Halifax clarity card in Spain atm

bigfer

Thanks noodledoodleman. I'll give it a go next time.
It is a bit daunting getting cash out of a foreign ATM when you can't see the screen, can't find the English version and have numbers %/euros/£ flashing in front of your eyes.!!!

eDicky

bigfer said:

Thanks noodledoodleman. I'll give it a go next time.
It is a bit daunting getting cash out of a foreign ATM when you can't see the screen, can't find the English version and have numbers %/euros/£ flashing in front of your eyes.!!!

Usually an ATM recognises a card's origin country and displays the appropriate language. Are you having to select it..?

What's the need for so much cash, instead of just paying by Clarity card..?

bigfer

We try to eat/drink in the very small local places. Some do not accept cards. Plus having had the unfortunate incident of getting stopped by the French police on a bogus speeding fine, credit cards do not cut the mustard. So I like to have a hundred for wiggle room.
But thanks for taking an interest in my financial habits.

NoodleDoodleMan

The Barclaycard Rewards credit card is fee free (see caveat) at foreign ATMs - however you need to check if the cash machine imposes a usage fee in addition to the currency transaction. Your own bank has no control over that aspect which has become increasingly more common according to reports.

To avoid fees on the Barclaycard Rewards you must settle the balance in full when the monthly statement falls due for payment.

Doshwaster

Just back from two weeks in Tenerife. Used a mixture of cash, Halifax Clarity and Starling. Smaller bars were cash only. 

Didn't find a fee free ATM anyway. Most were  €3.95 fixed fee so if you need to withdraw cash then do it as little as possible and take out a large enough amount. 

One thing which impressed me on this trip was that nobody tried to pull the Dynamic Currency Conversion trick on me which is usually rampant in tourist areas of Spain. Every time I paid by card they either automatically put it through as Euros or asked  me what I wanted to do.  I suppose in the current times, businesses cannot afford to be annoying customers with shady practices. 

jimjames

bigfer said:

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.

Yes it would.
I've tested out different options and for cash the Santander debit card worked out cheapest.

bigfer said:

We try to eat/drink in the very small local places. Some do not accept cards. 

This trip I didn't find anywhere that didnt accept contactless. Even the small places were pushing towards using card rather than cash so although I took cash I didn't really need much at all

huw01

In Tenerife at the moment and I can confirm that I have used my Santander Mastercard Debit Card to withdraw 70 euros on two occasions from a Santander ATM. I have found there is still quite a reliance on cash in some bars. The transaction is fee free and if you opt for the the euro transaction and not allow it to convert the currency I have been debited with £60.03 for the first transaction and £58.99 for the second, difference owing to the Euro v GBP rate changing in a week.

In Spain if you need cash the UK Santander Debit Card in a Spanish Santander ATM is the only option I have found to avoid the ATM levying an ATM fee. Caixa Bank, Sabadell, Bankia, Cajamar, UniCaja, ING direct all will levy a fee. The only one i have come across that wont are Dutsche Bank ATMs, but they are few and far between.

One other plus of using a Santander ATM for the weary is that the newer Santander ATM's like the ones back home will allow you to tap your card on the contactless pad thus you don't have to put your card in the machine - so no danger of your card being swallowed.

One last bit. I do wish Santander wouldnt ask the dynamic currency conversion question to their own customers. you would have thought they would skip this and just charge in euros without having to be prompted. I have to say it is the clearest wording I have seen to be fair and it is clear, but still - it is their own customers they're trying to ask the question to.

NoodleDoodleMan

"In Spain if you need cash the UK Santander Debit Card in a Spanish Santander ATM is the only option I have found to avoid the ATM levying an ATM fee. Caixa Bank, Sabadell, Bankia, Cajamar, UniCaja, ING direct all will levy a fee. The only one i have come across that wont are Dutsche Bank ATMs, but they are few and far between."

A Santander Zero credit card used at a Santander branded hole in the wall to withdraw currency is also ATM fee free in Spain and the Canaries.

However as a cash advance transaction that incurs interest - this can be quickly minimised to a neglible amount by swiftly paying in funds to the card account to cover the withdrawal. Similar scenario as with the Halifax Clarity credit card.

Unfortunately I believe that specific card is no longer available to new applicants.