Using Virgin Money Debit Card in Shops and Restaurants in the Canaries

TH71

We bank with Virgin Money, which is supposedly one of the best Debit Cards to use abroad with no fees for making purchases, so we are considering using the card whilst over in the Canary Islands later this month.

We should only get charged the ATM fee if we want to make a cash withdrawal and choose local currency on the ATM screen.

However, using the Virgin Money card in shops and restaurants has got me asking a question as never done this before in using our bank debit card abroad, as we have always took cash or a prepaid currency card just to make ATM withdrawals.

Question is to anyone who also uses their own bank debit card abroad.....Any issues and anything we need to be wary of, and what can be expected in say, the Spar shops or Hiperdinos when you use you debit card in them? Do their card machines when paying at the tills automatically select to pay in locally currency (Euro), or do the checkout staff ask what currency you want to pay in? Or do you have to select (if there is the option) on the card machine yourself whether to pay in local or GBP? Same goes for using it in restaurants.

Sorry for rattling on

Thanks

la531983

The Hiperdino over the road from my hotel in GC a few months ago always gave me the choice so make sure you select €

WIll no doubt vary by branch and staff if they just leave you to this or ask you.

daveyjp

Having travelled to many countries and used debit and credit cards the Canaries will be no different to what I have experienced.

Key advice is to check the screen before paying and confirm you are being charged in local currency.  I've found supermarkets are generally too busy to give the option and will just charge in local currency (this may also be down to how the systems are set up).

However shops and restaurants have time to select DCC before presenting the payment device and with contactless its easy to have made payment before you have noticed.  Some may present the device and you have to choose local or DCC, same with ATMs so be wary.

TH71

Thanks for the replys.

Has there ever been any time where the screen on the card reader in these places don't give the option to choose local currency?

Sorry for the questions but as said earlier, we have never used a debit card abroad before

la531983

TH71 said:

Thanks for the replys.

Has there ever been any time where the screen on the card reader in these places don't give the option to choose local currency?

Never, unless someone has been eager and done it before handing you the machine, in which case give it back and ask them to start again.

Someone in a shop knew I was British and was determined to charge me in GBP, thinking he was doing me a favour.

DullGreyGuy

TH71 said:

We bank with Virgin Money, which is supposedly one of the best Debit Cards to use abroad with no fees for making purchases, so we are considering using the card whilst over in the Canary Islands later this month.

We should only get charged the ATM fee if we want to make a cash withdrawal and choose local currency on the ATM screen.

However, using the Virgin Money card in shops and restaurants has got me asking a question as never done this before in using our bank debit card abroad, as we have always took cash or a prepaid currency card just to make ATM withdrawals.

Question is to anyone who also uses their own bank debit card abroad.....Any issues and anything we need to be wary of, and what can be expected in say, the Spar shops or Hiperdinos when you use you debit card in them? Do their card machines when paying at the tills automatically select to pay in locally currency (Euro), or do the checkout staff ask what currency you want to pay in? Or do you have to select (if there is the option) on the card machine yourself whether to pay in local or GBP? Same goes for using it in restaurants.

Sorry for rattling on

Thanks

If you get charged by the ATM is a decision for the ATM operator and generally applies irrespective of which currency is selected, just if you select GBP then you get a fee and a terrible exchange rate. 

The main issue is those that choose to select conversion and you dont spot that it's a GBP figure rather than Euro. Normally the question is triggered after the card is inserted so it depends on their process... card machine on a stand where you self insert then it's almost certain that you get to make the choice. Where the waitress takes the card and inserts it for you they may or may not select dynamic conversion before giving the machine to you for your pin. 

Neil49

la531983 said:

The Hiperdino over the road from my hotel in GC a few months ago always gave me the choice so make sure you select €

WIll no doubt vary by branch and staff if they just leave you to this or ask you.

Exactly the same for me in Tenerife. 

TH71

Thanks for all the replays so far

Just that as we have always used cash on previous trips abroad, we have never seen a card reader screen in any of these shops, bars or restaurants so don't know what to really expect on screen when presented with one to make payment

la531983

TH71 said:

Thanks for all the replays so far

Just that as we have always used cash on previous trips abroad, we have never seen a card reader screen in any of these shops, bars or restaurants so don't know what to really expect on screen when presented with one to make payment

Assuming the card is entered into the machine and its not a Euro card, usually it will say something like 

1 - EUR
2 - [currency the card is in, in this case, GBP]

Press 1 to get the payment screen up in Euros

Nothing too taxing.

Spain is very much contactless, and more than likely the terminal will be in EUR already (as the Euro is the currency there) and you just waft your card.

I think you are worrying too much!

NoodleDoodleMan

As above - you should get 2 options on screen at payment selection - if you only get one and it's not Euros, ask the member of staff/waiter etc. to present the machine with both choices.

I'm pretty sure the Euros (Without Conversion) is the left hand option, with GBP (With Conversion) the right. That may vary of course with the card machine being used - always go for Without Conversion.

As for withdrawing cash at an ATM - fee free machines are few and far between these days in Spain - and from anecdotal reports appear to be getting fewer.

Furthermore I think your Virgin debit card imposes fees at ATMs ? In which case you'd be hit by a "double whammy" transaction.

Best debit card for cash withdrawals in Spain & The Canaries is a Santander UK debit card - used at a fully branded Banco Santander ATM as located at their bank branches - totally fee free.

TH71

Thanks again for the replies...

@NoodleDoodleMan

With a Virgin Money Debit Card you supposed to not get charged a fee for ATM withdrawals abroad, just get charged whatever the ATM provider charges

Using your debit card outside the UK
You can make a debit card payment in a foreign currency
or a cash withdrawal in a foreign currency outside the UK
wherever you see the Mastercard logo.
• If you make a cash withdrawal outside of the UK we will not
charge you. We do not charge you if you use your card to
make purchases.

@la531983

Yeah, I probably am worrying too much, but just need to be prepared for our first visit to the the till in the local Hiperdino when we arrive there