BS: accessing ATM machines

Subject: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 11:19 AM

Will be going away to Europe in a couple of weeks. Has anyone had any issues with ATM machines in foreign countries specifically in withdrawing cash from their 'home' bank (using their bank debit card).

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 11:33 AM

Check with your Card Issuer what they will charge you for using the card outside USA Bill ! It CAN be expensive !

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 11:38 AM

None at all from a UK viewpoint - used 'em in the States (DC, NY, Florida), Spain, Portugal, and even, ahem, France. The pesky petrol pump readers in France don't like UK cards much though. Also, the ATMs in Spain are sometimes inside the bank door, and swiping the card won't always open the door!

We've always taken an emergency float of travellers cheques as occasionally in-store card readers don't like UK cards, again especially in France.

Be warned that the system (as always)takes its cut - if you're sensitive to exchange rates, don't look at your bank statement too carefully. The convenience outweighs this though IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 11:41 AM

To balance that, I find I usually get a better exchange rate from my bank, than I would changing my money in a foreign Bureau de Change.

JM

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: artbrooks
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 12:09 PM

I used mine in Ireland several years ago. There was no additional charge (my bank doesn't charge for the use of someone else's ATM machine anyway), and the exchange rate was right at the "official" rate.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 12:26 PM

I heard the bank can really wollop the charges for conversions.

It might be better if I open an account in Euros at my home bank.

Interesting point about the banks in Spain Edthefolkie ... the countries we'll be visiting are Germany, Portugal and Spain.

thanks guys for the input.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:14 PM

Get a debit card in Euros before you go.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Micca
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:16 PM

On My recent trip to the USA I used my ATM Debit card with no problrms as I have for many trips there recently, just in one or 2 places Point of Sale machines balked at it a little. Similarly I have used it in several parts of Europe and found the exchange rate in both cases was as it should be. I was advised by my bank several years ago to let them know (by their telephone banking system) the dates I would be abroad and roughly what countries I would be visiting and they then put an alert on my account so that when verification was asked for it didnt show as far enough "off base" to possibly be stolen!!! They sometimes contact me by phone if I am out of London and use it to verify it is really me using it!!!

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:18 PM

Micca ... Very good point about informing the bank of when we will be abroad

thanks,
biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:20 PM

Rapaire .... heard some negative points about Debit cards ... especially with the pin numbers ... they are usually longer than 4 digits ... 4 digit pins (again from what I heard) are the banking standards in Europe.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:40 PM

One important thing.........CHECK the machine carefully. Over here the scammers have made some really good scamming fronts for them. They fit them to machines anywhere, just because you are using a bank one it doesn't mean it's safe or one in the countryside either.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: open mike
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 01:49 PM

I have used atm in Sweden and found it quite easy...
and exchange rate was automatic...

i think that un-named guests cannot start a thread..

esp. "up top", but it appears as if they can post--

we shall see....

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: maeve
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 02:20 PM

Have a wonderful trip, biLL.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 03:05 PM

Thanks Maeve ... we're really looking forward to this trip.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 06:42 PM

Is it snarky to comment on Automatic Teller Machine machines? Or Personal Identification Number numbers? lol

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 07:04 PM

???

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:44 PM

Rick Steves, who has probably more experience traveling in Europe than anyone, has this to say:

Use ATMs rather than travelers checks. You'll get your cash cheaper and faster. While ATMs give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees. Minimize these by making fewer and larger withdrawals. Changing $400 at once rather than $200 twice cuts your bank fees by 50%. The downside: you'll be walking around with more cash — store it safely in your money belt. Another fee-cutting rule of thumb: use your debit card exclusively for ATM withdrawals and your credit card for purchases — not the opposite.

From://www.ricksteves.com/news/tribune/takeitback.htm

Lots more useful info here.

Enjoy your trip!

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:46 PM

thanks michaelr .... that's good info.


biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:49 PM

Ebbie, you beat me. But that's fine. Now someone other than me will be picked on for pedantry.

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:55 PM

???

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:56 PM

Peter - and bILL - I don't think it's a great character flaw but it does strike me as very funny how glibly we assimilate jargon. :) Practically everyone does it- I regularly am told by someone to "enter your pin number" and I've given up looking - and feeling - askance at them.

But it is funny, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:57 PM

I have a Bank of America ATM card, and I've never had a problem using it in Europe. Barclay's and certain other banks have no-fee agreements with BofA, which is nice.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: number 6
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 10:08 PM

Ok I got ya now Ebbie (thick as a brick I am) .... good one!

The last time I was over there (1997, Ireland) very few ATM's could be used ... so it was the credit card and traveller's cheques that were used.

Seems to me traveller's cheques are now not easily accepted.

Great info from you guys .... much appreciated

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 10:44 PM

*grin*, bILL.

"Seems to me traveller's cheques are now not easily accepted." Number 6

I come from an era of when 'travellers cheques' were accepted everywhere- after all, you knew they were paid for, right?

Imagine my surprise some years back when a Dairy Queen in Oregon, the go-to place for some of us, informed me that TAs were not accepted by them. I was quite miffed. So I no longer buy them when I'm travelling, relying instead solely on ATMs

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Tangledwood
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 05:15 AM

I would recommend taking more than one method of getting funds, whether it's card plus travellers cheques or cards from different finance companies.
A number of years ago, before cards were in widespread use, I got caught out when the whole of Bali would not accept the brand of cheque I carried, apparently due to very slow payment from that company.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: nickp
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 06:02 AM

I use my UK debit card (and credit card) regularly in the US and have done with no problems in western Europe. I have a PIN (4 digit for both - different number though!) and in most places thats fine. Some places use the electronic signature pad (Walmarts/Target) and some still use paper vouchers.

If your card is marked Cirrus/Maestro/Visa it should be fine, certainly in the UK if that is one of your destinations. There is sometimes a small charge to use the ATM and almost always a conversion charge so I tend to get larger sums out rather than smaller (200 dollars rather than 4 separate lots of 50).

I make sure I have a small amount of local cash (talking dollars or euros here, I've never needed different) with me for coffees, taxis, etc. before I go although there are usually ATMS at airports.

I agree with warning your bank that you are going elsewhere.

Watch for those skimming machines too or (as happened to me) being somewhere and being told that a particular card reader attached to a till didn't work so coulds I use the handheld one... Much to be said for an "on the ball" fraud section of my bank who must have been tipped off - they phoned me the following morning to check!

As you would in any slightly dubious/crowded place, watch for pickpockets - keep that money/card wallet VERY secure. Make sure you have the helpline numbers for your card supplier somewhere separate and easily accessible. Recently in Madrid (notorious) I escaped an attempt on my bum bag (fanny pack for US readers) but only because I felt a slight tug at it. It had no money in it anyway (in a pocket in some too tight jeans which would have needed cutting off me!) but did have my passport. Could have been awkward. On that subject they recommend keeping a photocopy of the passport details page both at home and with you 'in a different place'. I may yet scan mine and email it to my hotmail account so I can get it anywhere I can be online.

I ramble... hope that is of use.

Have a great trip

Nick

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 07:44 PM

The only trouble I've had was on the Moselle Valley where nobody seemed to take VISA, only Mastercard (which I didn't have then), so I had to rely on getting cash out of ATMs which seemed always to be up dark alleys.

Subject: RE: BS: accessing ATM machines
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 08:47 PM

Errrrrr-

Sometimes it's advisable to inform your bank that you will be traveling out of the country, or you my find your ATM or credit card useless.

And then sometimes ATM's are still not functional in some parts of the world, such as in Ethiopia.

The other point is that you might as well ask for the maximum amount at a foreign ATM/cash point machine because usually there is a flat rate for every transaction.

Happy trails!

Charley Noble