On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer
wrote:

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

This was despite Visa and Cirrus/Maestro symbols appearing on most of
them.

I've never tried in the US, but I have, however, successfully used
British cards to withdraw cash in Germany, Austria and the Czech
Republic, mind, and in no case were charges particularly excessive.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Neil Williams" schreef in bericht
...
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer
wrote:

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

That's strange. The other way around there seems to be no problem.
When I was in London last year my Belgian card worked in any ATM in London
(used about 5 different ones)

H

Neil Williams wrote:
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer

wrote:

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British
cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British
chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

This was despite Visa and Cirrus/Maestro symbols appearing on most of
them.


There's one cash machine in Brugge which accepted my card. It's in the
centre near Pizza Hut

Neil Williams wrote to uk.transport.london on Tue, 26 Apr 2005:

I've never tried in the US, but I have, however, successfully used
British cards to withdraw cash in Germany, Austria and the Czech
Republic, mind, and in no case were charges particularly excessive.

I've used them in the USA and had no problem. Bank debit cards that can
be read at home are probably the easiest - I've used these in the USA,
Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and other European countries, both
pre- and post- the introduction of the Euro.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 3 April 2005