Santander customers caught out by Spanish branch ATMs which DO charge for withdrawals - MSE News 26 July 2019 at 12:58PM in Overseas holidays & travel planning 18 replies 1.9K views

Former_MSE_Callum

Hundreds of ATMs at Santander branches in Spain are charging UK customers with current accounts at the bank to withdraw cash - even though withdrawals are usually fee-free...

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'Santander customers caught out by Spanish branch ATMs which DO charge for withdrawals'

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leylandsunaddict

This is not new. The message about being charged is very clear, so no excuse for being "caught out". People expect the withdrawal to be free so don't read what's on the screen in front of them.

KTF

Always someone elses fault...

NoodleDoodleMan

This is not new. The message about being charged is very clear, so no excuse for being "caught out". People expect the withdrawal to be free so don't read what's on the screen in front of them

My experience last year was exactly as outlined in the MSE article.

It was a Santander branded ATM, there was no warning of any description, and I was charged fees for the transaction on a Santander UK current account debit card - and the account satisfied the condition of the minimum £500 monthly deposit.

Santander UK refunded the fees and despite investigating the case further were unable to offer a reason for the charges.

travellerboy

Don't understand this post -
I was in Tenerife last month and withdrew €300 on two separate occasions from Santander bank in Puerto de Santiago without any charges, had the visa exchange rate with no fees using Santander current account debit card.

ManAtHome

Sounds like at's about re-branded Banco Popular branches which haven't yet been fitted with Santander ATMs. I noticed one on Fuerteventura recently, didn't check it out as the old Santander branch was fairly close (never had any fees in that one).

steve900

For myself I find this a bit strange. When I visit the Costa-Del-Sol there are lots of new Banco Popular automatics being installed at bars and shops. When I use my Halifax Clarity at these they are free. When I visit a Santander ATM, I will get charged EURO5 for using my card.

I got the impression that the branches of Popular were being changed to Santander and also Santander were using the Popular brand on standalone automatics.

If I am being honest, I hope they don't all become Santander branded. There is room for both in the holiday resorts of Spain and I don't "do" five euro.

tece

I recently withdrew money from a Santander ATM in Spain.
I cannot remember word for word what it said but it certainly seemed to direct you to the conversion in GBP which would have incurred a lower rate and I don’t know if there would have been a charge.
I got caught out in a shop and selected GBP on my credit card and just wish they did not do this but we live and learn.

amparson

Be aware that Greek banks now charge a fee when you use the supposedly fee-free Santander zero card at ATMs in Greece. Fees of 2.5 euros and above since 2018

NoodleDoodleMan

Don't understand this post -
I was in Tenerife last month and withdrew €300 on two separate occasions from Santander bank in Puerto de Santiago without any charges, had the visa exchange rate with no fees using Santander current account debit card.

It refers to previous Banco Popular ATMs now rebranded Santander following the latter's takeover.

https://www.santander.com/csgs/Satellite/CFWCSancomQP01/en_GB/Corporate/Press-room/Santander-News/2019/07/15/Santander-successfully-completes-integration-of-Banco-Populars-branches-on-schedule.html

ATMs at established Santander branches will be OK.

Be aware that Greek banks now charge a fee when you use the supposedly fee-free Santander zero card at ATMs in Greece. Fees of 2.5 euros and above since 2018

That'll be down to the Greek banks, Santander UK have no power over what fees (or surcharges) other banks charge.

I'm not sure Santander debit cards were ever previously fee free ?

The same will apply to all other UK debit cards in Greece, unless I'm mistaken ?

Santander debit cards (which meet the qualifying conditions) are only fee free at established Santander ATMs in Spain and the Canaries, nowhere else.

ManAtHome

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

The same [fees charged] will apply to all other UK debit cards in Greece, unless I'm mistaken ?

Haven't been to Greece since 2016, but used the Nationwide debit (until they started charging) then Halifax Clarity (credit card) for many years without fees (obviously interest on the credit card).

I understand that as well as ATM charges, Greece also introduced their accomodation tax in 2018, must be skint or something...