artnbarb
1000+ Posts
We've always used our credit union debit card for cash withdrawals when living/traveling in Europe. Things are slightly different for credit cards and debit cards - now when using a credit card they ask if you want your purchase charged in dollars or euro (or whatever the local currency is), and we've been told it's always best to charge in the local currency. Now, when withdrawing cash using a debit card (at a bank only, not at one of those privately owned machines), you're asked if you want the withdrawal charged in local currency or in US dollars. The machine shows what the cost will be if you select USD, but you don't know the cost in the local currency until you check your bank account.
We made our first withdrawal in Dublin at an AIB bank, and were charged a rate of $1.17, which was the current rate shown online. Subsequent withdrawals at either AIB or Bank of Ireland, have all shown the USD option to be at a rate of about $1.20, so I assumed we were correct to select 'euro' rather than dollars. I know saving 3 cents/dollar isn't much, but if I can get $1.17 instead of $1.20, I'll take $1.17 every time, right?
So today I was able to look at my credit union acct online, and for all but the first 2 withdrawals I've been charged a rate in excess of $1.34. I've called my credit union, and they're going to check with the bank who processes their ATM cards, but their initial reaction was no hopeful. I'm probably one of 10 people in the entire credit union who even travel to Europe, so they have little, if any, experience with this situation.
Has anyone else experienced this situation using a debit card for cash withdrawals?
We made our first withdrawal in Dublin at an AIB bank, and were charged a rate of $1.17, which was the current rate shown online. Subsequent withdrawals at either AIB or Bank of Ireland, have all shown the USD option to be at a rate of about $1.20, so I assumed we were correct to select 'euro' rather than dollars. I know saving 3 cents/dollar isn't much, but if I can get $1.17 instead of $1.20, I'll take $1.17 every time, right?
So today I was able to look at my credit union acct online, and for all but the first 2 withdrawals I've been charged a rate in excess of $1.34. I've called my credit union, and they're going to check with the bank who processes their ATM cards, but their initial reaction was no hopeful. I'm probably one of 10 people in the entire credit union who even travel to Europe, so they have little, if any, experience with this situation.
Has anyone else experienced this situation using a debit card for cash withdrawals?