I've got a Nationwide account and intend using my debit card in France as they don't charge for using it. What I don't understand though is how they change the money from pounds to euros. Does anyone know how their exchange rate is worked out and anything else about it. Sorry if this sounds a bit dim!!
Kate
------------- Kate
Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!
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I can't really answer the question as posed but I can relate what happen to Margaret and I during our recent holiday in France. Margaret used her Nationwide Credit Card and I used my Tesco Credit Card. When we go home I compared the exchange rates. The Nationwide rate was 1.47, so very near the wholesale rates and mine was 1.41 which was near the Tourist rate. Whichever way you look at it, Nationwide seems to have the upperhand! Mind you I still think I am better off getting a cheap Eurotunnel crossing with my Tesco Card compared to a relatively small amount of money Margaret will have saved on Nationwide!
The withdrawal shows up on your statement in Euros with the exchange rate they use (which I think changes daily as a banks would) next to it, and the equivalent value in £. The exchange rate is always very favourable with Nationwide.
worth pointing out that you get a better exchange rate using your credit card whenever you can--ie-supermarkets-fuel-campsite fees-etc--rather than drawing cash on your debit card & paying cash in €s
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
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Quote: Originally posted by billy on 17/6/2006
worth pointing out that you get a better exchange rate using your credit card whenever you can--ie-supermarkets-fuel-campsite fees-etc--rather than drawing cash on your debit card & paying cash in €s
Surely that depends on a lot of things, including cards issuer, and daily fluctuations in rate.
I always use Nationwide debit card and Tesco credit card - seems to be best combination and I would say that rate is in favour of the debit card.
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But it´s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can´t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Ricky Nelson
I've heard about the benefits about the Nationwide Flex Account debit card, but what's all this about Tesco's credit card? Why is it so competitive? What are the advantages?
Quote: Originally posted by Fellrunner on 18/6/2006
I've heard about the benefits about the Nationwide Flex Account debit card, but what's all this about Tesco's credit card? Why is it so competitive? What are the advantages?
Fellrunner
I don't think the Tesco card is particularly competitive in the sense of costs but where they score is that their club card vouchers can be converted into other vouchers at four times the face value. So if you have £20 of Club Card Vouchers this will convert into £80 off your next trip on Eurotunnel. Their are all sorts of other things you can use the vouchers for.
Whatever combination of credit or debit cards you use its still better to pay everything you can by credit card to avoid carrying too much cash-which aint really a good idea when your abroad--I notice the cash machine fillers in France dont appear to work weekends--
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 18/6/2006
Quote: Originally posted by Fellrunner on 18/6/2006
I've heard about the benefits about the Nationwide Flex Account debit card, but what's all this about Tesco's credit card? Why is it so competitive? What are the advantages?
Fellrunner
I don't think the Tesco card is particularly competitive in the sense of costs but where they score is that their club card vouchers can be converted into other vouchers at four times the face value. So if you have £20 of Club Card Vouchers this will convert into £80 off your next trip on Eurotunnel. Their are all sorts of other things you can use the vouchers for.
David
I have both a Tesco credit card AND a Nationwide, so we get the Clubcard deals and have a cheap way of getting cash from ATMs.
Watch out though - Tesco's have changed their credit card now, and if you apply for a card now, you only get HALF the amount of clubcard points compared to existing cardholders, making it not nearly such a good deal.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 18/6/2006
Quote: Originally posted by Fellrunner on 18/6/2006
I've heard about the benefits about the Nationwide Flex Account debit card, but what's all this about Tesco's credit card? Why is it so competitive? What are the advantages?
Fellrunner
I don't think the Tesco card is particularly competitive in the sense of costs but where they score is that their club card vouchers can be converted into other vouchers at four times the face value. So if you have £20 of Club Card Vouchers this will convert into £80 off your next trip on Eurotunnel. Their are all sorts of other things you can use the vouchers for.
David
We used our Tesco vouchers for eurotunnel a couple of years ago and were told the crossing would be £700 odd for car and caravan (hence £175 some in Tesco vouchers), yet if you go on the eurotunnel website you can get a crossing for as little as £98 each way. When asked if they could do this deal with Tesco vouchers as payment, we were advised that is a web-only offer and the Tesco vouchers can only be used for full-price fares!
So, now use the Tesco vouchers for other things and pay the £200 for the crossing!
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Topic: Using Nationwide Debit card in France
