Withdrawing from ATMs

[Caltonian]

I'm trying to work out the best way that I can use my wages that will be paid in to my account while we're in Turkey, as this will form a significant part of our spending money.

The easy option would be to just withdraw cash from ATMs in Icmeler, but with the charges and exchange rate it probably isn't the most cost-effective option. Does anyone know of an option where perhaps you could go online and order currency/travellers cheques, then pick them up somewhere in the resort?

Alternatively, what about reloadable prepaid cards? Any ideas would be welcome

[swc24]

Hi

the atm's in Icmeler will allow you to withdraw in sterling I did this last year and was not charged by my bank for the withdrawal. It may be worth asking your bank if they charge if you withdraw sterling abroad

Steve

[iskoc alibaba]

Hi there, just make sure u get bar lifted on using ur card abroad

[sunlover loch lomond]

I use the ATM's when in Icmeler and initially my bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, did not charge but last holiday they did - £1.50 per transaction. I took out Sterling and exchanged in resort, which gave me best rate of exchange. Unfortunately, due to my sisters experience, I would not rely on bank cards as her's would not work in some machines and her bank said there was no stop on her account limiting her use of it. If you have more than one account card that may be best. I have taken Martin Lewis's advice and got a Halifax Clarity Card, which does not charge for transactions but there will be interest added for cash, however, if I pay it off as soon as I return it will be less than bank charges.

[Caltonian]

Hi

the atm's in Icmeler will allow you to withdraw in sterling I did this last year and was not charged by my bank for the withdrawal. It may be worth asking your bank if they charge if you withdraw sterling abroad

Steve

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I didn't realise this Steve, this makes a big difference and would be much easier to control how much you spend by doing this. Do all the ATMs give the option to dispense in Sterling? I'll need to check with my bank re charges, etc.

Paul

[Sue]

I use my Halifax clarity credit card to withdraw money, they class it as a purchase and as long as I pay it off straight away I haven't been charged yet. I got a better rate than in the supermarket

[sunlover loch lomond]

All the machines I have used give out Sterling and usually have a £ sign beside all the currencies they dispense.

[sunlover loch lomond]

Hi Sue
That is good to hear as I have just got my Halifax Clarity Card and have not used it yet. I assumed they would treat it as cash and put interest on but glad to hear that is not the case.

[Sue]

Don't forget to ring them to tell them you are going away. I usually pay it on line as soon as I get back before the bill comes in and haven't been charged

[noodles1609]

I have a basic bank account with the halifax that I use as my "holiday account". It comes with an electron card rather than a delta visa, and often where charges apply to using a visa debit, they don't when using an electron card. I use this to withdraw cash on holiday, and only ever take out sterling - that way you get the better rates when exchanging in the shops rather than the change offices too. I've never had any charges applied by my bank for doing this. Lots do sterling - HSBC, Garranti etc, just pop your card in and cancel if it doesn't give you the option. Last year the HSBC machine was dodgy for my card from May through to October, but it worked for the OH's, so if you card doesn't work in one, try another cause they can be a bit funny!

[Caltonian]

I have a basic bank account with the halifax that I use as my "holiday account". It comes with an electron card rather than a delta visa, and often where charges apply to using a visa debit, they don't when using an electron card. I use this to withdraw cash on holiday, and only ever take out sterling - that way you get the better rates when exchanging in the shops rather than the change offices too. I've never had any charges applied by my bank for doing this. Lots do sterling - HSBC, Garranti etc, just pop your card in and cancel if it doesn't give you the option. Last year the HSBC machine was dodgy for my card from May through to October, but it worked for the OH's, so if you card doesn't work in one, try another cause they can be a bit funny!

Thanks noodles, some good advice there. Just a thought....when a machine refused your card, did it just refuse to recognise it altogether i.e wouldn't let you put your pin in, or did it just refuse you when it came to withdrawing money? If I can know this, then I could try my card when I get over and if it doesn't work, arrange for some money to be sent to us in another way.

[noodles1609]

It varied really, sometimes it would let you go all the way through to choosing the amount you wanted then saying there was an error reading the card, sometimes straight after putting the pin in. Tried it each time we went out last year and it always did it, but no problems at all elsewhere, and it was clearly just that machine too as I used it in a HSBC one in Marmaris. Stood in that queue with many a person in a bit of shock thinking their card had been cloned or something along those lines - soon as they went to the next one, all worked fine. I was wondering if they didn't fix it last year cause it was going - the new ones near the Sports Bar look like new ones rather than the old ones moved.

[Roy]

Hi,
Was at the Halifax Bank of Scotland today & asked about card activation & charges - now £1.75 for any transaction regardless of amount. Activating cards is free but you need to tell them the starting & finishing dates for the activation period. Alternatively you can order travellers cheques on-line at Halifax On-Line Banking using your debit card free of charge with free delivery & you choose day when they arrive, you can order up to £2500 at a time. Doing this in the branch entails a charge of 1.5%.
Regards,
Roy.

[Jay Trip]

Can anyone confirm that Nationwide do not charge for withdrawing sterling from the ATMs?
We always used our Nationwide flex account card at the ATMs but when they introduced a charge we just bring sterling and change it in resort.
We were told by our branch that we would be charged for withdrawing sterling but I have read on another forum that they dont charge.

[markglasgow]

Nationwide do now charge (or they are supposed to!) for overseas ATM withdrawals.

Details about Nationwide charges here:

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_acc ... ctions.htm

[ochlynda]

Yip def.Charge we had to use ours once last year and were charged for the withdrawal

Lynda

[Bankielass]

I had exactly same problem as noodles when using HSBC cash machine both in May and September last year with my RBS visa debit card It would allow you to go through the process and after confirming transaction amount would tell you chip error.
I was able to use the one across the road just along from the Kapmar without a problem.