I use my M/C in the ATM machines all over Europe to get cash, which is considered a cash advance, and never had a ATM fee or service charge show up on my credit card statement. The only thing that shows up is the interest for the cash advance, which starts accumulating from the day the advance is taken out.

Never been charged any fees for my Visa check card at the ATMs.

What am I doing wrong?

The actual "foreign transaction" fee is included in the total amount when they do the conversion, not as a separate line item.

quick note:
when you call the credit card service line, use the phrase
"remove the OUT OF PATTERN spending block" this is the common terminology I have seen. I did ,and it worked great.

They told me I could call when I got back to have it put back on, or it would automatically re-instate after xx days. One was 15 and one was 30 days I think.

Personally, I find this a small inconvienence - about 5 yrs ago, an Out-Of-Pattern block caught a huge (5K + ) spending spree someone was having with my card number - Mind you , my card was never out of my possession! The block caught it, and I was not liable for any of the purchases.

Debbie

I checked the conversion rates on my CC statement and they seemed to be pretty much in line with that day's int'l conversion rates. But, maybe they did roll that 1% conversion fee into it, but I've never been charged an ATM 3% fee. I certainly would have noticed it when I perused my statement.

A friend of ours was travelling in Spain, Gibralter and Morrocco 3 years ago, and his VISA card was "blocked" by the Canadian bank that issued it - because of the overseas activity. He had to call his sister here, who then had to contact the bank to unblock the card.

Once I had to deal with the fraud department when somebody was using my credit card number. I would never remove the block, it's so easy to call that 800 phone number on the card to tell them where and on what dates you will be. I feel safer doing this. As mail is addressed to Mrs XXX they never know if anybody left at home. Certainly safer then putting your mail on vacation hold at the post office or having a taxi driver to pick you up at your home address.

YOu can't usually tell what conversion rate was used on CCs because the transactions aren't converted on the date of purchase, it can be up to about 10-14 days after the purchase date. The date on your bill is just the date of purchase so you can match it to your receipt. So, unless rates have remained about the same for a long period, you have to call them to find out the date of conversion if you really want to. I did that once in order to figure out what they were really charging (Capital One) and they told me the exact dates and even the conversion rate so I could compare to the posted interbank rates on that date. Most CCs charge about a 3 pct fee for cash advances, I think, as well as the interest charges. That's not the same as an ATM or debit card, I mean a cash advance on a credit card.

I always need to call as often times I am in Europe and my husband is in India visiting his family. This sends up huge red flags when two cards on one account are being used in 2 seperate continents . Even under normal circumstances it is good to advise credit card commpanies of travel so as to avoid embarassing declines.

This has become more relevent as fraud has picked up. Cloning of credit cards is very rampant in London.

I called one bank, they recorded all the details. Not that it did much good as my card was cloned in London and within days, over $8,000 in charges were relayed through a French internet location and the only reason it stopped is I noted the activity on-line when checking my credit card accunt even before the charges posted.

Another bank told me they don't take the information as what would keep a thief after cloning the card from calling in...of course supposedly the "confidental" questions they ask before talking to you "protects" you.

I now don't bother but I have a cell phone and call forwarding so if the bank calls me to question charges, I can instantly be reached.

This was such a lifesaving tip. I read this on fodors in another thread and I just remembered to call toda. I asked if I had not called would I have been able to use my atm or debit card and she said no. What a life saver. I hope more people read this thread!!!

If anyone does their banking at HSBC, I was told there is a 1 dollar transaction fee from HSBC and if you do not use one of their machines, you will face whatever surcharge the bank you use charges. also, if you hit the HSBC website you can find out where their benaches are around the world.

Fortunately there are a lot of them in London-where I will be at the end of the week.

What a life saving tip!! I can't say it enough.

Thanks Fodorites!

Topping

Absolutely call your credit card issuers before a trip overseas! When I was checking out of my Paris hotel about a year ago early in the A.M- my Citibank Visa was rejected. Then another card was rejected! Needless to say, I was getting panicky, as the shuttle was arriving any minute for my early flight. Fortunately, my American Express worked, and I've been grateful for AE ever since! The Citibank Visa had been fine for some smaller purchases, but the hotel bill was about $1500. After that scare, I always call the issuers before a trip, and also take several cards along, plus traveler's checks (I never use them, but they are a security measure).

Just today, my father who lives in Philadelphia tried to charge something in Denver Colorado on his Discover Card. It was rejected. He called and they said it was a security check because of unusual transactions out of his state.

ttt