ATM fees in France

[wessie]

ATMs in France: Make sure you read the screen before completing the withdrawal. One French bank, Credit Agricole, will now charge 5 euros per withdrawal. Expect more to follow.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/banking/2022/03/24/uk-travellers-face-brexit-fees-on-eu-cash-transfers-and-withdrawals/

[Mareng1]

Useful to know, although I don't think I have ever needed to draw Euros (is this tempting a speeding fine?  )

I tend to pay for just about everything using credit cards now.   Small bistro bills and bread purchases excepted.

[af1-windy]

Lost my card to a French ATM last year.. 

The message said "PLEASE TAKE YOUR CARD AND WAIT FOR YOUR MONEY" except my card didn't pop out, I couldn't even get my fingernails on the edge, then it said, "PLEASE RETRIEVE YOUR CARD OR IT WILL BE RETAINED" just before gobbling it up, never to be seen again.. 

Used my card at a supermarket fuel pump a few years back, 2 days later I get a call from my card company asking if I had used 99euros worth of fuel twice in 2 days. When I explained I could just about squeeze 20 Euros worth in the tank at any one time they put block on the transaction and my card.. 

Gotta have a back chaps, some cash tucked away and maybe another card. 

Good call on those charges wessie.. 

[Becksy]

Yet another Brexit benefit.

Thanks for the heads up off to France in a few weeks.

[Mareng1]

Originally Posted by af1-windy

Lost my card to a French ATM last year.. 

The message said "PLEASE TAKE YOUR CARD AND WAIT FOR YOUR MONEY" except my card didn't pop out, I couldn't even get my fingernails on the edge, then it said, "PLEASE RETRIEVE YOUR CARD OR IT WILL BE RETAINED" just before gobbling it up, never to be seen again.. 

Used my card at a supermarket fuel pump a few years back, 2 days later I get a call from my card company asking if I had used 99euros worth of fuel twice in 2 days. When I explained I could just about squeeze 20 Euros worth in the tank at any one time they put block on the transaction and my card.. 

Gotta have a back chaps, some cash tucked away and maybe another card. 

Good call on those charges wessie.. 

Something in the back of my mind is that some credit-debit cards (the pre-loaded ones) did debit €99 initially, and then the actual sum for the fuel dispensed.  The €99 transaction being reversed in a few days.

Possible?

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187070-i12-k12891487-France_using_Pay_at_Pump_petrol_stations_with_Intl_cards-France.html

[Dan - Admin]

Wonder if the UK banks recipicate and do the same to French travellers using a UK ATM...

This is only Credit Agricole at the moment so you could try another bank.

[wessie]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

Something in the back of my mind is that some credit-debit cards (the pre-loaded ones) did debit €99 initially, and then the actual sum for the fuel dispensed.  The €99 transaction being reversed in a few days.

Possible?

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187070-i12-k12891487-France_using_Pay_at_Pump_petrol_stations_with_Intl_cards-France.html

the same happens in the UK - my advice is to never use a debit card or prepaid card in any pay at pump in UK or abroad. Use a credit card with a decent credit limit so that the pre-authorisations will not affect future use. Plenty of UK credit cards have no fees overseas e.g. Post Office, Halifax, Virgin, Santander to name a few. In my  experience, the pre-authorisations are rationalised a lot quicker on credit cards compared to debit or prepaid cards. Hardly a surprise as with a credit card, it is not your money being held in abeyance. With the debit card or prepaid card, it is your money being held by the bank and they can hold onto it for several days before handing it back, the cheeky fúckers.

[af1-windy]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

Something in the back of my mind is that some credit-debit cards (the pre-loaded ones) did debit €99 initially, and then the actual sum for the fuel dispensed.  The €99 transaction being reversed in a few days.

Possible?

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187070-i12-k12891487-France_using_Pay_at_Pump_petrol_stations_with_Intl_cards-France.html

It was a Barclay credit card and there was a bit more to it, someone had also tried to buy 138 euros worth of groceries from the same supermarket as the fuel station we had used, pretty sure is was Carrefour. 

[Gazk]

Arrr good Brexit is working out so well, roaming charges on your phone "not O2" and now Holiday makers are all not going to be using the Bank with I think the most ATM's in France.

Still I don’t mind too much as we have a Credit Agricole bank accounts out there, just got fed up with getting charged fees from the UK, so we just keep money out there, the cards never get refused at fuel stops or in Hotels, supermarkets and so on works great.

The account cost a few euro a year for the account and cards, perefect.