[sandiefran]

We recently spent 6 weeks in Turkey and before we left I made a point of contacting the Commonwealth Bank to advise them that we would be using our Maestro/Cirrus card at ATMs whilst there and had it noted on our account accordingly.

When we tried to use the cards in Turkey, the card was accepted by the ATM, but then we got the message "card not recognised" and at the HSBC I was greeted by name but still no money!

I sent the bank an urgent e-mail from Turkey over three weeks ago but have not had the courtesy of a reply.

Fortunately my husband had a PIN on his Virgin Mastercard and we could draw money that way - thank you Richard Branson!

When I phoned the Commonwealth Bank on our return, I was told by a supervisor that because our account is "cheque linked" (Pensioner Security), the card will not work in Eurpoe - only in Asia. Turkey is considered as being Europe.

I was not impressed and certainly should have been informed of this when I first contacted the bank.

So please make sure that your card will work where you are going and have a good back-up just in case!

I will be making other banking arrangements for future travelling.

[straitman]

This isn't just a CBA issue.

That's why the savvy traveller will always have 2 or more CC's and methods of accessing funds. I'm glad it all worked for you even though it wasn't really as planned.

[Nathan75]

I'm having the same issues at the moment as I'm off to Thailand in a few days.

Like you said I contacted the bank and told them about the trip.

This is where it gets interesting.

I was told over the phone that I could use my Mastercard to access my savings account from ATM's overseas, all I had to do was put a pin on my Mastercard.

No probs.

Went into the branch today and told them I need to put a pin on and got chatting with the teller about going o/s. She looked at me puzzled and asked why put a pin on the card. I refered back to the phone call and I was told by the teller that I was given wrong information. If I wanted to access funds I need a cirrus ATM card.

Annoyed by this I rang up the Mastercard crowd and queried them. To my surprise (ho-hum) the branch had got it wrong and I can use my card to access funds from my account.

Here's the kicker. Make sure your Mastercard is linked to your savings account and when asked at the ATM credit/debit, select debit and the funds come out of your savings account and not as a cash advance, hence no fees for me.

Nathan

[serfty]

Originally Posted by Nathan75

... Here's the kicker. Make sure your Mastercard is linked to your savings account and when asked at the ATM credit/debit, select debit and the funds come out of your savings account and not as a cash advance, hence no fees for me. ...

You may avoid the CC 'cash withdrawal' fees and interest, but there WILL be at least a $5 fee on each overseas cash withdrawal - even from your cheque accout.

[Nathan75]

Originally Posted by serfty

WILL be at least a $5 fee on each overseas cash withdrawal - even from your cheque accout.

They slug you with fees which way you go (Cash advance, debit withdrawal or money changing)

Such is life

[serfty]

Originally Posted by Nathan75

They slug you with fees which way you go (Cash advance, debit withdrawal or money changing)

Such is life

Not thru Citibank, A Wizard Card, nor specific Westpac associated banks. In these cases no overt fee is charged,

[Mal]

And of course depending on the country visited, Amex traveller's cheques are still accepted like cash

Pay no fees for ordering them (during special promotions and being certain types of Amex cardholders) and if you order them online via the Amex website, then you can BPAY them vis your credit card and even earn reward points as well (in most cases, not all CC companies).

[guybaxy]

amex has no office in amsterdam now, i heard there is an 'agent' who charges like hell to cash amex tc there.