Re: [Leica] Travel Photography Made Easy

["James R. Nelon" <jnelon@netvigator.com>]

Words to the wise:

Your experiences parallel the ones I experience virtually anywhere in
Asia, namely Singapore, Hong Kong, PRC, Korea, India, Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan. All these countries' banks'
ATMs appear to add charges similar to what you have experienced in
Europe. I don't think that I belong to the wrong bank; instead I think
that the ATM networks for cash withdrawals here in Asia simply and
automatically charge as much as they can to as many foreign cards as
they can get away with. And I think they do it because, by the time you
get the bill, you're back home in the US or Europe and trying to get
refunds for a few bucks are more of a hassle than it may be worth, even
if you make a local phone call to your local credit card company. As I
said before, your mileage may vary. But this stuff is happening, so if
you come to Asia, read your credit card/debit card agreement before
withdrawing anything.

Jim

Pascal wrote:
> 
> On 06-10-1999 16:35 William Ferris wrote:
> 
> >I have never had additional fees added to ATM transactions.  You need a new
> >bank!!
> 
> As a rule all over Europe, holders of a European bank account using an
> electronic Eurocheque card to withdraw money from ATM's will pay no
> additional usage fee (apart from the nominal annual card fee, typically
> around 10-15 USD for most banks, sometimes less or free with smaller
> banks) when using the card in their own country. Abroad they will pay a
> fee for withdrawing money at a foreign ATM that is typically something of
> about 2 to 3 USD per transaction (this consists of a fixed fee + a
> percentage on the actually withdrawn sum of money).
> 
> Such electronic Eurocheque is generally cheaper than using a credit card
> to withdraw money. And with a credit card, you pay a fee even if you use
> the card to get money within your own country. For credit cards issued in
> Belgium, you are paying 4% commission fee on Visa money withdrawal
> transactions, 5 USD + 1% on Eurocard/MasterCard, 4% on Diners Club and
> 2.5% with a minimum of about 3 USD for American Express. These
> fees/percentages can vary upon the country in which your card was issued
> however.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Pascal
> NO ARCHIVE
> 
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