nationwide
 

We just had a letter from the nationwide building society informing us that between June and September they are changing the cards to a .cash card +.This card will allow purchases on-line and in shops but will not allow you to withdraw from A.T.M.s abroad.in u.k it will be o.k.for cashback in stores.
How will this effect those of us who withdraw cash over here?It will probably mean we have to keep more money in our spanish accounts.As the nationwide were not charging us to withdraw cash over here it will mean more expense for us.
comments please

Re: nationwide
 

Yes SHERGAR we had the same letter yesterday ...spoke to Nationwide on the phone and they could not offer us any alternate options....so we are now looking at either making our Spanish Bank account our main one or opening an account with the Halifax here in Spain.
Either way it¨s a pain in the backside :(

Re: nationwide
 

What sort of Nationwide card/account do you currently have? Flexaccount? With debit card or cash card?

Re: nationwide
 

Just a bog standard Flexaccount with cashcard ,Shaggymon.
It was just handy for drawing money without the charges.The guy I spoke to at Nationwide said that Nationwide was moving the goalposts with regards this account,as they were losing so much money by allowing the "free" cash withdrawals whilst abroad :confused:
Still it was good while it lasted ;)

Re: nationwide
 

...and yet the card they are replacing it with can be used online and in shops? Abroad as well? I agree though the free cash withdrawals abroad is very useful. What branding does the new one have? If you can use it online and in shops, presumably it is still visa/mastercard?

Re: nationwide
 

Bugger.
Maybe that shows how many expats there are with flex accounts.
Will have to check out how much they charge for transfers otherwise there seems little point in having this account now.

Re: nationwide
 

Any changes to the credit card?

Re: nationwide
 

I don't understand. I have been to their website and drilled down through all pages. It still mentions free european cash wthdrawals as a major advantage of the debit card.

Nada about charges for withdrawing cash abroad.

I wonder if they are doing this to "inactive" accounts where people only have a flexaccount to make these withdrawals and conduct no other business through the account.

I've received nothing. Yet!

Re: nationwide
 

I don't think there are changes to the debit card. I believe it is the Cirrus Cash Card that is being withdrawn.

Re: nationwide
 

There isn't a Cirrus Cash Card is there? there is only one Nationwide DEBIT/CASH card that can be used to withdraw cash abroad and that's the flexaccount debit card - accepted at Visa or Mastercard/Cirrus ATM terminals.

Re: nationwide
 

You can have a flexaccount with a debit card or a flexaccount with a cash card. The cash card is simply that, for use in ATMs, in the UK and abroad, you cannot use it as a debit card. It is the cash card that is being replaced.

Re: nationwide
 

This is weird!

I only had a response from Nationwide last night via the secure messaging. I was asking if they made any charges if I used my Flex account debit card to pay in euros to my Spanish account.

They replied that transactions are free of Nationwide charges but could not say if the Spanish bank would make any charges.

They reminded me that I could withdraw form ATMs FOC.

But then again I always thought there was a distinct difference between their debit cards and cash card.

Re: nationwide
 

Yes, sorry there is a cash card which allows nothing except cash transactions. It's basically there for the less credit worthy or poor. Obviously this is the card that is being modified.

Anyone with a flexaccount VISA debit card will continue to be able to withdraw cash in europewith no charge. The solution is simple - ask for an upgrade to a VISA debit card.

Re: nationwide
 

Yep it's the cash card. Unless you have the misfortune to be 'unwaged' just upgrade to the real card. here's Nationwide's official link.

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_...d-changes2.htm

Don't see a problem, myself.

Re: nationwide
 

Does anyone know if there is another bank or building society in UK which allows free ATM withdrawal of cash abroad (Spain), like the old nationwide flex a/c with cash card? Thanks

Re: nationwide
 

None.:(

Get a flexaccount with a VISA debit card. That will remain free.:thumbsup:

Re: nationwide
 

I want to be able to withdraw cash in Spain. I won't be able to do that for a debit card.

Re: nationwide
 

a debit card is also a cash card.

Re: nationwide
 

Does this mean that I can withdraw cash from atm in Spain without any fee?

Re: nationwide
 

Go to the nationwide website.

You need a flexaccount and a flexaccount VISA debit card. Quite simple.

Re: nationwide
 

Actually it's very confusing. Members in another forum told me that the nationwide flex a/c to withdraw money in Spain ATM is still the same, ie withdraw without fee. The new cash card + is for current a/c & has nothing to do with the flex a/c.

Re: nationwide
 

Flexaccount is what Nationwide call their current account.

If you have a flexaccount with a cash card only it will be replaced (upgraded?) with a card that cannot be used to withdraw from foreign ATMs. If you have a Flexaccount with a debit card then nothing will change.

Re: nationwide
 

That's not what I'm told by a member in EOS who actually contacted the branch. The best thing for me is to go there personally when I'm in UK.

Re: nationwide
 

I have a NW Flexaccount which I have my State Pension paid into and it comes with a Visa Debit Card.

To confirm, with this card I will still be able to make free cash withdrawals?

Re: nationwide
 

Their website would tend to imply that you will still be able to make free withdrawals.

But then since when was a website the latest and most up-to-date?

I too would like to have this clarified.

Re: nationwide
 

I have rung Nationwide and been informed that only the Cash card will be affected. With the Visa Debit card connected to a Flexaccount, free withdrawals within Europe will still be available.:)

Hope this helps.

Re: nationwide
 

Yes Abbey, which is now Santander allows free cash withdrawals at the Santander ATMs here in Spain, as I have used my debit card recently to withdraw cash without any charges.

Re: nationwide
 

If you do not live in the uk and are on the electoral roll Nationwide will not replace the cash card with a debit card required to withdraw cash overseas, since they do a credit check. The Cirrus "free" cash facility is being replaced with a VISA facility - expect to pay a hefty charge for cash withdrawls overseas. I have complained to Nationwide but they are not interested in ex pats, only uk residents (their words).
Maybe if enough of us complain they will revert the decision, after all it is a Mutual !

Re: nationwide
 

Not true, you will now have to pay the Visa charge.

Re: nationwide
 

So are you saying that Nationwide have given me the wrong information? I already have a debit card, I have never had a cash card. Nationwwide told me on the phone the other day that with the debit card, withdrawals will still be free within Europe.

Re: nationwide
 

The OP said that the new card could not be used in ATMs abroad. You seem to be saying it will be a VISA card that can be used abroad (albeit with charges)...?

Re: nationwide
 

I have been told :-
The cash card+ will not allow cash withdrawls outside the uk
Nationwide are closing the Cirrus "free" facility in favour of visa.
If you have already a Nationwide DEBIT card you will be still be able to withdraw cash, via the visa sytem.
If you only have a cash card and are not uk resident (on the electoral roll) you will not be able to get a debit (or credit) card from Nationwide, ie you will no longer be able to withdraw cash abroad.
The debit card will be via the visa system, ie visa charges and their exchange rate.

Re: nationwide
 

I have not recieved any letter from NW but I tried to use my cash card and I got service not available.
I daresay like many I still have a UK address but not on the electoral role, does this mean you can't get the new visa card?

Re: nationwide
 

they're not supposed to be changing until June - September, maybe you were just unlucky that the service was down at the time.

The VISA card isn't new - it is an upgrade to the basic current account. Unfortunately, in the UK, to get one you usually need to be credit checked, the most basic part of which is that you are on the electoral role.

I shall be removing my savings from their accounts as a protest at this short sighted (in my opinion) change.

Re: nationwide
 

If there are that many expats withdrawing money abroad that means a lot of expat Flex account holders.
Maybe if they all close these accounts now NW would think again.

Well at least we have till June-September.

Re: nationwide
 

Why would anyone have a flexaccount and not have the debit card but a cash card instead.

I can't see the problem.

1. get flexaccount

2. get nationwide debit card

3. withdraw free cash in Spain.

Re: nationwide
 

1. Those not on electoral role in UK or those who fail a credit/ID check for whatever reason
2. The unwaged or the poor (as you put it).

Re: nationwide
 

I openend a Flexaccount with a debit card last year when I was Spanish resident (I already had an ISA with them from when they took over my previous Building Society).

I told the bloke in the branch (I was on a UK visit) that I had a UK address ( a genuine one, it was our family home and we never sold it). I also told him I was Spanish resident.

He asked had I got a driving licence and what address was on it. I showed him my British Driving Licence with my UK address. He let me open the Flexaccount (with no money) and the debit card was sent through the post a few days later.

I was registered as a non-resident voter but afaik they did not check that. I also at the time had no income, although I told him I would have my State Pension paid into it when I started receiving it (and have done since the first payment on February 1st 2010).

Hope this helps someone.

Re: nationwide
 

Very helpful, thanks to you and shaggymon.

Re: nationwide
 

Yes, very useful and interesting. Thank you, Scampicat.