It's getting very close to our 27 day trip, I too like Angela am using the Wells Fargo ATM card and was told the same thing that it's a flat $5.00 fee for any amount withdrawn, no conversion fees, I've increased our daily limit to 800. Our credit union is a $1.50 fee, plus a 1% conversion fee. So I figure if I need a large amount I will use the Wells Fargo, and the credit union for smaller amounts. They both said also there is the charge for whatever bank you are using, they can charge a fee on their end. My question is this: we will be in Paris, Barcelona, and all around Italy, does anyone know if there are banks that charge less than others? Any names of banks we should use would be appreciated. Only taking 1 credit card, plan on using mainly the debit cards.
Thanks for anyones help. Marylee
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Marylee,
No bank ATM in Italy will charge you.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
Henry is correct. There is no fee charged by the owner of the ATM in Europe to use the ATM. It is against the law.
Truthfully, I would take a second credit card as backup. We travel with two debit cards tied to two difference accounts and three credit cards -- old engineer by training and like backup and redundancy. BUT have never needed it.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
Banks charging for using their ATMs doesn't seem to be a common practice in Europe like it is here in the States. I've used untold machines all over and don't think I've ever had a local bank charge.
Posted by
OP
Oregon City,, OR
31 posts
Thanks for the info. And Frank I think maybe I will take a 2nd credit card, just in case. I could carry one and my husband the other.
I'm getting so excited, starting to get insomnia thinking about what I might forget to do before we go, or what I might forget to bring. Figure I can always buy anything I may have forgotten, traveling very light, just doing carry on. Thanks again. Marylee
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
One trick my wife and I stumbled upon years ago, that's worked well for us, is to "cross write" cheques to each other before we leave, then leave them with a trusted individual, in this case our adult son. I would write a cheque from my account for, say, $1000, to my wife (putting her account number on the memo line), and she would do the same to me from her account. If one of us had an ATM card lost, stolen, or damaged, we'd just call our son and tell him which cheque to deposit. That way, for example, if my wife's card was lost, her $1000 would end up in my account in a couple of days, so there'd be no need to start running on credit cards unnecessarily. Used the system once, in Paris, and it worked like a charm!
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
Just remember that though your withdrawl limit may be $$800, the atm limit will usually be lower since they dont want to run out of money in them.
Posted by
OP
Oregon City,, OR
31 posts
I didn't think about the bank their having a limit. All the places we are staying want euros not credit cards for payment, so that's why I did such a big daily limit. Marylee
Posted by
Kansas City
98 posts
i just opened a new charles schwab account. no atm fees anywhere and no conversion fee. i find this hard to believe but it seems to be true.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Marylee, you said "we". Does that mean that both of you have your own Wells Fargo ATM card? If so, and each of you have a limit of $800, then you both could draw from that account at the same time--one after the other. My husband and I did this with our BofA account. It was funny because I had never realized we could do this--never needed that much money in the States. Have fun making lifetime memories!
Posted by
OP
Oregon City,, OR
31 posts
We each have our own card, but it's to the same account, so I think the $800 limit is per account. I hope we wouldn't need anymore than that for a day!
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
225 posts
I would just suggest you double check those fees. I hope you are correct, but I was told different things by different people at Wells Fargo. We have a PMA account with no fees of any kind here at home, but I was told it would be a flat $5.00 per withdrawal plus a 3% conversion (less if you went into a bank) That's way too high for me. Instead I opened a Charles Schwab account, no fees or conversion and $2000.00 per day (if the ATM will give it to you).
The Wells account would have cost me a lot of money because I will need to withdrawl everyday due to all our B & B's want cash, plus cash for food, etc. I did ask WF to change our withdrawal limit to a higher amount just in case I need to use them as a back up.
If you don't need to withdrawal very often, then it may not matter. I just hope you are correct and it turns out as you planned.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Both of our cards were also connected to the same BofA account (joint account) and we each were able to withdraw money from the same account within minutes of each other. I have a maximum withdrawal amount and my husband has a max withdrawal. Try it out here at home before you go.
Posted by
OP
Oregon City,, OR
31 posts
Okay, I just checked with them again and was told it's just a flat $5.00 fee if you do an ATM withdrawel. If you use your debit card as a credit card then there is a 3% converson fee. Maybe I should ask to get it in writing just to be sure.
Posted by
Philadelphia
655 posts
I believe that Denise is right. If you and your husband each have an ATM/debit card and each one has a different card number you each have a daily limit even though the cards are on the same bank account. So protect those cards and pin numbers once you have increased the limits.
It is a good idea for each of you to carry a separate credit card - just in case.