An article on Radio 4 today reported on a card which you could put an amount of money on and then use at any ATM in Europe thus foregoing lots of service charges etc....does anyone know anything about these? x
Hi Gaye,
I use FairFx who are recommended by Martin Lewis as being the cheapest prepaid debit card providers.
Scroll half way down this page to read what Martin says....
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money
I use my euro card as a form of saving for holiday spends. The sterling card is for purchasing Ryanair flights as there is no credit card charge when using prepaid mastercard.
Here is the link to FairFx... http://www.fairfx.com/
Eileen.
We have used these before. American Express ran the ones we had. We didn't get a better rate, but for deposits over £1,000 you were given 50 euros extra. There was a daily limit of 200 euros withdrawal if I remember. However they actually charged for every use, and guess what? The charges added up to nearly 50 euros! They gave us convenience, but our Nationwide card is just as convenient and a better deal with low charges (used to be none.)
Our Vietnam lady pointed the Nationwide out to us on the forum (thanks Sandy luvver!) and it works just fine for us. But a bitter-sweet fact, now there is no ATM in Arillas.
Phil
[Well done Eileen. Will follow up. We posted at the same time... lol Phil]
Phil
The post office do a travel money card.Cant remember details but you can look online or in branch.Hope this helps.
Is the no ATM any longer in Arillas then???
Phil - Because of upcoming discontinuance of the cheque guarantee card system, Nationwide are changing my Flexaccount to a Cash Card Account which no longer allows for overseas cash withdrawals. Hope this doesn´t apply to all Nationwide users.
Thanks Geoffrey. Knew it couldn't last. Oh well, it won't stop us enjoying Arillas.
Phil
Quite right Phil! It would take a lot more than this slight inconvenience to stop us getting to Arillas.
Hi Gaye,
See post below 'Some Good News Some Bad News' to read about the saga of the ATM.
Wetty
Sounds like a good idea, BUT, WE NEED AN ATM!!!!!!!
Sorry, but it's really bugging me!!!
Well all I can add is if the banks dont want to place an ATM in Arillas then maybe one of the supermarkets or hotels will instal a cash machine just like some of our local shop keepers here in blighty Im sure the same is available in corfu, its a way of de cashing the business cheaper bank charges as all banks charge to deposit money/cash from business, or what about a consortium to get an ATM
Ang
Ang, I spoke to someone with a business here, and he asked one of the anks if they would put an ATM in his property, but they said it costs too much, and it would not be used often enough to be worth their while.
I'ts just such a nuisance when we have to drive somewhere to withdraw cash, and if there's a bill to pay, maybe we have to go 2 or 3 days ina row, because of the limit on the withdrawal amount.
We need an ATM in Arillas.
(if I keep saying it often enough, maybe someone will listen, and supply one!) lol....
Quoteits a way of de cashing the business cheaper bank charges
What does that mean Angie?
These are a good idea...........but we (maggie included) want an ATM.... :)
That's a shame Maggie, you would have thought the bank would have least tried it for the season.
Geoffrey with a G, banks charge business users for banking and the more you bank the more they charge so, if you have an ATM in your business, you fill it with the cash from the business, de cashing in effect means that you are not physically holding cash until you bank as its in the ATM, or a bit like its in a safe more security and the charges are for this way of banking I think less, I could be wrong, but it was something which we used to encourage pubs to do, when they had plenty of cash in the business sadly something that is not the case today.
Anyway its still a shame that the long awaited ATM service was only given 2-3yrs, but everything has a cost I suppose maybe they over targeted their return based on the first season
Ang
We had a prepaid American Express card, which was not accepted by all ATMs. It was kinda bigged up when we went to get our currency and TCs from Thomas Cook in 2006. Was not my finest hour accepting that sales pitch and within 2 years Thomas Cook scrapped their involvement in it.
Santander have a credit card which is offering a 12 month 0% foreign exchange fee for purchases in shops and restaurants and for cash withdrawls, basically what you do with it overseas incurs no interest as long as you settle your bill in full on your return (like all CCs) when you get your statement. Might be a solution for some.
Thanks GazCaz. The Santander info sounds really interesting to us. But to be honest, without an ATM in Arillas, we would spend anything we saved on getting to use it.
And much more importantly to us we would lose valuable, and limited time where we want to be. I'm with Maggie Rae. WE WANT AN ATM IN ARILLAS.
Thanks for the info - will be following up.
Phil
There is an ATM in San Stef, I checked with the guys at the boat hire place only last week by email. That would only be a nice walk up the donkey track, if it was done a few times in a 2 week stay. They did say however its not always working, so the nice walk would seem like a route march on those occasions. Like you said phil, they must give Arillas an ATM. Do these people not come on this site? :-) Madness
Yes, they must give us an ATM! Have you tried 'the nice walk' to San Stef int he middle of august???????
Know what you're saying, Maggie. It is a nice walk early morning out of season and when on holiday, but having to do it all the time when you are living there and in the full heat of the day..... not so good!!
WE WANT AN ATM IN ARILLAS!!!
lynn xx
Can you imagine walking to San Stef and it didn't work...much grrrrrrrr. I would enjoy a drink at 3w's though :)
That's true, riggers - just think how many we'd have to drink to make up for it!!! ;)
lynn xx
with yous lynn and riggs. I would just make a big sigh and have another Mythos. Then I would sell my body for another chance. But the sad bit is, nobody would buy it these days....
ATM IN ARILLAS!!!!!
Taxi dears.
Noticed you didn't talk about buying my body Lindypops.
Can't blame you. I wouldn't....
love
Phil
If you can cook for me Phil--------------
Ive done the walk in Mid July at lunchtime, so it nearly killed me, what better place to die :-) I take you point though, but ealy morning once or twice isn't so bad. No matter how bad it is, if there isnt one put back into Arillas, it may be the only option if you are out of cash.
I agree, GazCaz, but the point I made was for Maggie who is living there - it would hardly be once or twice then..... :)
lynn xx
Oh to be in that position :-) totally agree though, its madness. Bring back the ATM!
Phil
I must have missed an earlier posting. What happened to the ATM in Arillas then ?
Dennis
the atm was removed because of insufficient use
Dennis, it's GONE. Eurowank (oops, sorry - w is quite near b on my keyboard) decided it was not profitable enough. Locals like Maggie are now forced to travel to SanStef or Sidari to get their money, or stash it under the bed. All very well, but like she said, have you ever tried walking to San Stef and back in 48 degree August heat?
Or then us "tourists" trying to live a dissolute and p****d holiday in Arillas with Erja or riggers? Our Erja will understand - Out of Brouklis, a nose in Irenes or a chat, the ATM, chat with all on the way, Coconut..... breakfast.
Such is life.
Phil
That's bad news for Arillas visitors and residents.... typical backward step. On that argument I wonder how long the one in San Stef will stay.
There is one in the centre of Agros of course which might be useful when you are out with the car but if the one in Arillas didn't do enough business then the Agros one will no doubt go the same way, assuming it hasn't already.
Dennis
The ATM in agros is still operating, as is the one at Thomas bay hotel in san stef. Also, I've used one at Markato supermarket in Sidari. I have a nationwide card and all ATMs accepted it. No charges were added either.
HOWEVER, next week when I have to pay bills and do shopping, I may have to drive to an ATM twice to get enough cash.
Arillas NEEDS an ATM!!!!!!!!!
I NEED an ATM in arillas!!!!!!
Eurobank said the Arillas ATM did not make enough money for them?
Surely an ATM is there to serve the banks customers, it should not be about making money. Have we not been scr#wed by the banks enough these last couple of years and we still had to bail them out and now they are scr#wing us again by stashing our money for their next c#ck-up. Without customers banks would be nothing, its about time these muppets remembered that.
My sentiments exactly gazcaz...
SO well said, GazCaz!
lynn xx
Hear Hear! Muppets are less obnoxious GazCaz....
Phil
Oh, well said, GazCaz!
Janis x
It just gets me so mad Grrrrrrr. Me and Carolyn need a holiday......11 weeks today a about this hour as I type we will be sipping our first Mythos of 2010 in Arillas.