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Access to cash. - Page 2

Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 12:02pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 12:02pm

mst wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 11:47am:

My Canadian cards work in the tills and elsewhere.   Of course there is a fee if it is not the issuing bank the same as most places.

Thanks mst, appreciate the information.

Paddy.

em68

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 12:28pm

em68

Helpful member

Posts: 124

73 helpful points

Location: El Cabo de Gata

Joined: 28 Feb 2019

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 12:28pm

Whoopydo wrote on Fri Nov 4, 2022 8:36am:

Be aware some banks will charge you to use another banks atm. 

I'm with Sabadell and that's the case. Also their branch in Mojacar is only open, I believe,  now just 1 day a week ( was 2 days earlier on in the year). They did have an atm at Puerto Rey (a stand alone atm) but that's now gone. ...

...

Martin.

It might be a good idea to check first whether there are any banks which will not charge you to get cash for your particular bank account.  For example, I have a Starling GB and euro account, and use this for contactless payments without a problem.  Until recently Cajamar and one or two other banks didn’t charge me to withdraw cash from a machine.  But now the only bank I have found which doesn’t charge me is Unicaja.

GrantW

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 1:32pm

Posts: 40

23 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 31 May 2018

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 1:32pm

We have an apartment in Las Marinas Vera Playa. The ATM at Buganvillas has been removed.  If you don't have a car then the easiest ATMs to reach in our opinion are in Garrucha, there are a few banks along the main shopping high road. They do charge so try and limit the withdrawals to when you really need them. I find after covid most places are more expecting cards.

Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:07pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:07pm

em68 wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 12:28pm:

It might be a good idea to check first whether there are any banks which will not charge you to get cash for your particular bank account.  For example, I have a Starling GB and euro account, and use this for contactless payments without a problem.  Until recently Cajamar and one or two...

... other banks didn’t charge me to withdraw cash from a machine.  But now the only bank I have found which doesn’t charge me is Unicaja.

Hi em68, thanks for taking the time to respond.

I bank with the RBS in the UK.  On visiting their website I see that all transactions are chargeable @ 2.75%.  They don't seem to be associated with any of the Spanish banks (although I'm happy to be corrected on that point) so it looks like we're stuck.

That said, I'm happy to pay a smallish premium for the privilege of enjoying an extended break in Spain, so very much a case of swings and roundabouts I guess!

Cheers,

Paddy. 

Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:12pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:12pm

Shazzy wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 11:04am:

Hi Paddy and Dawn

Most places seem to happily take contactless payments, even for a pint and a paper. I tend to only use cash for tips, taking my euros back and forth to Spain with me nowadays. 

However, as noted, there doesn't seem to be any problem with ATMs if needed. 

Hi Shazzy, thank you for your reply.

I very much suspect that we will soon get into a similar mindset when even paying for the smallest of items.  Suppose it is very much the preferred method of payment anyway in this post-covid world.

Much now launch ourselves headlong into the 21st century I suppose!!  :)

P&D 

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Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:17pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:17pm

GrantW wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 1:32pm:

We have an apartment in Las Marinas Vera Playa. The ATM at Buganvillas has been removed.  If you don't have a car then the easiest ATMs to reach in our opinion are in Garrucha, there are a few banks along the main shopping high road. They do charge so try and limit the withdrawals to when yo...

...u really need them. I find after covid most places are more expecting cards.

Hi Grant.  Thanks for the info specific to the area in which we will be staying, it's very useful.

Yes, what you say makes complete sense and, as I say elsewhere, it's time for me to embrace the technological opportunities' afforded by the 21st century (I suppose :( ) 

Shazzy

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:36pm

Posts: 73

35 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 16 Nov 2020

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:36pm

Paddythereddog wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:12pm:

Hi Shazzy, thank you for your reply.

I very much suspect that we will soon get into a similar mindset when even paying for the smallest of items.  Suppose it is very much the preferred method of payment anyway in this post-covid world.

Much now launch ourselves headlong into the 21st century I suppose!!  :)

P&D 

Afraid I have been won over by the ease of Apple Pay on my phone! 

If you're visiting Europe regularly, it is a good idea to get an account with a decent exchange rate and limited charges. 

Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:05pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:05pm

Shazzy wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:36pm:

Afraid I have been won over by the ease of Apple Pay on my phone! 

If you're visiting Europe regularly, it is a good idea to get an account with a decent exchange rate and limited charges. 

We'll see how this trip goes but already have some feelers out for 90 days next autumn.  If we do move that forward then I will do some serious research into the banking aspect.  Thanks again for your advice.

em68

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:16pm

em68

Helpful member

Posts: 124

73 helpful points

Location: El Cabo de Gata

Joined: 28 Feb 2019

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:16pm

Paddythereddog wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 2:07pm:

Hi em68, thanks for taking the time to respond.

I bank with the RBS in the UK.  On visiting their website I see that all transactions are chargeable @ 2.75%.  They don't seem to be associated with any of the Spanish banks (although I'm happy to be corrected on that point) so it looks like we're stuck....

...

That said, I'm happy to pay a smallish premium for the privilege of enjoying an extended break in Spain, so very much a case of swings and roundabouts I guess!

Cheers,

Paddy. 

I actually bank with Nationwide in U.K. but got a Starling card specifically because it gives me a euro option at a much lower rate of exchange than usual.  It works by having one card which can be used for both Sterling and Euros, and you move cash from the Sterling account into the euro account through the app for a conversion fee of 0.4% on the current exchange rate.  There’s no other fee to pay unless you get charged by a Spanish bank for cash withdrawal.  As it’s a debit card - although I gather overdrafts are now possible- getting hold of the card is quick and easy as long as you’re comfortable using an app based account.

Paddythereddog

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:24pm

Paddythereddog

Original Poster

Posts: 15

6 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 2 Nov 2022

Posted: Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:24pm

em68 wrote on Wed Nov 9, 2022 3:16pm:

I actually bank with Nationwide in U.K. but got a Starling card specifically because it gives me a euro option at a much lower rate of exchange than usual.  It works by having one card which can be used for both Sterling and Euros, and you move cash from the Sterling account into the euro ac...

...count through the app for a conversion fee of 0.4% on the current exchange rate.  There’s no other fee to pay unless you get charged by a Spanish bank for cash withdrawal.  As it’s a debit card - although I gather overdrafts are now possible- getting hold of the card is quick and easy as long as you’re comfortable using an app based account.

Hi again em68.

Sounds good.  Will have a proper look into that this afternoon.

Really appreciate your input.

Paddy.

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