Credit Card Withdrawals - Greece

KevinB0281

Hello all, hope this topic is in the right place.

I have been using my Halifax Clarity Credit Card for overseas withdrawals for years now with no problem; following the instructions at the ATM to ensure not to take the ATM conversation rate and paying the transaction off immediately via online banking to ensure minimal (no) charge.

However, we are just back from Greece - the island of Rhodes to be exact - and every ATM we visited (7 - 5 of which were non-bank ATM's and 2 which were bank ATM's) we were either informed there would be a transaction charge immediately (the non-bank ATM's) or there would be a transaction charge for withdrawals made after mid-July (the bank ATM's).

So, unless you're prepared to pay a fee - 2.5% to 3% depending on the ATM - it looks as though credit cash withdrawals, especially in Greece, isn't going to be the most economical way of getting your Euros in the near future.

I can't remember the exact date on the bank ATM's when the fee would come in to force - 12th or 22nd July both ring a bell. To be honest, I was relieved the date wasn't whilst we were on our holidays, I didn't take as much notice as a I should have!

Has anyone else experienced this anywhere else in the world? I'd hate to have to draw money out abroad with a no-fee credit card, only for the ATM to charge me a fee!

:money:

[Deleted User]

It's very common. The USA and Spain generally charge fees.

A Forex free card is still one of the best methods though.

Candyapple

KevinB0281 wrote: »

Has anyone else experienced this anywhere else in the world? I'd hate to have to draw money out abroad with a no-fee credit card, only for the ATM to charge me a fee!

New York.

It's also why I usually take out cash for free via the Moneycorp ATMs over here from the airport before flying out (dollars / euros) to save this exact hassle.

lisyloo

I have experienced this is US and Thailand but usually it was a small fixed amount of a few quid.
Because of this I took out fewer larger withdrawals than i would have otherwise.

KevinB0281

Thanks both. Haven't experienced this in either Spain or the US previously - perhaps I just got lucky!

Will definitely review options in advance of travelling again in future.

MisterBaxter

In the US I found that different banks had different approached and that this also varied from state to state so you had to shop around a bit but was usually able to find one that didn't charge.

I visit Lanzarote most years and ATM withdrawals used to be free but fees came in around 2 years ago I think. They vary quite a bit, the local Santander was very expensive unless you were using a Santander card but the Telebanco and CaixaBank machines were cheaper if you used them at the bank rather than a freestanding machine in the supermarket.

NoodleDoodleMan

I visit Lanzarote most years and ATM withdrawals used to be free but fees came in around 2 years ago I think. They vary quite a bit, the local Santander was very expensive unless you were using a Santander card but the Telebanco and CaixaBank machines were cheaper if you used them at the bank rather than a freestanding machine in the supermarket

Anybody who regularly visits Spain (including the Balearics) and/or the Canary Islands should consider a Santander Everyday current account for a debit card to access fee free cash withdrawals at Santander branded ATMs - single or joint as appropriate.

There is one obligatory condition - you must credit at least £500 monthly, and internal transfers are not recognised as such a qualifying source.

The £500 can be transferred out as soon as it is registered as having been credited.

All Santander adult current accounts can be used for this hole in the wall purpose, however the Everyday has no requirement for Direct Debits which makes it ideal for Spain etc.

labp04

You sure it was % and not euros? I think it's euros

KevinB0281

Yeah, definitely % as if it was 2.5/3€ I'd have just drawn out all our money at once, rather than walking around Rhodes Old Town in 32 degrees for best part of an hour trying different ATM's for the sake of a few €'s! :rotfl:

YorkshireBoy

KevinB0281 wrote: »

Yeah, definitely % as if it was 2.5/3€ I'd have just drawn out all our money at once, rather than walking around Rhodes Old Town in 32 degrees for best part of an hour trying different ATM's for the sake of a few €'s! :rotfl:

I'm in Rhodes at the moment and Piraeus Bank has a fixed 3 euro fee. I've yet to see what Alpha charge.

EveryWhere

lisyloo wrote: »

I have experienced this is US and Thailand but usually it was a small fixed amount of a few quid.
Because of this I took out fewer larger withdrawals than i would have otherwise.

£5.64(220 baht) is a "small fixed amount" to you? Clearly not, as then you would not have taken out larger withdrawals than normally.

That is 5.64% on a £100 withdrawal. 2.82% on a £200 or nearly 1.9% on a £300 withdrawal.