modicasa

£1 for a withdrawal plus 2% commission, so 5 quid to take out 250 euros from an ATM - Since when? The reason for banking with Nationwide is now what exactly? Any bright ideas? Ive just seen my last months statement and it seems it started on 8 November. Anyone able to elucidate?

internationalbefky

Yeah I heard about this during the summer on that moneysavingexpert website - they've decided to start charging for overseas withdrawals because everyone kept signing up for the card and then only using it when they went on holiday (or in our case, when they moved to a new country!) so Nationawide weren't getting anything out of it I suppose.
I tried to apply for the Post Office and Halifax credit cards instead as they're the next best on the market (to my knowledge) but got turned down for both! Halifax wouldn't even give me a bank account, stuck up s*ds.

duffer

Check any correspondence you received from them around about 2 months before they started charging you.

duffer

How comes you got turned down? Did you give an Italian address?

lindaf

Check out the Santander Zero credit card as well. We've got this and it has 0% charges for both using it and for cash withdrawals abroad.

Mitzyboy

I'm not sure how long that will last though :-)

For regular transfers its often better to get an account with someone like currencies direct or HIFX etc .... CD certainly dont charge for d/d transfers, and you get very reasonable rates of exchange as well

internationalbefky

I don't know! They said I had a "low" credit rating - I've had a credit card for about six years and use it regularly and pay it off on time (apart from a few late payments when I was in Portugal but surely they weren't enough to completely ruin my credit score?!) I could understand being turned down for the credit cards - I don't have any major debts for them to make money off - but being turned down for a bank account took the micky a bit!

6monthshere6monthsthere

I do believe your credit score also takes into account how much dosh the cc company will make from you as well as your history.

Given up trying to work it out.

By the way, i looked on GOOGLE MAPS for where you stay and it asked if I am sure!

Not much happening there!

k

internationalbefky

If only Google had asked me if I was sure lol!

Totally agree with you 6months... it's not about whether I'm a good responsible person who will pay back what I've borrowed off them, it's all about how much money they can make off me. Grrrr...

duffer

Might be worth your while to sign up on a free trial to Experian or Equifax via the Quidco website and get some details on your credit score and earn some cashback whilst your at it. You might also be able to discover what is affecting your rating.

internationalbefky

Good idea, cheers Duffer.

Steve Homer

Santander are a pain. I used both their 0% charges and Flex account. On a $440 ATM transaction their 0% charge was about £3 more than the Flex account but the old style cards which I managed to hold on to stopped working as Nationwide has cancelled its contract with Cirrus - so I am Royally sc****d.

Steve in Hawaii (not Italy sorry!)