Foreign Transaction Fee for Euros bought in UK with a Debit card?

Roy1234

Just wanted to check if the sneaky 'foreign transaction' fees that UK banks once used to add to Debit (not Credit) card purchases of Euros, made whilst in the UK (in person/online) at a Bureau de Change, have all stopped now?  Google suggests so, but I can't find anything about it on NatWest's site.  I used to take wads of cash when buying Euros to avoid this, but that's clearly not ideal.

grumbler

Don't take my word for it, but I am pretty sure that if the seller charges your card in £, then there can be no any extra fees.

But then I think it was always the case.

Daliah

It depends on the bank. The likes of Starling and Chase don‘t charge. Others might.

Roy1234

OK, well that's a divergence of opinion.  Any others who might know for sure, e.g. NatWest customers who've recently done this?

Daliah

Roy1234 said:

OK, well that's a divergence of opinion.  Any others who might know for sure, e.g. NatWest customers who've recently done this?

Google is your friend: https://www.natwest.com/life-moments/travel/spending-abroad.html

Neil49

My wife recently bought some Norwegian Kroner from a Tesco bureau de change online using her Lloyds debit card and there was no foreign transaction fee. 

On a personal note I never buy foreign currency in the UK. I wait until I arrive abroad and use my Monzo or Halifax Clarity card to withdraw cash from an atm. 

Daliah

Neil49 said:

My wife recently bought some Norwegian Kroner from a Tesco bureau de change online using her Lloyds debit card and there was no foreign transaction fee. 

On a personal note I never buy foreign currency in the UK. I wait until I arrive abroad and use my Monzo or Halifax Clarity card to withdraw cash from an atm. 

You realise that you will be charged interest from the day of withdrawal for ATM withdrawals with your Halifax Clarity?

Migster

Roy1234 said:

OK, well that's a divergence of opinion.  Any others who might know for sure, e.g. NatWest customers who've recently done this?

These fees were abolished years ago (2012 off the top of my head) when a new law/regulation came in. 

Daliah

Migster said:

Roy1234 said:

OK, well that's a divergence of opinion.  Any others who might know for sure, e.g. NatWest customers who've recently done this?

These fees were abolished years ago (2012 off the top of my head) when a new law/regulation came in. 

Are you saying Natwest have failed to update their website since 2012?

eDicky

Daliah said:

Roy1234 said:

OK, well that's a divergence of opinion.  Any others who might know for sure, e.g. NatWest customers who've recently done this?

Google is your friend: https://www.natwest.com/life-moments/travel/spending-abroad.html

Using a debit card in UK for purchases in GBP is not 'spending abroad', no matter what you are buying.

jackieblack

Daliah said:

Neil49 said:

My wife recently bought some Norwegian Kroner from a Tesco bureau de change online using her Lloyds debit card and there was no foreign transaction fee. 

On a personal note I never buy foreign currency in the UK. I wait until I arrive abroad and use my Monzo or Halifax Clarity card to withdraw cash from an atm. 

You realise that you will be charged interest from the day of withdrawal for ATM withdrawals with your Halifax Clarity?

Covered about a million times on these boards over the years - short version is that the improved exchange rate received mitigates the small cost of interest, especially if a transfer is made (simple using online banking) as soon as the transaction hits the account.