Withdrawing money abroad

Irishorangutan

I'm fairly sure this will have been posted - i've had a quick look around and can't see, but shoot me as i know this will already be mentioned.

I'm heading over to Spain shortly, and am going to open the nationwide flexi account so as I can put money in and withdraw for FREE abroad. Apparantly, it's the only high street building society/bank to do this.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I've been told that it's great, and perfect for trips away - and of course safe as it's in the account.

GlennTheBaker

Spot on, mate. I've opened a FlexAccount for the same reason.

Irishorangutan

I'm on the right track then!! that's a relief! seems really good!

MoodyGit

We've just come back from france and used a felxaccount for the same reason.

I thought that the exchange rate might be poorer to make up for it but no, it looks the same as for other banks!

I won't know for sure untill I get the next bank statement.

I transfered £500 from my normal account beforehand and had no trouble using the card in the supermarkets.

Doesn't work in the 24 hour petrol stations though (where you have to actually insert the card into the pump) - but I think that applies to all UK cards

grumbler

Irishorangutan wrote:

Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I've been told that it's great, and perfect for trips away - and of course safe as it's in the account.

Nothing can be better for withdrawing cash. However, be careful with card purchases - especially in Spain:

Something interesting on nationwide.co.uk

Irishorangutan

thanks for all this info, i'm only using it to withdraw cash abroad, so it all seems very very good! Can't wait, and the nationwide seem decent enough!!
thanks for the info guys!

I asked about the exchange rate, and they said it was actually better than the commercial rate believe it or not, and they said i can keep track online - so i'm really really chuffed!! (i did suggest that the exchange rate might be where they make up the money, and the girl said that she even thought that at first, but it's not the case, and it's an excellent rate)

IRishorangutan!!

amc1

I just used mine in Menorca last week (just to try it). I withdrew 70 euros at a cost of 47.50 which turns out to be a cracking exchange rate. I'm going to the US next year and am thinking of taking it there. Personally, still not sure I could bring myself to totally rely on it though - think I'd be worried about declines from ATMs.....

pin

amc1 wrote:

I just used mine in Menorca last week (just to try it). I withdrew 70 euros at a cost of 47.50 which turns out to be a cracking exchange rate. I'm going to the US next year and am thinking of taking it there. Personally, still not sure I could bring myself to totally rely on it though - think I'd be worried about declines from ATMs.....

Used both Nationwide CC and debit card in the US without any problems on several occasions, so I wouldn't worry about it.

MoodyGit

I just received my Nationwide statement listing my purchases in France.
The exchange rate was 1.475 or 1.478 so the 78 bottles of wine I bought were even cheaper than I first thought! :beer:

markmat

amc1 wrote:

Personally, still not sure I could bring myself to totally rely on it though - think I'd be worried about declines from ATMs.....

Why It's no different to any other card with a Visa symbol on it.

The only time I've ever had a problem was in Canada about 4 years ago. The machine I was trying to use was one of the free-standing fee-charging types you'd see in newsagents here. It didn't even have a Visa or MAstercard symbol on it, so I think it was probably only linked up to one bank.

markmat

I think 'Spending and Withdrawing Money Abroad' needs to be a sticky