Using a Debit Card outside the Euro zone

[ausibattler]

Anyone had experience of using a French (C.A.) debit card (Mastercard) in a non EU, ATM machine to obtain local currency?

 If so what charges/exchange rate do the French banks charge?

What daily limits are applied?

Is this a better option to travellers cheques?

Thanks

[tenniswitch]

Rates and fees for foreign currency exchange withdrawals vary by bank and card.  Have you tried calling the customer service number on the back of your card and asking those questions?  Or going directly to your local bank?

Generally, one would expect the exchange rates would be the current interbank rate + whatever percentage CA adds + whatever percentage MC adds (generally 3%, I think) + whatever flat fee CA adds for withdrawals from anything but their own bank terminals.

All that notwithstanding, debit card withdrawals may still be the cheaper option.

[Sunday Driver]

You can find the card fees and charges on the CA account tariff which you will find [url=http://www.ca-cmds.fr/tarifs-particuliers-quotidien.html]HERE[/url].

 

[andyh4]

But only valid for CM and DS.

Other banks in the CA group may have differnet charges

[ausibattler]

Thanks people.

Andy what is a CM and DS?

Thanks

[Chas]

Charente Maritime/Deux Sevres??