Halifax clarity card in Spain atm

bigfer

Used my Halifax clarity credit card in a Santander ATM in Spain to withdraw 100euros. Was charged 7euros to do this. Is this always charged or do other banks charge different amounts?
Never used the card to with draw cash before, seems a bit steep, I thought this was the MSE preferred option of obtaining euros. T ia

bigfer

Sorry, looks like I should have posted this in the currency sub section

heatherw_01

bigfer said:

Sorry, looks like I should have posted this in the currency sub section

No worries, I moved it over for you 

The 7 euros, was it a machine fee? You still pay machine fees.

bigfer

Thanks. I guess it must have been, just seemed a bit steep. I could have cancelled transaction, but needed the cash.

heatherw_01

bigfer said:

Thanks. I guess it must have been, just seemed a bit steep. I could have cancelled transaction, but needed the cash.

Did a search and does seem like it is 7 euros for Santander ATMs

This was on a different site, although it is what a user posted from their experience in Spain:

1. Santander ATM ask: 7 EURO
2. Euro Automatic Cash ATM ask: 5 EURO
3. Euronet worldwide ATM ask: 3.95 EURO
4. Sabadell ATM as: zero EURO

bagand96

It was a machine fee by the bank operating the machines. It's outside of Halifax or MasterCard's control. 

Yes €7 is steep.  But Spain has become increasingly hard to find machines that don't charge. I guess it's become good business for the banks who operate the machines as so many tourists have moved to bank cards rather than getting cash before they go. 

bigfer

i have some time on my hands in Spain over the next few days, so i shall try out some of these banks and report back.
I bank with Santander in the UK too.....think i'll be looking at a switch.....take hate to the grave......

OnlyTheBestWillDo

Why did you not use your Santander card in the Santander ATM? No charge that way.

bigfer

I was going to, but the recent posts below from noodledoodleman initiallu indicated I would be charged.
Would using my Santander UK mastercsrd debit card in a Santander ATM be cheaper than the Halifax Clarity card for cash withdrawal? Yes or No.

NoodleDoodleMan

I simply questioned the scenario for using a Santander Mastercard debit card at one of their ATMs in Spain.

Westin

bigfer said:

i have some time on my hands in Spain over the next few days, so i shall try out some of these banks and report back.
I bank with Santander in the UK too.....think i'll be looking at a switch.....take hate to the grave......

That would be good if you don’t mind. I think an MSE article on where to get the best withdrawals from in Spain would be very helpful judging by the number of questions recently on the subject.