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Do Monzo or Starling work in UAE Dubai

hello everyone. I just wondered if anyone has used Monzo and or Starling cards in Dubai. Are they accepted widely/at all. Any advice. Ive no preference to either but if they work and i can use them and top up via my online bank account it would be very helpful on an upcoming trip. All feedback welcomed.
Thankyou
Jan 18 Joint debts 35,213 - Jan 25 13.4 k
Mortgage Jan 18- 77224 Jan 25- just over 66 k

Debts in my name only £4755

Comments

  • Brilliant. Thats great to hear. Thankyou harperlee
    Jan 18 Joint debts 35,213 - Jan 25 13.4 k
    Mortgage Jan 18- 77224 Jan 25- just over 66 k

    Debts in my name only £4755
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 18,381 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper
    If they have either Visa or Mastercard logo, they will work where ever the retailer takes that form of payment.
    Life in the slow lane
  • Avoid monzo like the plague. Far too many complaints about their terrible practices, taking money what's not theirs and customer service non existant
  • adindas
    adindas Posts: 6,856 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Santanduh wrote: »
    Avoid monzo like the plague. Far too many complaints about their terrible practices, taking money what's not theirs and customer service non existant


    It is hard to believe that the Bank will take the money which are not theirs. If this things happen, you might get compensation as soon you raise a complain.

    Customer Srvices is ok, based on my personal experience.
  • adindas
    adindas Posts: 6,856 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 November 2019 pm30 8:40PM
    "Withdraw up to £200 every 30 days for free. If you've used your free allowance, there's a 3% charge on withdrawals after that."

    https://monzo.com/features/travel/

    Multiple withdrawals are sometimes necessary if you are aiming to get small banknotes or Just want to get a small cash as neccesary to avoid buy back.

    The wording is clear that if you withdraw 4 x EUR50 (say) split within 30 days windows (e.g within £200 limit) there should not be any charge.

    Has anyone got confirmation from Monzo about this or has tried and there is no 3% charge after the first withdrawal ?

    It costs Monzo money every time you withdraw cash abroad. I wonder how the charge is actually calculated. Is it a flat fee per withdwal or based on the percentage of the amount of the cash withdrawn ?
  • IvanDP
    IvanDP Posts: 231 Forumite
    100 Posts Second Anniversary
    adindas wrote: »
    "Withdraw up to £200 every 30 days for free. If you've used your free allowance, there's a 3% charge on withdrawals after that."

    I believe that if you withdraw 4 x EUR50 (say) split within 30 days windows (e.g within £200 limit) there should not not be any charge.

    Has anyone got confirmation fromMonzo about this or have tried and there is no 3% charge after the first withdrawal ?

    It's a rolling 30 day period, so yes you are right :D
  • @adindas.. Hard to believe maybe. Correct, yes.



    They've just closed my account because I made a complaint because they refused to help me with a charge back from what I assume now was a scam website.



    Since my account got closed they have blocked my phone number. Great customer service hey. And before that I could be waiting 6 hours for a generic response on chat. (can't access chat anymore either)



    So yes I am inclined to believe there is truth to the thousands of people complaining about monzo taking their money and refusing to give it back. Not to mention watchdog, BBC radio and multiple newspapers all reporting the same thing.



    I'm glad I took my remaining money out while I could
  • I've used both as well as revolut as i'm a frequent traveller and all have worked fine.
    I prefer the monzo app compared to the others but starling allows daily withdrawals of £300 with no fee thereafter unlike monzo who charge as said below after £200
  • adouas
    adouas Posts: 12 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 20 November 2019 am30 12:36AM
    I never understood what's the deal with Monzo, I don't like them at all. I have Starling for cash withdrawals that are free when I travel, otherwise I just use Lloyds as a normal current account. I don't trust the challenger banks 100%, but they are fine for day to day transactions, Starling > Monzo easily.

    Monzo's advertising is hilarious, you get your salary in your account 1 day before it is paid, like OMG what a big deal. How is that changing my life? It seems it is made for people who are spending all their salary the day before they get it and would rather have it the day before, as in they are targeting naive customers.

    Most of the people I see with Monzo are young uni students or new grads who are easy to advertise to as changing the world (my brother included!)

    Rant over, OP, yes it's fine, between the two Starling is better because it allows withdrawing unlimited cash up to the daily limit without a fee.

    Regarding the limits, 300 GBP is quite low isn't it?
    N26 Euro account has 2500 EUR a day! Anyone know what the GBP N26 account limit is? I couldn't get one, as you are not allowed to have more than 1 N26 account so I just keep the EUR one.
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