humanone

What is the cheapest and safest way to get cash from European ATMs; I'll be using Euros and croatian money (all the B&Bs ask for cash). If I use a credit card I'll be paying interest on the cash advance from the moment the money comes out of the machine, plus 1% currency conversion fee, perhaps a fee to my bank and any local ATM charges. But if I use a debit card then I'm liable to lose all the money in my account at home if someone steals my card or my information, although there still might be that 1%conversion fee and any foreign ATM charge, but no other charges from my bank. What to do?

StCirq

Why is everyone all of a sudden freaked out about losing money with scams using their ATM cards?

This is really silly. Who can steal your PIN unless you invite a Croatian into the ATM booth to help you withdraw funds?

Use your ATM card.Get one that doesn't charge for overseas withdrawals. It's so simple.

nancy

Definitely use an ATM to withdraw cash. It's the cheapest way to get cash. Withdraw the amount of money you'll need for wherever you're staying and place the money in a money belt. Why would you assume you could lose all your money in your account? Even if you lost your card, someone would have to have your pin number number to use it. The same could happen at home. Be sure your dollar amount of withdrawal from your bank is up to a level you'll need.

Try to withdraw as much as you need as each withdrawal will cost a bank charge (aside from the conversion fee) altho' it's minimal.

Do not use a credit card because of the cash advance charge which is ridiculous.

cheryllj

<i>Use your ATM card.Get one that doesn't charge for overseas withdrawals. It's so simple.</i>

It IS that simple. Why must there be 10 threads asking this same question over and over?

Use an ATM card. Try to get one from a bank that doesn't charge for each withdrawal or tack on high fees (Capital One doesn't). But even if your bank charges a small fee, it's still probably the cheapest and easiest way to get cash. Do not use a credit card for cash advances unless you have no other options because that is a loan that charges interest immediately. Why is this so hard?

Do people actually use their credit cards to get cash advances from ATMs in the USA? I don't know anyone who does this because it's an insanely expensive method of getting cash. It's a LOAN. Why would anyone think is the best way to get cash in Europe when they don't do this in the US?

Nikki

I do understand the concern about debit cards. It is why I didn't get one until recently. Even if you are protected, if someone does manage to use one fradulently, your entire account is vulnerable, and you have to make a claim and wait for it to be put back in.

This is why I have a separate account for travel with its own debit card. I put a limited amount of money in that account so my entire checking account is not vulnerable to being wiped out, even temporarily.

I know people say it is unlikely, and they are probably right, but this gives me peace of mine.

Before I opened this account, I used an ATM only card. But I found there were starting to be places that did not accept those. In Portugal I had trouble, and possibly in Italy on my last connection through an airport there. The debit card worked but an ATM only card did not.

Now I bring them both and use one as backup.

ira

Hi hum,

Get an ATM ONLY card from your bank.

If it is lost or stolen, it can't be used without a PIN.

Get the CapitalOne credit card. It doesn't have a conversion fee.

sf7307

<i>This is really silly. Who can steal your PIN unless you invite a Croatian into the ATM booth to help you withdraw funds? </i>

Actually, thieves are much more clever than you and I. There's been a scam around here recently where thieves put something in the actual machine (ATM, gas pump, etc.) that does steal your PIN and card number. I can't describe it better because I don't have a criminal mind.

janisj

"<i>Why must there be 10 threads asking this same question over and over?</i>" Maybe we should ask katie to post a stickie-type message w/ all the info about ATM cards and credit cards so we don't get 10 identical threads a week. Offenders can be shot

kybourbon

I use an ATM only card on an account I only use for travel. It's a joint account with my daughter and we've both used it in multiple countries. Either one of us can take care of any problems that may crop up while the other is traveling. It was her main source of money when she was living in Spain for six months. I take a backup card from another bank. I notify both that I will be traveling and the dates. They flag my account so it doesn't get frozen when I use it.

Any ATM charge will be from your bank, not the foreign ATM.

Nikki - I had no problem in Italy (Sept.) with my ATM only card.