Santander Zero Credit Card

[fofeg101]

Just for information, recently using my Santander Zero Credit Card in Spain I got the following Exchange Rate ~1.16€ / £ (inc. Zero Charges), changing sterling cash at the Spanish Cambios I was getting ~1.115€ / £. So, I got ~4% more € /£ using my Zero Card.

 

[Airecraft]

Unfortunately Santander no longer issue Zero cards but you can use their Current Account cards without a charge in Spain. but not in France.

 

[John H]

I recently acquired a Halifax Clarity Credit Card, which likewise gives you the bank rate of the day and doesn't charge for cash withdrawals abroad (provided you pay it off immediately). If I use my Nationwide Debit Card (which used to be free!) it costs around 2.5%; if I change cash in the high street it can cost over 5% (don't believe the "commission-free" con!) :tongue:.

 

[regnarts]

I have used my Santander Zero card many times in France without any additional charges and with a much better exchange than tourist rates.
This is the reason I kept it rather than bin it at the end of the 0% offer but never use it UK now, well worth holding on to. I think Nationwide BS do a similar card these days.

 

[Airecraft]

I have used my Santander Zero card many times in France without any additional charges and with a much better exchange than tourist rates.
This is the reason I kept it rather than bin it at the end of the 0% offer but never use it UK now, well worth holding on to. I think Nationwide BS do a similar card these days.

Yes, I didn't say the Zero doesn't offer fee free transactions in France - just that Santander debit cards don't and that Zero is no longer available. Nationwide stopped their no fees overseas withdrawals 2 years ago, except on gold/platinum credit cards issued before 2010.

 

[Pollik]

Santander has a most appalling customer rating for customer service...how are you finding them?





Polly

 

[patricia]

santander zero credit card

We have a nationwide credit card card & we pay for food diesel etc & we got a good rate in june this year in Spain& France without charge.

 

[John H]

We have a nationwide credit card card & we pay for food diesel etc & we got a good rate in june this year in Spain& France without charge.

But remember that if you want to use your card for withdrawing cash at an ATM in Europe (which, I believe, is what the OP was talking about) then it costs you 2.5%. There are several credit cards that charge 0% on transactions but 2.5 - 3% on cash; the Halifax Clarity Credit Card is a rare exception and is recommended as the top card for cash on the moneysavingexpert website. You can also get prepaid cards, which you load prior to going abroad, which can be good value but they only tend to operate in sterling, dollars or euros - so no good if you're going to Turkey or Morocco!

 

[David & Ann]

You can also get prepaid cards, which you load prior to going abroad, which can be good value but they only tend to operate in sterling, dollars or euros - so no good if you're going to Turkey or Morocco!

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JH, would they still deduct 2.5% with a prepaid card?

 

[John H]

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JH, would they still deduct 2.5% with a prepaid card?

Hi David

The best value pre-paid card is the FairFX, which has a flat rate charge of 1.5 euros/$2 for each cash withdrawal, regardless of the amount withdrawn, so not quite as good as the Halifax Clarity Card but better than any Debit Card. The disadvantage is that you get the rate on the day you load it up, so if the exchange rate improves while you are away you don't get the benefit of it. Conversely, of course, this is an advantage if the rate moves against the pound! But check them all out on Money Saving Expert: Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more