Currancy Exchange

A Mate wrote:
Frank,
Plus is the Visa cash network - and while possibly unknown by name to many
Europeans - in existence throughout virtually all the 'electronically
connected' world. There are many interlocking and overlapping networks
operating almost everywhere - most ATMs carry logos from the common networks
in their neck of the woods only - but your bank should be able to tell you
just which worldwide networks your card will operate on!!

There would be very few cards which are not affiliated with Plus!!

Note that I was talking about withdrawing money from an *EFTPOS*
establishment (i.e. a shop, service station, etc.), *not* from an *ATM*.

*ATMs* are indeed no problem for our European/Dutch debit cards (nor for
our credit cards), but, as I wrote/detailed, *EFTPOS* *is*, as far as
withdrawing money is concerned (for both our credit cards and our debit
cards). FWIW, two of the non-working cards were issued by ABN-AMRO
(perhaps known as ABN in Oz), which is a well-known world-wide bank.

Bottom line: Don't assume that a *foreign* credit (or debit) card will
work for *withdrawing* money from *EFTPOS*.

Sorry for all the emphasis, but few people seem to understand the
difference between pay/withdraw, credit/debit and ATM/EFTPOS.

"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message
...
Gerrit 't Hart wrote:

"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message
...
A Mate wrote:
Travellers Cheques are no longer used much. ATM's are almost
everywhere
(even in the outback you can withdraw money through your credit card
using
eftpos).

In our experience [1], that (withdrawing money using EFTPOS) only
works for a *debit* card and then only for the *right* debit card. A
(non-Oz) MasterCard credit card does *not* work an nor does a European
"Europas" or "Worldpass" debit card. So beware. Hence my earlier
advice.

Theoretically using a credit card with the Plus symbol on it should
enable
you to withdraw direct from your Chequing account, or your savings
account,
whichever is connected on the card. However I would not bet on it.
Several
months ago we were in Europe (Netherlands) and tried to withdraw from my
cheque account but the ATMs in Holland wouldn't let me do it! I checked
with
the bank (owning two of those ATMs and their staff didn't have a clue as
to
what the Plus symbol meant. So I gave up and used the credit card
normally.
Placed a fairly large credit onto the card account and so saved interest
charges on withdrawals.
BTW the Plus function works in Australia and Singapore. But if your own
bank
has a problem with this you could still be in hot water if you are
relying
on it.

Indeed, "Plus" is unknown in The Netherlands and probably in most of
Europe and quite possibly also in the UK where the OP is from.

That is why I posted what I posted: I.e. Australians should not assume
that just because they can do some thing with *their* (i.e. Australian)
cards, that 'foreigners' can do the same with their (foreign) cards.

So it would be nice if another person from the UK could post his/her
positive/negative experience with withdrawing money from an Australian
EFTPOS establishment.