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

NoodleDoodleMan

"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."

Only fully branded Banco Santander ATMs as located at their branches are reliable for fee free Santander UK debit card currency withdrawals.

From what I was eventually able to determine - standalone ATMs which bear the distinctive Santander logo are operated by the Euro Automatic Cash network and are only fee free to domestic clients of Banco Santander.

The result of a negotiated agreement following BS taking over the failing Banco Popular back in 2017 for a nominal €1.

The original plan was for BS to acquire the BP ATM network and integrate them  - however that has not transpired as intended apparently.

If you check the BS website for ATM locations they list branches and these EAC machines, so I would ignore the latter and go visit a branch - unless you have a BS current account - and they are not available to non resident Brits AFAIK.

TadleyBaggie

whalemoney said:

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.  

It isn't terrible advice, I will guarantee that using a fee-free card (such as Chase, Starling) in an ATM will get more Euro's than any travel agent based in the UK. Even if the ATM owner charges a couple of Euros per transaction. 

NoodleDoodleMan

I believe Santander in Spain charges €8 per transaction for cash withdrawals using a non Santander debit card at their ATMs.

Euronet machines are also best avoided I hear - due to their FX rate plus withdrawal fee.

TadleyBaggie

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Euronet machines are also best avoided I hear - due to their FX rate plus withdrawal fee.

You should never ever let the ATM do the FX, they are all very poor rates. Always decline FX conversion.

Bonhomie

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.  

If it's "nobody's business" than perhaps it's best that you don't involve anyone else but yourself.
No one here should involve themselves in your business. I suggest that they all move on to other threads forthwith.

Bonhomie

la531983 said:

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. 

But did you buy from a travel agency? 
OP is just rude. You provided an explanation which would make most people on here comfortable with continuing to assist you.
Cannot say the same for the OP. Not much different to asking someone to help with carrying a heavy suitcase but refusing to tell what is inside when asked.  No one wants to be an accessory...
He can ask AMEX if he wants to know. No need to come here demanding answers.

eDicky

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 already had your question answered. I asked you a simple question because many people still think buying cash euros in UK is necessary, including those who may arrive at this thread from a Google search of a similar question to yours.

You could give a simple answer about having actual need for cash euros in UK, or Turkey, or wherever, without even being specific. Nobody is relentlessly demanding explanations, lecturing or looking down on you.

The advice I gave as information to you and potentially others is far from terrible, because the fact is that buying cash euros from a supermarket, travel agent or Post Office is generally the worst option, even taking into account possible ATM charges with foreign card use.

NoodleDoodleMan

TadleyBaggie said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Euronet machines are also best avoided I hear - due to their FX rate plus withdrawal fee.

You should never ever let the ATM do the FX, they are all very poor rates. Always decline FX conversion.

I meant the exchange rate the ATM offers, even using a "user friendly" debit card and without conversion the Euronet network is reportedly about the worst deal going.

I've never used one for that reason.

la531983

Bonhomie said:

la531983 said:

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. 

But did you buy from a travel agency? 
OP is just rude. You provided an explanation which would make most people on here comfortable with continuing to assist you.
Cannot say the same for the OP. Not much different to asking someone to help with carrying a heavy suitcase but refusing to tell what is inside when asked.  No one wants to be an accessory...
He can ask AMEX if he wants to know. No need to come here demanding answers.

No, I did it at Sainsburys as a pre-order with a Nectar card "discount" and got 1.158 I think, instead of 1.18 (which may not be the rate when I go abroad anyway).

For the sake of a few quid (I only got €330) I have a backup plan, if I dont spend them there they will be spent on future trips, its no biggie.   Pretty sure the staff and whatnot wont accept tips on a debit card

whalemoney

eDicky said:

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.

It'll cost me £2 more if I buy the Euros here rather than over there.  An ATM machine in Greece that charges me for a withdrawal will charge £2 or more.