ATM fees in Spain

jimbo6977

Speaking to expats in Murcia area, it seems the inter-connectedness of the Spanish ATM network is falling apart in a similar way to how Link is coming under pressure in the UK. Hence the bizarre new freestanding ATMs growing like topsy on street corners etc.

spanishtraveller

I have a sainsburys travel card (you load it up online or by telephone, very simple and good rates) Its definitely free for me to use it at Caixa and Banco Popular Telebanco, in the South of Spain.

CEON44

I have just returned from Majorca. Before going I got good advise on here and got myself a Starling card. Someone, cant find the thread now, posted a list of banks that charge/dont charge. Before flying I did a search on google maps for location of banks which according to the list didnt charge. On my first night I needed some cash and was on my way to a "free" bank. I was in Cala Dor and I realised there were loads of stand alone ATM kiosks. In a moment of weakness I decided to do the wrong thing and use one of these kiosks and then lift money the right way at a good bank, just to see the difference. So I went to a machine called CashZone. I asked to lift 100Euro. I was told that there was a charge of 2.50 Euro. Ok fair enough. Then when given the option to do the deal in Euro or home currency and let the machine owner do the conversion. With gritted teeth I went for the latter. So including the 2.50 charge my 100Euro cost me an eye watering £105.65. I immediately went to a known free bank, BancaMarch. I again lifted 100Euro. This time no charge. I also opted for Euro transaction so I would get best rate. This transaction cost me £90.45. So basically 2 transactions, just 5 minutes apart, had a £15.20 difference. So it shows the need to do the homework. £15.20 difference is scandalous and I was amazed the number of people drawing out cash from the bad banks over the 10 days I was there.

jaybeetoo

Caxia charged me €2 to withdraw cash with Clarity in Lanzarote.

YorkshireBoy

jaybeetoo wrote: »

Caxia charged me €2 to withdraw cash with Clarity in Lanzarote.

Use Banka March in future. Still fee free in the Canaries (as of this week)...and probably mainland Spain too?

NoodleDoodleMan

I have just returned from Majorca. Before going I got good advise on here and got myself a Starling card. Someone, cant find the thread now, posted a list of banks that charge/dont charge. Before flying I did a search on google maps for location of banks which according to the list didnt charge

Punters who regularly go to Spain (including the Balearics) and/or the Canaries would be well advised to consider an "adult" Santander current acount and pay in the minimum £500 monthly required under the Ts&Cs to enjoy fee free currency transactions at Santander branded ATMs in these locations.

Their Everyday Current Account is ideal, as no outgoing Direct Debits are needed to operate this account.

It can be used as a regular day to day current account in the UK with DDs - doesn't need to be holiday only.

adindas

HoofeHearted wrote: »

Video warnings about using Euronet ATMs.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2104596089578144
https://youtu.be/C1RhOOqdPdk

[FONT=&quot]They will put a lot of traps and use every single legal way to rip people off.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Avoid this cash machines if you have another option especially if you are in a hurry and do not have much time to read every single instruction shown on ATM.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I fully agree that using the debit card for Santander qualifying accounts to be used in Santander cash machines is the best way of withdrawing cash in Spain.[/FONT]

jaybeetoo

Beware of contactless payments. I had one where it automatically defaulted to Euros and another where it came up with the trick questions designed to let them do the currency conversions.

It’s about time the EU regulated this (it’s like the Wild West out there) as they seem to crack down on other financial abuse. Maybe it’s a ruse to get everyone to join the Euro?!

adindas

jaybeetoo wrote: »

Beware of contactless payments. I had one where it automatically defaulted to Euros and another where it came up with the trick questions designed to let them do the currency conversions.

It’s about time the EU regulated this (it’s like the Wild West out there) as they seem to crack down on other financial abuse. Maybe it’s a ruse to get everyone to join the Euro?!

What do you mean with defaulted to euro ? Is you transaction is in euro ?? If so, what is the problem with that ?.

If the transaction is in euro (not converted to sterling), it will mean the your CC/DC will do the conversion. That is what you really want if you pay with specialist credit/ debit card to get the good exchange rate.

melb

i withdrew 30 euros yesterday using my Halifax clarity card at Unicaja in Torremolinos and was charged £25.65 so no charges.

This was choosing "non-conversion".