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| *Travel Tips>>>London Travel Tips |
US Bank issued Debit Mastercard. Does it work in ATMs and for purchases made in the UK (London)? |
Travel Info If so, what's the deal with exchange rates and all that jazz? Thanks! Travel Tips I used a debit Mastercard while I lived in London (Citibank). It will work in all the ATMs. Here is what you must do though to use it: you must call your bank and tell them when you will be in the UK, so they can activate it for international purchases. Otherwise, when you arrive, they will block your card for security purposes. Exchange rates: You will get the best exchange rates possible using an ATM. However, check with your bank before you go to find out what they charge to use international ATMs that are not owned by US Bank. (Service Fee) To answer the last part of your question about using your ATM card for purchases: Yes, you can use it, but again you have to call the bank before you leave for the UK and tell them when you will be there so it won't be shut off. HOWEVER, you will have to use your card like a credit card and not a debit card when making purchases. Just tell the cashier it is a credit card. Here is the reason: In the UK, bank cards are equipped with what is called "chip and pin." This is basically a smart chip located on the card. In order to use a bank card to make purchases as a debit card, the English must insert their card into a special slot that does not read American cards. To avoid this confusion, simply tell the clerk that you are paying with a credit card, and not a debit card; cashiers are not allowed to take debit cards that are not "chip and pin." One last note: ask your bank what they charge for credit card transactions. All credit cards will charge you a small fee (somewhere around 2-5% I think) if you make a purchase in a currency other than the dollar. Hope this helps. Happy travels! Source(s): Lived in London Other Travel Tips Yes, it should work. I don't know the exchange rates but you can look them up and using ATMs will give you a better rate than anything else. Plus it's more convenient. Good luck and have fun! It will work in ATM's (assuming you have funds available) and there is a small charge for the transaction (like 2.5% for example). Not sure about purchases - I've never actually come across a Debit MasterCard, only Debit Visa |
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