Some tips when travelling in the United Kingdom.....

So is this a paying method thread now?

I think that is true for all of them; I think I have always had to sign once before the PIN gets activated.

Have never had to sign in years

Just got a new bank card for travel & just had to activate it online I went to the bank's ATM to change the PIN to something I can remember

It cannot be used at POS terminals outside of Canada but I can live with that & just hit an ATM during the travels

or use my VISA card with the FTF :(

I am taking some local cash to tide us over

It is a personal choice

Have never had to sign in years

 

Just got a new bank card for travel & just had to activate it online I went to the bank's ATM to change the PIN to something I can remember

 

It cannot be used at POS terminals outside of Canada but I can live with that & just hit an ATM during the travels

 

or use my VISA card with the FTF :(

I am taking some local cash to tide us over

 

It is a personal choice

Don't think that there isn't a foreign transaction fee built into each ATM withdrawal. It is generally 2.5%, but TD just raised theirs to 3.5%. It is cheaper to use your credit card with no transaction fee and 2.5% FTF than to use your bank card in an ATM.

All machines still have the facility, the staff just don't know how to use it.

 

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Do you remember these old things when you used to get a carbon copy?!

Simon

Do you remember these old things when you used to get a carbon copy?!

 

Simon

Sure do. And I remember that even after they had the POS terminals they occasionally had to dig these out when the new ones weren't working, and the staff didn't know how to deal with them. They are taught on the latest technology (i.e. chip and pin now vs POS then) and don't know how to deal with the earlier technology (swipe and sign or chip and sign now vs these machines then).

Was on about small shops, not major food retailers. Cruisers are more likely to use a small local shop or store to someone lime ASDA, Tescos etc.

 

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Don't think that there isn't a foreign transaction fee built into each ATM withdrawal. It is generally 2.5%, but TD just raised theirs to 3.5%. It is cheaper to use your credit card with no transaction fee and 2.5% FTF than to use your bank card in an ATM.

Not sure on ATM's most Foreign ATM's charge a fee to use Unless they have an agreement with your Bank in Canada

Do not recall being charged a FTF just the exchange rate at the time maybe slightly higher than the Bank of Canada on that day but not 2.5%

Not all Credit cards work the same outside Canada

we have RBC I think it is still 2.5% FTF (must check)

but if withdrawing cash you are charged daily with the interest until the account is paid in full which can add up over a week

The best is CASH for small spends :D

It was great when we had the Chase card with no FTF but that is now gone

YMMV

Do you remember these old things when you used to get a carbon copy?!

 

Simon

YES broke many a fingernail on the darn things :halo:

Not sure on ATM's most Foreign ATM's charge a fee to use Unless they have an agreement with your Bank in Canada

 

Do not recall being charged a FTF just the exchange rate at the time maybe slightly higher than the Bank of Canada on that day but not 2.5%

 

Not all Credit cards work the same outside Canada

 

we have RBC I think it is still 2.5% FTF (must check)

but if withdrawing cash you are charged daily with the interest until the account is paid in full which can add up over a week

 

The best is CASH for small spends :D

It was great when we had the Chase card with no FTF but that is now gone

 

YMMV

There is a FTF built in to the exchange rate when you withdraw from a foreign ATM or make a purchase in foreign currency. Here is the text from TD; I'm sure the others are similar except that they might still charge only 2.5%

For ATM withdrawals:

In addition to the fees above (i.e. $3 in US or Mexico and $5 in other countries), if you make a foreign currency withdrawal at an ATM outside Canada with yourTD Access Card, the amount of the foreign currency funds received at the ATM, and any fee charged by the ATM provideris converted to Canadian dollars at the exchange rate set by Visa International in effect on the date thetransaction is posted to your account. The amount withdrawn from your account will include a fee equal to3.5% of the amount of the foreign currency funds received at the ATM plus any fee charged by the ATMprovider after conversion to Canadian dollars.For example:For a USD $10 cash withdrawal at an ATM in the United States, where the rate set by Visa International is 1.3(USD $1.00 costs CAD $1.30):Amount received at ATM = USD $10US ATM provider fee = USD $2Amount after conversion = USD $12 x 1.3 = CAD $15.60Fee = CAD $15.60 x 3.5% = CAD $0.55Total withdrawal amount = CAD $15.60 + CAD $0.55 = CAD $16.15If this withdrawal example occurred at a non-TD ATM in the United States, the $3 non-TD ATM fee describedabove would also be withdrawn from your account.

For purchases in foreign currency:

Purchases in a foreign currency if your TD Access Card has a Visa Debit logo:

If you make a purchase in a foreign currency with your TD Access Card, the foreign currency amount isconverted to Canadian dollars at the exchange rate set by Visa International in effect on the date the transactionis posted to your account.The amount withdrawn from your account will include a fee equal to 3.5% of the purchase amount afterconversion to Canadian dollars.For example:For a USD $10 purchase, where the rate set by Visa International is 1.3 (USD $1.00 costs CAD $1.30)Amount after conversion = USD $10 x 1.3 = CAD $13.00Fee = CAD $13.00 x 3.5% = CAD $0.46 (rounded up from $0.455)Total withdrawal amount = CAD $13.00 + CAD $0.46 = CAD $13.46

Purchases in a foreign currency if your TD Access Card does not have a Visa Debit logo (NYCE):

If you make a purchase in a foreign currency with your TD Access Card, the foreign currency amount isconverted to Canadian dollars at an exchange rate that is calculated by adding 0.035 to the rate set byInterac Corp. in effect on the date the transaction is posted to your account.For example:For a USD $10 purchase, where the rate set by Interac Corp. is 1.3 (USD $1.00 costs CAD $1.30)Exchange rate = 1.3 + 0.035 = 1.335Total withdrawal amount = USD $10 x 1.335 = CAD $13.35 (includes the fee in the amount of CAD $0.35)

Basically, they all charge 3.5% at TD; the rate for ATMs is always that set by Visa International; the rate for purchases depends whether you have a Visa debit or not, Visa debit uses Visa's rate, others use Interac date.

This is the comparable text for RBC banking that goes with the $3 charge for a US machine and $5 for a machine outside the US and Canada:

Each account cash withdrawal at an ATM outside Canada displaying the PLUS System symbol, and any fees that may be imposed by any third party for using the ATM, are converted to Canadian dollars at an exchange rate which is 2.5% above the bench mark rate set by the payment card company when the transaction is posted. Exchange rates fluctuate and, as such, the rate applied will usually differ from the posted exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

this is why I take cash for spending money ;)

I only use my CC for hotels

On the rare occasion that I need to use an ATM then you have to pay the fees if you want the $$

this is why I take cash for spending money ;)

I only use my CC for hotels

 

On the rare occasion that I need to use an ATM then you have to pay the fees if you want the $$

You don't think you pay a spread when you buy cash? Sorry, they get you whatever you do. I generally get a fairly good rate when I exchange cash, but it depends on the currency that you are buying; the more common, the lower the spread.

That is why I use my CC whenever I can; it is the one way I avoid fees.

You don't think you pay a spread when you buy cash? Sorry, they get you whatever you do. I generally get a fairly good rate when I exchange cash, but it depends on the currency that you are buying; the more common, the lower the spread.

 

That is why I use my CC whenever I can; it is the one way I avoid fees.

Well you do not avoid fees when travelling out of the Country

Well you do not avoid fees when travelling out of the Country

I was going to shut up and drop the subject, but I can't not respond to this.

I have the Home Trust Preferred Visa, a free credit card with no foreign transaction fee and 1% back on everything I spend. Except for small items, why would I use anything else when travelling, when all other payment methods cost me considerably more than using this card.

I was going to shut up and drop the subject, but I can't not respond to this.

 

I have the Home Trust Preferred Visa, a free credit card with no foreign transaction fee and 1% back on everything I spend. Except for small items, why would I use anything else when travelling, when all other payment methods cost me considerably more than using this card.

You were quoting fees for ATM uses with a debit card

of course if you have CC with no FTF that is different to what you were going on about

OK done

Will need both pounds and euro's for upcoming trip. Is my best bet to buy both at a London bank when I arrive.

Will need both pounds and euro's for upcoming trip. Is my best bet to buy both at a London bank when I arrive.

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Will need both pounds and euro's for upcoming trip. Is my best bet to buy both at a London bank when I arrive.

Never get a third country currency in another currency. They will first convert your currency to pounds then to Euros. You will lose on each exchange. If you can get a few Euros from home before you go, then use an ATM when you arrive in the Euro zone.

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No British banks are a ripoff for currency exchange. 2 good ones are Marks and Spencers and John Lewis department stores. Or use an ATM if you have a card that doesn't charge fees.

 

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British banks give a poor exchange rate, though from what I've heard not as poor as US banks. And certainly not as bad as exchange kiosks in airports & the like.:eek:

Yes, M&S stores.

John Lewis stores, I'll take Dave's word for it.

Add larger branches of the grocery stores Tesco and Sainsbury and Asda (think Walmart), and the Post Office.

That's for GBP.:)

But for your Euros I'm guessing that in the UK you'll get a double-dose of conversion rates - USD to GBP to USD. :(

So probably best to get your euros at your first stop in Euroland.

That doesn't help if you need GBP or euros between arrival & exchange location - if you want the comfort of local currency in your pocket when you arrive, then I guess you need to use a US bank for a few dollars-worth of each.

JB :)

There are also some more specialised fx conversion places in London including near tourist locations such as Victoria station. Eg Thomas exchange global. Worth looking on http://www.travelmoneymax.com and choose the collection option. I suspect they may avoid a double whammy conversion if you did want to go CAD to EUR. I have used them in the past for GBP to a range of currencies including usd and roubles.

Was on about small shops, not major food retailers. Cruisers are more likely to use a small local shop or store to someone lime ASDA, Tescos etc.

Actually the op was talking about spending a few days in the UK pre/post cruising, so could well use stores such as M&S, or indeed Asda in Southampton prior to boarding.

The vast majority of these places will take Amex. I would expect that also to be often true of small/independent shops in tourist areas.

Thinking about what a cruiser would be likely to spend their money on, one category of merchant which might give trouble to an Amex user is the small independent tour operator who is providing a private tour on a port call.

But the idea that you can barely use Amex in the UK or in Europe is well out of date.

I just found 2 pound coins Will I be able to use them? What about all the small pence coins? Not sure why I held on to these but now maybe (or maybe not) I can use them.

Thanks for some info.

I just found 2 pound coins Will I be able to use them? What about all the small pence coins? Not sure why I held on to these but now maybe (or maybe not) I can use them.

Thanks for some info.

Two-pound coins (each coin worth two pounds)?

They're still fine.:)

Or two one-pound coins?

Not so good.:(

Pound coins changed last year, the old ones are no longer accepted by shops etc.

The new ones are bi-metallic (gold with a silver centre like the two-pound coins) and have 12 sides,

pictured at https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/2132666/old-pound-coins-expiry-deadline/

Banks will exchange old ones for their account customers - so mebbe donate if the air crew do a charity collection or put in a charity box at the UK airport.

All the other little coins haven't changed recently.

JB :)

Thanks. I have two 2 pound coins. Will bring all my change and put it toward a good cause. No one pound coins so I am good there.