can i have advice on using cash machines

[dundeejohn]

hi i am in a dilema
i have lira and sterling to take but am a bit weary about leaving it in a saftey box
how easy is it to use the cash machines in icmeler and do they accept rbs cards ?
1.should i take sterling or lira out as i have read that you get the choice
2.do you get charged everytime you use your card to withdraw cash from your account
3. finaly what happens if your card gets swallowed by machine and you need cash ( as iv heard that this could happen )
thanks

[blondie]

Using the cash machines is easy - there is a row of free-standing ones between the Sports Bar and Florida at the top of the canal (including an HSBC one) but we tend to use the ones attached to the actual banks. There is one beneath the Kapmar Hotel, and various banks on the stretch of road where the Tansas is. Usually you get the choice to withdraw sterling or lira...and when you put your card in, they give you the option of instructions in English!
Depending on which bank you are with and which particular card you have, you may well be charged for each withdrawal - although some accounts don't make a charge. Check with your bank before you go - and inform them that you are going to Turkey and will be using your card.
As for what happens if your card gets swallowed...make sure you have your bank's emergency number with you so you can call them if something does happen.
All that said, we've never had a problem using the safes in any of the hotels or apartments we've stayed in - and if you don't use them and something were to happen, your travel insurance may well refuse to pay out unless you had kept your cash and valuables in one.

[daisysun]

Can just echo what blondie has said really. We tend to use the cash machines outside the banks and have never had a problem. Letting your bank know there maybe transactions made in Turkey is definitely worth doing as then it wont be "suspicious activity" reducing the chance of your card being stopped etc. Again ive never had problems with safes at all but did one year when I didn't use one. Just use normal precautions as you would at home

[stevew]

Hi
We tend to use a combination of Lira, Sterling and Sterling travellers cheques. Lira for first few days, Sterling for what we call barter bargains and Travellers cheques because their insured against theft. . You do get a slightly lower rate for the cheques but not as high as Bank card charges... The amount of sterling we take is only the amount we can afford to lose of stolen. ... But as others say we've never had a problem.
DO NOT USE EXCHANGE OFFICES. .
Steve

[sunlover loch lomond]

I also agree with previous posts and I have a Halifax Clarity Card with no charges for withdrawals or conversion. I get a better rate withdrawing lira than sterling. I have had a problem when machine could not read chip and pin and could not get money out, although same card worked in another machine. I always ensure we have a back up card just in case.

[Amelia12]

Hi I have just got back from Icmeler and have an RBS card debit card. I used both the HSBC machine near the canal and also the Turkish bank near the Kapmar. I had no problems. RBS do charge depending on how much you withdraw, e.g. £2.50 for £200 sterling. Obviously all debit cards have daily withdrawal limit. I always draw out in sterling and then change into lira as if you draw out lira you get the banks exchange rate. I took sterling travellers cheques last year but found the debit card much more convenient. Also even with the small fee for withdrawing it was not as much as the travellers cheque fee. Once home I checked my statement and everything was fine. Hope this helps

[cmac]

I too am with RBS, remember to tell them you are going or your card may not work. They will charge, maybe 1.5% transaction fee ?? If you can take a few lump withdrawals as opposed to regular small amounts. Im not sure if limit is same as here for daily withdrawals though. I am taking 2500 lira and £350 sterling, and only plan on making one withdrawal , if any at all. I will probably draw out lira when there as rate, even from ATMs is far better than travel agents here in UK. I tend to use the ATM at top of road just up from square at the corner, or HSBC ATM.

[noodles1609]

I keep a basic bank account with an electron card for holiday money. Mine is with the halifax, they keep trying to upgrade me, but with an electron card the charges are usually the lowest on everything - no fee cards excepted of course. I always use Garanti bank and withdraw the maximum daily amount in sterling as there is a flat fee charge of £1.50 per withdrawal, whether thats a tenner or the full £300 daily allowance. With the full amount that is easily accounted for in the difference in the exchange rate - Jack at Florida seems to be consistently amongst the highest this season so far.

As others have said, no issues at all using them, as soon as you pop your card in, you get to choose your language. I've only ever had issues with HSBC cash machines before - 3 different ones not recognising the chip - but Garanti has always been fine