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cash at M&S
lisyloo
Posts: 30,113 Forumite
I normally use my Halifax clarity card at the arrival airport to gett cash at 0%.
This time I decided to use my M&S card (preferrential rate) to get cash.
This is partly because the ATM route sometimes fails leaving you with no cash but also because I was travellling to Indonesia which has a high rate of fraud and a fellow traveller did have their card blocked at the ATM.
So I used my M&S card as they give me a preferrential rate. I expected about 4%. Outgoing I was charged 9%.
Incoming (buy back) where I don't get preferrential rate I was charged 12% (compared with the rate on the day google gave me).
Is this normal?
I though M&S would be good especially with the preferrential rate.
I don't like the idea of being stuck with no cash and no even being able to buy a bottle of water.
Is the only solution to take a small amount?
This time I decided to use my M&S card (preferrential rate) to get cash.
This is partly because the ATM route sometimes fails leaving you with no cash but also because I was travellling to Indonesia which has a high rate of fraud and a fellow traveller did have their card blocked at the ATM.
So I used my M&S card as they give me a preferrential rate. I expected about 4%. Outgoing I was charged 9%.
Incoming (buy back) where I don't get preferrential rate I was charged 12% (compared with the rate on the day google gave me).
Is this normal?
I though M&S would be good especially with the preferrential rate.
I don't like the idea of being stuck with no cash and no even being able to buy a bottle of water.
Is the only solution to take a small amount?
0
Comments
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Yes it's normal to get a rip-off rate in the UK for a minor currency. If you're that worried about ATMs not working etc, why not take some GBP which you can change out there if necessary? You'll almost certainly get a much better rate there.0
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Using any supermarket, travel agent or the Post Office for exchanging cash is expensive, 'preferential' or not.
Indonesian ATMs are abundant and reliable, use your Clarity and take a backup such as Starling Bank or Loot.io cards.Evolution, not revolution0 -
I did ask the assistant at the m&s bureau whether it was a minor currency and she said Indonesian rupiah was quite common.0
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Yes it's normal to get a rip-off rate in the UK for a minor currency. If you're that worried about ATMs not working etc, why not take some GBP which you can change out there if necessary? You'll almost certainly get a much better rate there.
I’d prefer not to queue up after a 16 hour flight plus the rest.
It was very busy when we arrived at DPS.
I have had ATMS not work before and I often travel to remote/boutique resorts where there may well not be an ATM.
I. The future I think I’ll take a small amount of cash for water/toilets/tips and then get a cab to the nrearest ATM.
Cheers0 -
Yes but the point is you almost certainly won't have to queue to change cash, because the ATMs will work! Especially if you take several cards - I have 3 cards that are zero fee and another 3 which aren't but which charge far less the 9% M&S charge.I’d prefer not to queue up after a 16 hour flight plus the rest.
It was very busy when we arrived at DPS.
I have had ATMS not work before and I often travel to remote/boutique resorts where there may well not be an ATM.
I. The future I think I’ll take a small amount of cash for water/toilets/tips and then get a cab to the nrearest ATM.
Cheers0 -
Even M&S preferential rate is regularly inferior to other outlets - locally Debenhams beats it anytime I've used it - and you can charge it to a Debenhams credit card at no extra charge.0
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