Capital One Debit Card

While we don’t usually need to use ATMs in Europe (mostly use Apple Pay), we often access them in Mexico (much more cash centered and we tip in pesos). Our Capital One debit card was replaced with one in the Discover network and we were unable to use it anywhere in Mexico last month. No ATMs…no banks…. We had a backup debit card from our brick and mortar bank, as we anticipated a problem. Because we’ve just tried to use it in Mexico, I can’t speak about where it might be accepted (outside of the U.S.). We’ll be returning to Italy in a few months and we’ll probably open a Schwab account, as so many travelers here have suggested.

I have a Capital One debit card that was recently switched over to Discover. I have not tried to use it internationally yet. However, I did receive an email from Capital One that advised bringing an alternative card when traveling internationally since Discover is not widely accepted at this time.

I now use a no fee Schwab card.

Headed to Mexico next week, so will bring my local bank card for the ATMs. Wife actually has a Schwab account but stocks only, not a checking or savings account. The email from Capital One included a GIS map of ATMs in the Pulse network, it had 2 in Central Oaxaca associated with HSBC bank branches. I noted there were no ATMs in central Mexico City in the Pulse network. I may also just bring cash.

Adding I just used the Capital One Discover / Pulse at a nearby ATM shown on the link to a GIS map of Pulse ATMs. Even though nothing on the outside was right (decals for Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and others) it accepted the card. So hopefully Oaxaca will work out too.

It worked! Went to one of the 2 HSBC ATM locations marked on the emailed from Capital One ATM locations map for central Oaxaca, Mexico, and got pesos at the reasonable charge of US $2 over official rate (ATM charge + rate commission). Was not offered dynamic conversion, either. Pleased! Not ready to give up on Capital One just yet.

We only use our ATM cards to receive foreign currency and rarely need a lot of that.

Legally, if your credit card is stolen with fraudulent charges, you are better protected than if it is an ATM or Debit card.

We have used ours in San Jose del Cabo, BCS, MX at HSBC machines. It works, but we get charged a fee now. The previous MC debit card we had from Capital One did not incur a fee. So now we're mostly using our Schwab debit card which reimburses fees and we keep the CapOne card as a backup.

Just used the card in Ireland and was secretly charged a $5 fee. There was no warning a fee was coming. So have now decided to ditch the card.

Just used the card in Ireland and was secretly charged a $5 fee. There
was no warning a fee was coming. So have now decided to ditch the
card.

I ditched mine as well, but if Capitol One's public statement is correct, that fee was from the ATM and not the company https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/foreign-transaction-fees/ relevant quote:

Capital One doesn’t charge additional fees for foreign debit card
transactions. But you may be charged a fee by the operator if you use
an out-of-network ATM.

If you are looking for something new, Charles Schwab investor checking debit card has never let me down worldwide and ATM fees are refunded automatically.

Jean and Carol, I switched to the Charles Schwab debit card last year before I left for Romania, and it's worked great so far.

My guess is the atm stated at some point that there would be a fee and you needed to select continue or cancel. With as little as cash is used anymore I doubt $5 would change anything on the trip. When I returned from my recent Spain trip, I just called my bank after returning and asked that the €5 fee Deutsche Bank charged be refunded. It was.

My guess is the atm stated at some point that there would be a fee

No, absolutely not.

Without being critical of the OP, I think travelers should expect to pay a fee whenever they use an ATM not branded with their bank. That applies domestically as well as overseas. It's why many of us maintain accounts with Schwab Bank, which refunds those fees.

Be aware, too, that currency exchange rates' deviation from the usual can cost the customer much more than the fees. And few of us are equipped to evaluate one ATM vs another ATM from that perspective.

travelers should expect to pay a fee whenever they use an ATM not branded with their bank

The appeal of Capital One originally, and why it became so popular here, was that there were never any fees and the rates were excellent. I’ve literally never paid a ATM fee in my life before this because I am averse to no-benefit-to-me fees. Clearly those days are over. Will do the Schwab thing now that it has become more essential.