Buying Euros from a UK travel agent - can I use my credit card (Amex)?

whalemoney

Hi will there be any charges if I buy some Euros at my local travel agency?  Or is the transaction treated like paying for good and services?

I also have a mastercard I could use if that'd avoid any potential fees I'd get using Amex.

Failing that I have a chase account.  Assuming I'd get cashback on that too?

Many thanks

Ayr_Rage

If you use any CREDIT card to buy currency it will most likely be treated as a cash advance and may incur interest and fees from the date of the transaction, please read your Ts and Cs for each card.

Here's the Chase info, computer says "no"

https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/legal/Cashback-Exclusions/

whalemoney

cheers.  But chase won't charge any fees will they as that's a debit card?

lr1277

M&S say if you use an M&S credit card to buy currency at the M&S bureau, then you won't be charged a fee.

John Lewis say you will get double points if you buy currency at their bureau with the John Lewis credit card, but say nothing about about fees.

Regarding chase there are daily and monthly limits on the amount of cash you can withdraw. Details here:

https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/support/travel-with-chase/

Whilst Chase may not charge fees, the ATM operator may charge a fee but there are limited ways you can get around that. 

The only one I know of is if travelling in Spain, and you have a debit card from Santander, some Santander owned machines don't charge the ATM fee. But I don't know about the FX charge.

Edi81

In 2024 why are you considering buying at a local travel agency?
withdraw the cash using a fee free debit or credit card when you get to your destination. 

eDicky

whalemoney said:

cheers.  But chase won't charge any fees will they as that's a debit card?

Neither will Chase charge anything for paying directly in euros or withdrawing cash euros from an ATM - why do you need the higher cost and hassle of buying cash euros from a travel agent..?

whalemoney

lr1277 said:

Whilst Chase may not charge fees, the ATM operator may charge a fee but there are limited ways you can get around that. 

The only one I know of is if travelling in Spain, and you have a debit card from Santander, some Santander owned machines don't charge the ATM fee. But I don't know about the FX charge.

Thanks but I'm not talking about ATMs so I don't know why the latter two replies are talking about ATM withdrawals

I'm asking what's the best fee free option to buy some Euros at my travel agency in the UK

whalemoney

eDicky said:

whalemoney said:

cheers.  But chase won't charge any fees will they as that's a debit card?

Neither will Chase charge anything for paying directly in euros or withdrawing cash euros from an ATM - why do you need the higher cost and hassle of buying cash euros from a travel agent..?

This isn't answering my question.  I'm not here to be looked down upon by forum users that do that thing of relentlessly demanding explanations.  It is nobody's business why I'm buying from a travel agency.  That's what I'm doing.  Accept it.  If it's really concerning you so much about ATMs, then I really shouldn't have to explain to you that many ATMs abroad often charge withdrawal fees - so it's frankly terrible advice to be lecturing someone to solely rely on there being an ATM abroad.  

eDicky

whalemoney said:

lr1277 said:

Whilst Chase may not charge fees, the ATM operator may charge a fee but there are limited ways you can get around that. 

The only one I know of is if travelling in Spain, and you have a debit card from Santander, some Santander owned machines don't charge the ATM fee. But I don't know about the FX charge.

Thanks but I'm not talking about ATMs so I don't know why the latter two replies are talking about ATM withdrawals.

It's because this is a 'money saving' website and forum, you appear to intend wasting your money buying cash at a travel agent instead of withdrawing it for free from an ATM, hence the advice given.

Emmia

Do you actually need lots of Euros on cash? Most places accept card payments - we're recently back from a holiday in the Eurozone.

In 10 days away we spent less than €20 in cash, and could probably have spent less than that. 

la531983

whalemoney said:

eDicky said:

whalemoney said:

cheers.  But chase won't charge any fees will they as that's a debit card?

Neither will Chase charge anything for paying directly in euros or withdrawing cash euros from an ATM - why do you need the higher cost and hassle of buying cash euros from a travel agent..?

This isn't answering my question.  I'm not here to be looked down upon by forum users that do that thing of relentlessly demanding explanations.  It is nobody's business why I'm buying from a travel agency.  That's what I'm doing.  Accept it.  If it's really concerning you so much about ATMs, then I really shouldn't have to explain to you that many ATMs abroad often charge withdrawal fees - so it's frankly terrible advice to be lecturing someone to solely rely on there being an ATM abroad.  

You will be fine using a Chase card to buy currency in this country, I have done it myself in the last week. No charges. 

And before anyone shouts at me for doing it, I am off to an undeveloped country where the local currency isn't available in the UK, is pegged to the Euro, and card usage is potentially sketchy so I have taken a small quantity of cash to cover my back.