ATM charges in Prague

sausage_time

I have used 2 ATM machines in Prague, and avoiding DCC have been charged £3-£4 each time. Does anyone know free to use ATMs here?
I took £200 equiv each time, so only 2% or so. But annoying!

worried_jim

Use Monzo, Starling or Revolut bank accounts.

Monzo and Revolut let you take out the £200 equivalent fee free per calendar month, Starling has no limits. You'll get the Mastercard rate on all three and none have any limits on purchases in shops etc.

I mainly use Starling now but I do have the other two as back up.

chattychappy

Strange. I have never been charged a fee in the Czech Republic on Clarity, even at the airport. (It is a year since I was there, and I've only used "bank" ATMs.)

I've used Sberbank, Česka spořitelna and Raiffeisenbank.

Also you can get charge/loading free Czech currency at Moneycorp machines at Gatwick (and perhaps elsewhere).

Which card were you using?

sausage_time

I was using ye olde Sainsbury's Gold Travel MasterCard. At the airport and in town. I don't think the card was the issue, it is because I maliciously declined DCC. I'll look for the operators you mention if I need more, many thanks!

eDicky

chattychappy wrote: »

Also you can get charge/loading free Czech currency at Moneycorp machines at Gatwick (and perhaps elsewhere).

Yes, Stansted.

landsberger64

Was it a EuroNet machine ? They are all over the CR, and further afield. Even without DCC, they charge.

Ben8282

worried_jim wrote: »

Use Monzo, Starling or Revolut bank accounts.

Monzo and Revolut let you take out the £200 equivalent fee free per calendar month, Starling has no limits. You'll get the Mastercard rate on all three and none have any limits on purchases in shops etc.

I mainly use Starling now but I do have the other two as back up.

Not sure how this would help as this appears to be a fee charged by the ATM not Saninsburys..

nickcc

Used my Clarity card in Prague about two months ago and no charge was made.

sausage_time

I checked one of the machines I used, it was indeed EuroNet. Older, wiser. I did not need any more cash, so was not able to try any of the other banks suggested. Thanks for the suggestions though - next time.



Unrelated, does anyone know the contactless limit for purchases in Czech Republic? Despite my best efforts, I was not able to bust it!

born_again

sausage_time wrote: »

Unrelated, does anyone know the contactless limit for purchases in Czech Republic? Despite my best efforts, I was not able to bust it!

Worldwide limits

You sure you were not using google or apple pay? As retailers can set different limts.

sausage_time

born_again wrote: »

Worldwide limits

You sure you were not using google or apple pay? As retailers can set different limts.

Interesting! I had quite a few purchases over the 500 CZK limit, the highest was 1,940.00 CZK (which hit my account at £66.96). This was with the physical card (and not pay app on phone). No PIN, no signature, nothing. But clearly the transactions did go through. I did have one for 710 CKZ which has not arrived (after 6 days) - most of the others showed in pending straight away, and hit the account next day.