this thread, it seems it is just a matter of time before most Banks in Spain will charge you for using their ATM, especially if you try to avoid DCC.
What about using Santander Zero or Santander 123 Debit card to withdraw money using Santander Cash Machines, has anyone tried it?

From their general T&C p.19 section 8.4 LINK to T&C

"8.4 Santander cash machine fees when using a Visa debit card or cash in Spain
Withdrawal from a Santander cash machine in Spain using a Visa debit card : Free
Currency conversion for using a Santander cash machine in Spain using a Visa debit card: Free"

Santander Zero and 123 is using Visa conversion rate which in many cases "marginally" lower than Mastercard conversion rate, but
- It is better than paying of about £2-5 for maximum of £300 limit per day.

- Also, you do not need to waste time looking for cash machine which do not charge you. It is just a matter of time before other banks will follow to charge foreign banks for using their ATM. So say today you find one, next time (e.g you r nect trip to Spain) you go there it might not be the case again.

Is using Santander Zero, Santander 123 debit card or either Santander Debit cards in Santander ATM is a better way of withdrawing cash in Spain?

Comments, criticism is welcomed.

virgo17

Having owned a property in Spain for over ten years I can confirm that Spanish banks are much more 'greedy' than their UK equivalents.

We have an account with a major Spanish bank and even withdrawing our cash on their debit card usually attracts some form of fee at a different bank. It's very different to the UK and extremely difficult to find free banking no matter how many thousands of euros you keep in your account.

adindas

virgo17 wrote: »

Having owned a property in Spain for over ten years I can confirm that Spanish banks are much more 'greedy' than their UK equivalents.

We have an account with a major Spanish bank and even withdrawing our cash on their debit card usually attracts some form of fee at a different bank. It's very different to the UK and extremely difficult to find free banking no matter how many thousands of !!!8364;'s you keep in your account.

Greedy and very unethical.
You just need to google it you will find that they try their utmost effort to avoid British people are using their EHIC (European Heath Insurance Card).

If British people are producing EHIC they will try to ask for Travel insurance otherwise you will not be treated. Using the Travel insurance, the cost will go to British Insurance company and it will not burden the Spanish government. This is probably what they have been asked by the Spanish government?

There are a lot of Spanish people in the UK and they are free to use NHS, Greedy and very unethical.

chattychappy

adindas wrote: »

Santander Zero and 123 is using Visa conversion rate which in many cases "marginally" lower than Mastercard conversion rate,

My own Santander Zero (which I've had since the days of Abbey National) is a Mastercard.

(Doesn't affect the gist of the discussion.)

Nebulous2

adindas wrote: »

- Also, you do not need to waste time looking for cash machine which do not charge you. It is just a matter of time before other banks will follow to charge foreign banks for using their ATM. So say today you find one, next time (e.g you r nect trip to Spain) you go there it might not be the case again.

I think everyone should look for cash machines that don't charge. If you move 100 yards and save 5 euros it is worth it. It will also encourage them to discontinue the charge if people simply dont use their machines.

adindas wrote: »

Greedy and very unethical.
You just need to google it you will find that they try their utmost effort to avoid British people are using their EHIC (European Heath Insurance Card).

If British people are producing EHIC they will try to ask for Travel insurance otherwise you will not be treated. Using the Travel insurance, the cost will go to British Insurance company and it will not burden the Spanish government. This is probably what they have been asked by the Spanish government?

There are a lot of Spanish people in the UK and they are free to use NHS, Greedy and very unethical.

I think you misunderstand. There are far, far more UK people in Spain, both staying and on holiday than the other way round.

The agreement in the EU is that we get the same cover as locals with an EHIC. My understanding is that pensioners get it free but working age people need to pay social security or pay for heathcare. As holidaymakers wont be paying Spanish social security they will be charged. I'm fairly sure thats the same in the UK. Spanish holidaymakers wouldn't qualify and would be charged.

adindas

Nebulous2 wrote: »

I think you misunderstand. There are far, far more UK people in Spain, both staying and on holiday than the other way round.

The agreement in the EU is that we get the same cover as locals with an EHIC. My understanding is that pensioners get it free but working age people need to pay social security or pay for heathcare. As holidaymakers wont be paying Spanish social security they will be charged. I'm fairly sure thats the same in the UK. Spanish holidaymakers wouldn't qualify and would be charged.

Any EU national including Spanish Holidaymakers qualify for NHS treatment when traveling in the UK. The UK government is actualy too generous using tax payers money. You might want to google health tourism in the UK where reasonable number are taking adavtange of UK generostiy.

Also here
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/unplanned-healthcare/temporary-stays/index_en.htm

As an EU citizen, if you unexpectedly fall ill during a temporary stay in another EU country - whether on holiday, a business trip or studying abroad - you are entitled to any medical treatment that can't wait until you get home. You have the same rights to health care as people insured in the country you are in.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/free-ehic-card#how
"The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles the holder to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland"

If you google it there already a lot of cases where Uk holiday makers are refused for treatment under EHIC, they always ask for travel insurance.

adindas

chattychappy wrote: »

My own Santander Zero (which I've had since the days of Abbey National) is a Mastercard.

(Doesn't affect the gist of the discussion.)

Well, Santander Zero Creditcard is Mastercard, but Santander Zero Debit card (as a result of having Santander Zero current account) is Visa. At least that is what I am holding now. Zero current account is not available to new customer anymore.

I have not checked it recently but a few months ago I got confirmation that as long as I pay £1000 monthly into my zero-current account, ATM withdrawal is free of charge around the globe.

But based on the T&C link I have provided above, if it is just to be used in Spain in Santander ATM, Santander 123 (or even Santander 123 lite?) it should also be free.

Does anyone have any recent expereince reagarding using their Santader 123 debitcard in Spain in Santander ATM ?

zagfles

We've successfully used the EHIC in Spain to get free treatment a couple of times, no attempt to get us to pay or produce travel insurance. Only thing we had to pay was a prescription charge which IIRC was about 3 euros, much cheaper than a prescription in England.

See the EHIC country guide: https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSpain.aspx

zagfles

adindas wrote: »

This might be after legal action. Start from 2013 they might be more carefull and selctive
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/may/30/spain-ehic-refusal-european-commission

There are a lot of similarr stories like this, if you google it.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187479-i153-k5669424-British_Tourists_denied_use_of_EHIC_health_cards-Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333428/Spanish-government-facing-EU-punishment-countrys-hospitals-refused-accept-European-healthcare-cards-used-millions-UK-tourists.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Spain-investigated-after-hospitals-refuse-EHIC/

etc

IIRC the last time was 2010.

adindas

zagfles wrote: »

IIRC the last time was 2010.

The link I have provided previously is reported after 2010.
In general it is still happen they try denying EU citizen especially British tourist using EHIC, instead they keep asking travel insurance.