A question about : Using a debit card abroad
For several years I've been using debit cards whilst abroad as I often go travelling for three weeks and carrying that much cash isn't always practical. I buy some currency with the intention of using an ATM after a week or so. I know that this mightn't be the cheapest option but I'm happy that the convenience of this arrangement is worth a few quid here or there.
That said, last year I went away in November and used a First Direct card to withdraw around Ј180 of KRW. The following week I used my Santander 1-2-3 account to withdraw Ј120 worth.
First Direct had charges totalling around Ј7.45 whereas Santander charged roughly Ј1.20 (sorry, I can't remember the exact amounts).
I Queried the FD fees and they refunded the whole amount. I am quite sure that the fee was in line with their T&Cs but that's a huge markup by FD. Fair play to them for refunding without question, though.
My point is to be aware of this if you're using ATMs abroad and find out the fees beforehand and if you have several options check which is cheaper.
Best answers:
- Have you seen this: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tra...p-travel-money
- Yes, I'd read that. The preloaded cards such as that offered by Travelex, for example, didn't offer a great exchange rate compared to that offered by the best Bureaux de Change. Additionally, I go to some unusual places and their currencies won't be covered by these cards.
Getting a credit card which doesn't add the loading would be a good idea and I might look into that but, again, I've regularly been to countries where credit cards just aren't accepted so it's not the perfect solution in my case. - This thread probably belongs on here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...play.php?f=193
In most countries you're best off either paying in plastic or getting cash at an ATM (in both cases using one of the recommended cards), although there are a few exceptions. - Its common knowledge to either check the rate of withdrawing cash or arrange a card that has low or zero fees eg the Halifax Clarity card.
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