Best way of taking money abroad
- Thread starter moomoo
- Start date
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
moomoo said:
NEVER rely on just a card.
My first year abroad, I completely forgot my cashpoint number. Luckily I'd left it with my sister so was able to ring her up the next morning.
TWICE in Malaysia, I've had problems using my Nationwide cashpoint card. Nationwide has said there's nothing wrong with their machines. The banks in Malaysia have said there's nothing wrong. Luckily I've always taken over my card, cash and TQs as an emergency
Obviously you can always go into a bank and get money but considering I bought a back-up card when I went to Thailand, and it got nicked....
pseudonarcissus
fluttering and dancing
I've never had problems with my cashpoint card. In some places you have to try a load of different machines to find one that will give you cash. (I need to have a machine with a mastercard symbol and a plus symbol, then I have a chance). In Brazil some machines in the same branch will work and some won't. Generally the machines in the airport when you arrive or in the tourist areas are the best bet.
I also have a credit card with a low limit ($500) so if I go out I will take as much cash as I need, and the cc for emergencies, restaurants etc. Then if I get mugged or the card gets cloned I only loose $500 max....not have the contents of my current account removed.
I also have a credit card with a low limit ($500) so if I go out I will take as much cash as I need, and the cc for emergencies, restaurants etc. Then if I get mugged or the card gets cloned I only loose $500 max....not have the contents of my current account removed.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
lenny101 said:
Yes, but please read my previous post. The last time WAS NOT the first time it had happened.
In fact, last year, not only did my card refuse to work, but so did my b/f's and they were BOTH Nationwide debit cards
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
moomoo said:
Your debit card plus some travellers cheques.
geminisnake
a complex mass of conflicting ideas
lenny101 said:
Yep, my bank being one of them
I complained when I realised they had taken nearly £9 coz I needed less than £200 Got a refund 
Never using the bloody thing abroad again. My credit card is a better rate(ie not much at all)
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
lenny101 said:
It really is hit and miss. I think there's sometimes problems with the UK and Malaysian computers "speaking to each other" but it still is worth getting a Nationwide account anyway as it's free to use cashpoints, but I'd ALWAYS still have a back-up as it's not the first time it's happened
butterfly child
Well-Known Member
Apparently, in todays paper there was an article about the Nationwide and their "no charge for taking cash out abroad" claim...
My husband saw the article, not me, and he said he can't remember it exactly, but it was a "things aren't always what they seem" type of thing.
We take cash. I have taken money from ATM's before, can't say I really noticed the charges.
My husband saw the article, not me, and he said he can't remember it exactly, but it was a "things aren't always what they seem" type of thing.
We take cash. I have taken money from ATM's before, can't say I really noticed the charges.
gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
I just take my debit and credit cards. If I happen to have any (euros or yen) I'll take those too. I try to make sure I have more than one card/pin number available. But obviously this depends on where you're going and availability of withdrawal when you get there.
I do also call the bank beforehand to let them know as they seem to be in the habit of closing it all down when they get unusual transactions from overseas.
I do also call the bank beforehand to let them know as they seem to be in the habit of closing it all down when they get unusual transactions from overseas.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
pseudonarcissus said:
sorry, repeating myself
Fullyplumped
in a personal capacity
Could your husband remember which paper?butterfly child said:
TAKE POUNDS, DO NOT BUY FOREIGN CURRENCY IN BRITAIN!!
Shouting over now. Sorry, but quite commonly you will get up to 10% better exchange rate abroad, with no charge. Well, i guess that doesn't include other western countries.
Those british banks make a fucking pilfering fortune out of currency exchange.
oanda.com will give you a true guide to current exchange rates. Check it out there, then go down the high street to find the british rate. It's often wildly different!!
Shouting over now. Sorry, but quite commonly you will get up to 10% better exchange rate abroad, with no charge. Well, i guess that doesn't include other western countries.
Those british banks make a fucking pilfering fortune out of currency exchange.
oanda.com will give you a true guide to current exchange rates. Check it out there, then go down the high street to find the british rate. It's often wildly different!!
May Kasahara
take me to the feeling
gaijingirl said:
This is a good point and worth repeating - I've had my card blocked before when I've not notified the bank, and it's a real fucking pain in the arse (attributable to me, obviously, I'd be glad of them doing it if my card had been nicked/cloned).
If you're taking cash, get it changed at M&S or the Post Office as they don't charge commission
Dirty Martini
gets what he cant want
butterfly child said:
I' be interested in reading the article. I guess it might be that the exchange rate on cash withdrawals isn't the best, but it still works out far cheaper. I opened a Nationwide account solely for getting cash out abroad, I've saved quite a bit of cash.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
fela fan said:
But the Post Office does it for free
Minnie_the_Minx said:But the Post Office does it for free
I never knew that!
But minnie, let's do a test. Go down there and tell us the rate for buying baht from pounds.
Tell me the day you do this, and i will tell you the same exact exchange rate as offered here in chiang mai. I guarantee it will be 5-10% better!
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
fela fan said:
Nah, I believe you!
And it's only maybe in the last year or two that they've been doing commission free exchange
Maybe they just give you a shittier rate to balance them giving it free
There was a piece on Working Lunch about holiday money and credit card charges etc. Nationwide seems to be the best and cheapest.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/6917998.stm
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/6917998.stm
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
lenny101 said:
I already use them anyway
blossie33
trailer trash
I have never used any sort of card abroad (only have a debit one anyway) I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of trying to find a machine that accepted it and I would be afraid it would swallow it up anyway!
I just buy euros at the Post Office and if I was going further afield I would get some travellers cheques - used to be best to get them in dollars but I'm not sure if that is still the case with the dollar not being strong now.
I just buy euros at the Post Office and if I was going further afield I would get some travellers cheques - used to be best to get them in dollars but I'm not sure if that is still the case with the dollar not being strong now.
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