using my hsbc card abroad

TAZ

i'm going a way to spain and was wondering if anyone knew if i could use my hsbc solo card out there to draw money from my account. if i can will i be charged for it

grumbler

AFAIK you cannot use Solo card abroad:

Solo key features
....
Withdraw cash in the UK at any HSBC Bank cash machine.
....

Only if your card has a Maestro logo it can be used abroad:

Can Solo be used abroad?

If you have a Maestro logo on the back of your card, you can use it abroad wherever you see the Maestro sign, just as you would use Solo in the UK – but be aware that in some countries you may be asked to use your PIN as identification (as is now happening in the UK). If you have Maestro and/or Cirrus on your card, you can use it to withdraw cash at machines where these logos are displayed. Contact your bank for details of any charges you might incur when making transactions abroad.

In this case you will be charged 1.50%(min.£1.75)+2.75% for cash withdrawals abroad: Information on tariffs on our current accounts

TAZ

thanks ever so much for the info , i have cirrus on the back of my card so it looks like i can withdraw money, but will get charged for it. am i right in thinking there would be 2 charges the first been 1.5% of the amount and then another that would be 2.75%. so say i withdrew £200(in one go) over there how much would the charges be

Bendybops19

I know this isnt abroad...and i know this isnt a solo card...! But....i was in Ireland and they wouldnt accept my hsbc switch card! Had so much trouble when i came to pay my hotel bill!
Does anyone know why?

grumbler

TAZ wrote:

thanks ever so much for the info , i have cirrus on the back of my card so it looks like i can withdraw money, but will get charged for it. am i right in thinking there would be 2 charges the first been 1.5% of the amount and then another that would be 2.75%. so say i withdrew £200(in one go) over there how much would the charges be

For withdrawals more than £116.70 you pay 1.5%+2.75%=4.25%. £200*4.25%=£8.50

grumbler

Bendybops19 wrote:

I know this isnt abroad...and i know this isnt a solo card...! But....i was in Ireland and they wouldnt accept my hsbc switch card! Had so much trouble when i came to pay my hotel bill!
Does anyone know why?

AFAIK now Switch=Maestro. Even in UK not all retailers accept Switch cards. Maestro is under Mastercard and is not widely accepted for purchases. However, you can use Maestro card wordwide for cash withdrawals from ATMs with Mastercard logo.

Bendybops19

grumbler wrote:

AFAIK now Switch=Maestro. Even in UK not all retailers accept Switch cards. Maestro is under Mastercard and is not widely accepted for purchases. However, you can use Maestro card wordwide for cash withdrawals from ATMs with Mastercard logo.

Aaahh thanks, i did find an ATM and withdraw money in the end, it was just such a pain because it was miles away from the hotel! :rolleyes: