I was reading on the wall that European ATM's will only accept a max of 4-6 digits for your PIN. It was advised to change your pin to 4 digits before traveling. Is this true?
Any up to date info on the fees charged for getting cash from ATM's?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23281 posts
Conventional advice has been to keep it to four. But it appears that six is becoming an option in Europe. However, if you can I would use only four. And don't use letter since there are no letter on the keypads in Europe. ALL FEEs charged for using an ATM in Europe are determined by your card issuer. Bank owned ATMs in Europe do not charge the user a fee for using their ATM.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
PINS? ATMs: ask the financial institution that issued the plastic card you are planning on using in the ATMs since I have never been charged a fee by the ATM owners in 10 years of going to Europe. One of the easiest and cheapest ways of getting foreign currency is to use a DEBIT card tied to a CHECKING ACCOUNT at your final airport destination in Europe, except those ATM machines owned by Telex (sp?).
I have a debit card issued by a credit union that charges a 1% exchange fee for foreign transactions and that is all the fees I have ever paid. Be sure to notify your financial institutions of when and where you will be traveling so they do not shut down your cards thinking that they are getting "out of area" charges. Lots of folks also recommend taking two debit cards from different financial institutions so that you have a "back-up" in case anything happens to one of them. I do that and I also take along a credit card that we seldom use, preferring to pay cash even at hotels if offered a cash discount which we were offered this year in Venice.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Use a bank-associated ATM, not Travelex machines (I think that's what Charlie meant).
Posted by
OP
new bern
20 posts
Thanks for your input. You've been very helpful.