Near ATM Panic. Got off at Gatwick airpost enroute to Edinburgh. For no apparent reason - our atm cards did not work! We only had a small amount of American cash and credit cards. RELIEF - No problem getting cash out at Edinburgh Airport ATMs. Moral of Story - if travelling to Scotland - don't panic if you can't get cash at Gatwick Airport. Just wait until Scotland to get cash at ATM. Alternatively, try withdrawing a smaller amount.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9099 posts
It's always a good idea to carry about $200 in cash in case of emergencies like that.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Just guessing, but could your bank have only noted that you were going to Scotland and not the UK as a whole? Are your cards on the same account?
Posted by
OP
Central Florida
484 posts
My husband checked his emails once we got home from our wonderful vacation. The bank sent us notification that the amount being withdrawn was too great. But, we did manage to withdraw similar amounts elsewhere. Maybe we withdrew slightly less amounts and stayed within the bank limit. We did not type-in a certain amount. We just ed from the ATM amount options. That's why we were confused. Also, the ATM machine did not tell us the amount was too great. I have to Thank the person working at the Travelex or Thomas Cook Desk. (I can't remember which company now.) We were going to convert our few American dollars for a fee. The employee checked our ATM cards and told us they were fine, but that the bank was blocking the transaction for some reason. She gave us good advice about waiting until Scotland and trying again or heading directly to a bank the next day to sort it out. She advised us not to convert our USA money just yet. She helped us and didn't charge us.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
The machine never tells you that the amount was too great, it just says it can't complete the transaction. It's up to you to know how many euro your US bank limit will translate to. Sometimes people forget that a $500 limit doesn't mean they can click "500" on a foreign ATM. You have to know how many euro that is, and choose an appropriate option within that limit.