Using Halifax Clarity card for cash abroad

jefaz07

Marchitiello said:

i would highly l recommend an Account like Chase UK and using their forex free , MasterCard almost perfect exchange rates, Debit Card for ATM, especially good in US.

However, as pointed out above, in some countries, it is common to charge non customer for using their ATM, which can rack up quite considerably, so I would always research the situation for each country. Some travels forums have detailed reports and thus you can identify the Bank charging the lowest ATM fee and thus only use them.  However, for Spain, those that qualify for the UK Santander Select, can use their debit card completely free at Santander’s ATM (no forex as well). Other Santander Accounts will also NOT incur an ATM fee but will not benefit for Forex free. This apply also in other countries where Santander operates, however it may be a limited presence (in the USA for example, only in few cities on the East Coast).

Agree with this. I have recently come back from Ibiza. I used my Starling account and paid in local currency. I was charged at 1 ATM but as I was in a hurry I paid (€2) and it was a bank. I then used Santander and it was free. 

NoodleDoodleMan

"Other Santander Accounts will also NOT incur an ATM fee but will not benefit for Forex free."

I believe my Santander Zero credit card does not incur Forex.

Marchitiello

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"Other Santander Accounts will also NOT incur an ATM fee but will not benefit for Forex free."

I believe my Santander Zero credit card does not incur Forex.

I also have Santander Zero and I believe it can be used at Santander ATM fee free, but with the interest issues of such credit cards.

I was however referring to other Bank Accounts vs. Select. 

zagfles

Marchitiello said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"Other Santander Accounts will also NOT incur an ATM fee but will not benefit for Forex free."

I believe my Santander Zero credit card does not incur Forex.

I also have Santander Zero and I believe it can be used at Santander ATM fee free, but with the interest issues of such credit cards.

I was however referring to other Bank Accounts vs. Select. 

According to the terms of my Santander 123 Lite current account, ATM withdrawals from Santander ATMs in Spain are fee free (no forex markup). But I've not tried it yet.

techno12

I have a Clarity and had the fun of trying to find a fee-free ATM in Tenerife last year (the chippy I'd placed an order at was cash only - everywhere else took cards so caught me by surprise).

March Bank was fee free for me, the others I tried were €5-7 so for the €20 I needed of course were not a money saving option. Good old March Bank!

NoodleDoodleMan

Marchitiello said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"Other Santander Accounts will also NOT incur an ATM fee but will not benefit for Forex free."

I believe my Santander Zero credit card does not incur Forex.

I also have Santander Zero and I believe it can be used at Santander ATM fee free, but with the interest issues of such credit cards.

I was however referring to other Bank Accounts vs. Select. 

I took cash from a Santander ATM in Mallorca in May using the Zero credit card, then again in Spain the following month - each amount had been debited to the account by the time we returned to the hotel - and I was able to settle same day by online banking with no interest involved.

For comparison I had also withdrawn the same amount using a Santander current account debit card - the account was debited the exact same amount as the Zero card transactions.

It is easy enough to avoid credit card interest if actioned without undue delay.

cymruchris

Not Clarity - but Barclays rewards credit card - same principle. Just a heads up if your imaginary credit score and credit file is important (i.e. you have a big financial purchase due or a mortgage to apply for) - the CRA's went crazy with my reports recently, as I withdrew Euros in Hamburg on holiday using the Barclays rewards credit card, which was indeed fee-free and interest-free, and settled the same day when I was back at my hotel, however all the CRA's are having forty fits as I withdrew cash on a credit card. My imaginary score went down a few points, and it became one of my 'Things to avoid - things to improve on'.

I know it was the best deal - Barclays know it was the best deal - the CRA's can't seem to handle/recognise a holiday cash withdrawal fee free/fully paid/settled compared to an emergency cash withdrawal to pay the plumber when you have no spare money available in the bank. So if you're going to use a credit card for cash withdrawal - even though you're doing the right thing to make it the cheapest most money saving way of doing it - it'll hit you on the credit files a month or so down the line.

From that perspective, next time I'll put funds in my Chase debit card, and use that instead. 

ikr2

Just been to Spain (Moraira nr Alicante) & unpleasantly surprised that Santander and Bankia wanted a €7 ATM fee to withdraw using a Nationwide Flexplus debit card. I am glad I chose to go with Nationwide's exchange rate though. Santander offered 1.06 but even with the €7 fee I got the equivalent of 1.15 by opting for Nationwide.

A search suggests Deutsche Bank is still free for ATM use. Otherwise I get Euros before I leave next time! 

Most of our spending has been on an Aqua reward credit card, giving 0.25% cashback even on non-sterling transactions. Just got to treat it like a pre-loaded card as the low credit limit quickly gets eaten up by things like car hire. 

NoodleDoodleMan

If you are a regular visitor to Spain and the Canaries the best deal for currency is a Santander Everyday Current Account and use the debit card at Santander branded ATMs - no fees.

I believe Banca Marche is currently also fee free,likewise Deutches Bank.

Better than buying Euros here.