Obtain Euros

"Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote:

>Answered Inline:
>
>
>"Rosalie B." <gmbeasley@> wrote in message
>news:9th8c2d7h5q24hr3r8ji4fvdep6md8gpf2@.. .
>> I'm not sure about the money market part of it, nor do I know about
>> your ATM card. I've never had a debit card, and I've only used an ATM
>> once or twice with a bank issued VISA to see if I could. We have two
>> different banking institutions, and while almost all the accounts are
>> joint, Bob uses the checks of the bank, and I use checks of the Credit
>> Union account.
>
>Rosaly,

FYI - There is a Rosaly who posts here, but I'm Rosalie.

>I talked to the credit card division of our credit union and found out that
>the debit card would draw money out of our checking account if I used it and
>for no fee...If I went over the amount in checking, they would automatically
>transfer funds from my savings account into my checking account, three times
>in a month without a fee..But they will not transfer from my money market
>for charges made on my debit card...I am allowed to transfer only two times
>from my money market to any of the other accounts each month..So the best
>thing for me is to just transfer a sizeable sum into my checking account
>from my money market before we leave...Then just transfer what is left back
>to M/M when we return, as it pays higher interest.
>
>I also found out that there is a 1% fee for using the using the ATM
>internationally..He said that the 1% was not received by the credit
>union...that .20% of the 1% was a conversion fee and .80% of the 1% was the
>across border's fee.
>The limit on my Master Card Debit card used in the ATM was $500. a day...If
>used as a credit card it was $3000.a day. So my card can be used as a debit
>or credit card....I'd rather just use my regular Visa card for charges while
>in a foreign country and the debit card at the ATM for extra cash when/if
>needed.
>
>--Jean
>
That's about what I thought. We also use our VISA for most purchases,
and it is paid automatically each month out of checking. But I did
just get a notice that there was going to be a 1% conversion fee on
foreign exchanges now. There didn't used to be.

I have followed this discussion with both amusement and irritation. At this
point I want to ask Frank to take this from the hypothetical to the real
world.

Please, Frank, cite a real example where a merchant added something
(legitimate or otherwise) to the advertised price before he processed your
charge.

Frank,

No one is disputing legitimate add-ons like vat, or even advertised
surcharges that the merchant may be able to add in lands other than the US.

Your continuing efforts to explain all of this lead many readers to
think that a shop owner could capriciously add some unknown amount at their
whim and thus inflate the charge that was made.

That may not have been your intent, but that was the effect.

Having said all of that, a charge, to be complete needs the signature of
the cardholder. No intelligent cardholder is going to sign something that
has unexplained or bogus add-ons.

So, cite a real example where a merchant added something
(legitimate or otherwise) to the advertised price before he processed your
charge.

Thus spake "Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@removefudged.> :

>
>"Joseph Coulter" <yourDROPTHISvacation@> wrote in message >>>>
>>> Joseph, I just looked at the card that I used at ATM machines in
>>> Europe as an ATM card..It is a M/C from our Federal Credit Union...It
>>> does say *Debit*in the right corner...Is there a key that you punch in
>>> at the ATM machine that gives you the choice to use it as a debit
>>> card? I've never used it as a debit card before..When you use it as a
>>> debit card, then you must have adequate funds in your checking account
>>> to immediately draw from, right?
>>> If so, that means transferring funds from my money market account to
>>> checking before I use it..
>>>
>>> --Jean
>>>
>>>
>>
>> a card from the credit union will be a debit card and yes, you must have
>> funds in the account or it will be a loan with interest etc.
>
>
>Thank you, I am now *unconfused* about that part...but you did not answer if
>there is a certain key on the ATM machine that allows you to use it as a
>debit card instead of as the ATM card that I have been using it as before.
>
>--Jean
>

A debit card and an ATM card are essentially the same thing when it
comes to making cash withdrawls. Our ATM card is branded MasterCard.
--
dillon

JAFO

Please, Frank, cite a real example where a merchant added something
(legitimate or otherwise) to the advertised price before he processed your
charge.

"Dillon Pyron" <dmpyronINVALID@austin.> wrote in message
news:994fc2t6e4htr0sesv3cqlc78a1b0reja5@...
> Thus spake "Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@removefudged.> :
>
>>
>>"Joseph Coulter" <yourDROPTHISvacation@> wrote in message >>>>
>>>> Joseph, I just looked at the card that I used at ATM machines in
>>>> Europe as an ATM card..It is a M/C from our Federal Credit Union...It
>>>> does say *Debit*in the right corner...Is there a key that you punch in
>>>> at the ATM machine that gives you the choice to use it as a debit
>>>> card? I've never used it as a debit card before..When you use it as a
>>>> debit card, then you must have adequate funds in your checking account
>>>> to immediately draw from, right?
>>>> If so, that means transferring funds from my money market account to
>>>> checking before I use it..
>>>>
>>>> --Jean
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> a card from the credit union will be a debit card and yes, you must have
>>> funds in the account or it will be a loan with interest etc.
>>
>>
>>Thank you, I am now *unconfused* about that part...but you did not answer
>>if
>>there is a certain key on the ATM machine that allows you to use it as a
>>debit card instead of as the ATM card that I have been using it as before.
>>
>>--Jean
>>
>
> A debit card and an ATM card are essentially the same thing when it
> comes to making cash withdrawls. Our ATM card is branded MasterCard.
> --
> dillon

Dillon, ours is a MasterCard also..I was told that when you key in your pin
number, there is no charge..but if you sign your name, there is one..I
imagine that only applies in country, come to think of it.

By the way, I'm curious, what does the JAFO stand for at the end of your
posts?

--Jean

Get cash by using your ATM card. Not a credit card.

Sometimes it still doesn't work. Whatever message the ATM gives you,
don't take it literally. Either it won't recognize your network or it
has a transaction limit which you exceeded. Try taking out a smaller
amount; if that doesn't work then try another ATM.

Fees: I've never run into a situation where I was charged a fee for
out-of-network use of an ATM card. In my experience if it's out of
network it just won't work.

Credit and ATM cards charge a fee up to 3% for any foreign
transaction. Call your bank(s) - know before you go. I have some
cards that charge 3%, My BofA platinum check card and my credit union
charge 1%. (The credit union gives 1% cash back, so I'm dead even.)

While you're on the phone, tell your bank when you're going to be
abroad and where, so they don't turn your card off.

They still might, so take at least two ATM cards from different banks.
(This also helps if one doesn't work in a particular machine.)

If they do turn your card off, you should have the regular (not 800)
number to call, because sometimes you can't reach 800 numbers from
overseas. It should be on the back of your card, but if not, get it
from your bank.

I've never been charged an ATM fee by a foreign bank. ATM fees seem
to be peculiarly American. (I haven't been everywhere though.)

Richard Whitlock <whitlock@alumni.utexas.net> wrote:

>2) I have heard the latest "scam" is that they will process your
>purchases in dollars rather than local currency. This incurs all kinds
>of fees--exchange fees, foreign transaction fees, etc. I was told that
>you needed to make it very clear before turning over your card that you
>want the charge in local currency. Anyone had any experience with this.
> Ireland was mentioned in particular.

Yes, watch out for this one. I've seen it in England, Ireland and
Italy. They bump the exchange by about 5%. (Of course you don't pay
the 1%-3% to your bank.) GET THE SLIP BACK if you are going to void
the transaction, especially if it's signed. I have tried to dispute
some overseas charges and the rules are different than for U.S.
transactions.

In Italy the clerk pretended she didn't understand when I demanded she
charge in euro, so I paid in cash, she tore the slip partly in half -
and then put it through anyway. Since I hadn't signed it, the bank
reversed it.

Finally, consider bringing your leftover euro back home. You'll
probably be going back, or you may have some friends going over who
insist on having local currency when they land. Friends don't let
friends buy euro in the U.S.