Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Banks, Interest, Money Transfers, Insurance => Topic started by: Jacqui Harvey on July 01, 2006, 12:04:24 PM
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I have been reading the correspondence about the Nationwide and we are thinking of opening an account with them. Is the Nationwide the only Bank/Building Society who's cards can be used in Turkish A.T.M's without incurring charges? Also can any A.T.M. be used? and if not which ones can be used?
Thanks
Jacqui.
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Jacqui
We opened an account for use on holiday and this hols was the first one we relied soley on it without taking cash. Was dead easy and used in all banks we tried. The 2 in calis were actually working and it was a piece of cake and the rate was very good too 2.92 compared to 2.80 at the time in resort.
Also used in Spain this year and excellent Euro exchange. Well worth it. Have set up my current account so that I can transfer to my 'Calis' account via the internet- and its very simple. Any extras or apartment rentals goes straight in via my current which is Nat West to the Nationwide flex account. Would recommend it.
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I have a First Direct account and I don't incur any bank/transfer charges using it whilst in Turkey
Pete
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Nationwide are the only Bank / Building Society that advertise the fact that they don't charge.
Most ATMs accept Nationwide cards if they have Visa facilities. The only one that I found that wouldn't accept ours was the Halikbank machine by the market in Fethiye. But that was a couple of years ago so it might do so now.
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Hi Cavfan,
You say and I quote "I can transfer to my 'Calis' account via the internet" exactly what does that mean? do the Nationwide have a facility to put money into an International Account for you?
Thanks
Jacqui.
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I have only come found one bank that would not give me any money and that was a foriegn bank in Istanbull, I have used my card for 4yrs no hassles, ausgal
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Sorry Jacqui that wasnt very clear. What I mean is that I have set up a direct payment facility from my NatWest to my Nationwide- whcih I refer to as the Calis account as thats what its mainly used for . However I think you will find that it is one of the cheapest banks to transfer to foreign accounts from.Although I didnt have my account with them at the time we were transferring money so I'm not sure. There was a ton of info about this a while ago- I bet if you use 'search' you'll find info.
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No you can't transfer money into an international bank via the Internet. (unfortuntely) - however, you can transfer money via the Internet from a Turkish account to your UK one!
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YOu can if you set up the facility with Nationwide BEFORE leaving the UK!
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Have just returned for Calis and used my Nationwide debit and credit card for the 1st time, I took some Lira with me from the Post Office and got 2.55 rate. I changes some at my Bank in Fethiye Finnans and got 2.65, I was suprised with the rate from Nationwide I knew they did not charge for drawing money out,but was suprised when I checked my bank statements, I got the same exchange rate as Finnans bank and no charges. And the same rate when I purchased something using my credit card. in future will not bother taking a lot of cash.
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We have had nothing but trouble from Nationwide. We lost our debit card which we promptly cancelled Nationwide told us they had dispatched a new one .... only to be told four weeks later that they will not send a replacement to 'restricted Turkey'. If you live out here and use Nationwide, look after your card!!! We have an account in England that we cannot access. AND, they won't even send a new card to family or friends for us. If we were relying on that account, we'd be right up the swanny!!
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we've got a nation w account.Will try it this year.Coming over next week.you want some crumpets at Kismet?
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Yum!!! Yes please!! x
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sorted xxx
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:) Maria, do you mean a natiowide ordinary acc, I have an old, but still valid building society book,(with a couple of quid in, will this be enough, or do I have to open one, and will I have enough time now,x ;)
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its a Nationwide Flex account and you can open one on-line today if you have an old one you can just transfer the balance from one to another to open your flex- might just be enough time before you go!
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The last thing that I do before leaving for Turkey is to bung some money into my Nationwide Flex Account so I can draw from ATMs in Turkey. We have been doing that for the last three and a half years and not incurred any charges.
Pete [^]
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quote:
Originally posted by canalman
The last thing that I do before leaving for Turkey is to bung some money into my Nationwide Flex Account so I can draw from ATMs in Turkey. We have been doing that for the last three and a half years and not incurred any charges.
Pete [^]
Bunged mine in today ready for 28th May. Best thing we did was to get a N/wide flex account & N/wide Visa card
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Its the only account that lets you withdraw cash abroad with no charge. 3 years ago we were using Lloyds with a £2 per transaction charge (or something like that) Nationwide also gives you the best exchange rate. You just need the ATM's to be working lol
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speaking to N.W. head office recently they imformed me that they were not happy with ex pats using there cash points abroad on a perminant basis and were reviewing the situation.
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WE also just top up our Flex a/c before we go out and then just use the ATM's.As there are now 3 in Calis you shouldn't have a problem.Good exchange rate as well.LLoyds TSB cash rate when we went out 2.58.Atm withdrawals during our holiday 2.65 to 2.68.:D
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Sounds good ill have a look at that today,you say you can open a Flex a/c on
the comupter?
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After reading all the good comments re Nationwide on the forum, we have just opened a joint flex a/c, applied for a visa card and got info on opening an off-shore a/c. You can do it on the net but you will still need to provide proof of identity and address. We went to the nearest branch, the member of staff was very helpful, filled all the forms in straight on the computer for us and even phoned the International department to check on things. Apparently with an off-shore account, if you nominate your Turkish a/c as one of your payees (you can specify several)you can then transfer funds by SWIFT (cost £25) by fax, phone or over the internet. We may go this route when we are ready to move out permanently. You can also choose how and when to have the interest paid and which way you pay the tax.
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We have opened a Nationwide account also due to the information we got from the forum. We have been told that Swift transfer is £20.
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Best thing I ever did was to open the account. It saves taking £cash over, which we always used to. I bank on the internet for all my banking and transfer funds from my current to my flex so that when we are stung for charges on the compext, as we always seem to be( the latest was the canalisation!), its in the bank and available.
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Mercury, a couple of years ago we sent money to Turkey through my HSBC account and it cost £32 for the Swift transfer. Shortly afterwards we sent some more money through Nationwide and, as you said, it cost £20. The person in Nationwide told us that as they were not a clearing bank, they used HSBC to expedite their transfers so any transfers that we make in the future will be via Nationwide.
Pete
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Mercury and Canalman are probably right about SWIFT costing £20 from your Flex account, I'm quoting £25 from the Off Shore account blurb, perhaps it is more because you have the convenience of not having to be there to sign paper work for the transfer. Mind you a trip to the Isle of Man wouldn't be too bad. I was particularly interested in a method of transfer by phone or internet thats why I asked Nationwide about the off-shore accounts. If anybody has found any other way to transfer funds without being present/leaving already filled out paperwork at the sending end I would be interested. Glo
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If you have a HSBC account in the UK you can open another account with them in Turkey (from the UK believe it or not), then to tranfer money between accounts is £10, no matter how much you transfer, this is each time you transfer. You can also do this online or by phone, using pre-arranged passwords. If you have a pension say, paid into UK account and can manage for three months, then you only need transfer 4 times a year.
I was in HSBC here last week making these enquiries for myself, preparing for when we move to Turkey, hopefully within the next 12 months.
Baz 8)
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From your flex account you can print out the swift transfer form (on internet) and then post this to the UK and the money can be transferred over without flying home. Did this last week, and sent the letter back with a visitor to post in the UK. You can only do it this way if you have an internet account.
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I received my Flex account card today and have started putting cash in it for our holiday in September in Calis.Thasnks for the info. :)
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Thanks too for the info, I tried to open an account on line, it would'nt let me. (no surprise there) So I visited them today and have opened one, I told them why I was opening one and there was no problem, Whey.
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We have friends coming over to Turkey in a few weeks & they bank with HSBC. Does anyone know what HSBC charges if you use their HSBC ATM's in Hisaronu / Fethiye?
Paul
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Read the link in the next topic "Daylight Robbery"it will give you the information you require. :)
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From 17th October Nationwide's cost of drawing cash abroad and at home will rise to 2.5% (Min £3)
That makes the Post Office Card a Better deal.
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quote:
Originally posted by tribalelder
From 17th October Nationwide's cost of drawing cash abroad and at home will rise to 2.5% (Min £3)
That makes the Post Office Card a Better deal.
Where did you hear this? I've looked on their website but can find no mention of it, as a matter of fact they are still advertising this as a reason to switch to them.
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If They Have an HSBC + Account There Is Not a Charge And you get free travel insurance i think for 30 days
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And It Can Be Any ATM Not Just HSBC
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Phil.... look on www.moneysavingsexpert.com The info is there.....NW can still quote the existing rules of course because the change has not yet occurred.
It is quite an informative site. :)
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Just read the bad news on Moneysaving Expert. See below......
The Post and Nationwide credit cards are currently my top pick cards for spending cheaply when abroad; they give you the very best exchange rate as neither adds the hidden ‘load fee' to it. Yet from 17 October, Nationwide's cost of withdrawing cash abroad (and at home) will rise to 2.5% (min £3), meaning the Post Office credit card is significantly better now.
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Looks like we will be putting our holiday money into the P.O.
Jacqui.
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quote:
Originally posted by tribalelder
Phil.... look on www.moneysavingsexpert.com The info is there.....NW can still quote the existing rules of course because the change has not yet occurred.
It is quite an informative site. :)
Better still, try this one.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com
:D
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All of you - you're misreading this!
Nationwide will only charge if you use your CREDIT card to withdraw cash. Use your credit card for purchases NOT CASH - that way you still get a great rate (sometimes better than the debit card). You should NEVER get money out on ANY credit card - due to their extra charges - Nationwide is still one of the best if you MUST.
Using your DEBIT card will still incur NO charges.
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Spot on Linda. Exactly what I thought :D
Ken 8)
p.s.People newly joining Nationwide should specify the Flex Account.
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Linda,
I read it like you as well. Debit card - no charge. Credit card - charge for taking out cash.
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Nationwide CREDIT card has had fees for a while JUST for cash withdrawel. I'm not going to look back but I believe those fees are just about to rise by 0.5%. It's still one of the best as there is NO loading (or hidden) fees of around 3% as with most of the other cards. Hence if you make purchases using it it gives you a great exchange rate with NO charges whatsoever.
It's the DEBIT card you should be using for withdrawing CASH - with NO fees whatsoever & REMAINING that way.
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quote:
Originally posted by tribalelder
Phil.... look on www.moneysavingsexpert.com The info is there.....NW can still quote the existing rules of course because the change has not yet occurred.
It is quite an informative site. :)
Just checked myself and agree with the others. The article refers to credit cards and not debit cards. So Nationwide is still the best deal.
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Where is hole in wall in calis please that will take nation wide
Lance
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All 3 of the c/p machines in Calis take the N/W debit card.2 near the dolphin roundabout and HSBC near the water Taxis. 8)
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We have just come back from furnishing our new place I used my Nationwide credit card at Eron Spot on 22 March 08 for £2000 the exchange rate I got with no charges was 2.46 ytl ( in the change shop in Fethiye the same day was 2.43YTL) I made various withdrawals from the cash machines using my debit card through the week and by Friday I got 2.51 no charges ( the change shop and Finnansbank were 2.46 ytl)
I think Nationwide is a great service, saves you carrying lots of money about, and ther cards seem to work ok in all ATM machines. If you use your Credit Card to get cash then I think there is a charge. We both take our debit cards so can withdraw up to £600 per day in Sterling from some ATM machines or YTL
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A good point the exchange rate given by Nationwide has always been beter than the local change shops, in my experience. ;)
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Weve just returned from Spain and we used our Nationwide everyday for cash. the local rate for Euros was 1.235 so I reckoned to withdraw 120 euros was about £100ish. When we came back it translated to £93. Its a much better way to change money and no cost. Just never sure what the daily limit is. By what Mark says it must be £300 each- is that right?
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Your personal daily limit is set by the branch and varies from person to person.
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I have just checked my daily limit it is £600 on each card Maria. I am glad i did not know before we went shopping Carole would have had a field day.
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I used my Nationwide flex account in Calis last summer-Almost no problem.No interest charges.The only problem I had was trying to withdraw cash from the ATM on the right hand side,walking away from the beach,and just before the Dolphin on the right hand side.The one on the left,next to the taxi rank worked fine.Thank God cause I had no money.One way to lose weight I suppose.
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The other way to rapidly lose weight is to take advantage of the free sauna i.e. the one you couldn't get the money out of for about 5 minutes - if you can last that long in there!
It never surprises me when that one doesn't want to work - would you want to work in that heat?
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Nationwide flex account? Can it only happen to me?
Applied on line today to open one and was turned dwon in 10 seconds flat, cant complain about the waiting time ;)
So I am wondering why I was refused, they asked the usual questions, how long with your bank, how long with your employer, do you have credit cards, what is your current annual salary etc.
I have never been turned down before for a card, so am wondering do you have to be on a really good salary to get one?
Maybe is it because when prompted if I want to use the Nationwide for my main banking, including Direct Debits etc I put No, as I am quite happy with my current bank.
Without divulging too much re my salary, I reckon I am on a decent packet, in fact a wheelbarrow used to bring my wage packet to me before all this pay into the bank nonsense:D
Seriously, I was a little surprised to be turned down as I just reckon I am a bog standard bank account holder with no bad debt against my name who has been in my house years, with my bank years, and in my job years.
No doubt I might get one or two sarky comments, but makes me wonder if I cant get one, who can?
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Me :D:D
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Nationwide have a strict credit rating policy- Nick and I had a joint account years ago but I was only allowed the cash card, they did not think i needed a debit card etc (now I am ok). My daughter went to upgrade her flex account a couple of weeks ago to get a Debit card as she is 18.5 but the man at the Nationwide - he say no, he said she did not use her account enough! So she went next door to the TSB and opened a Student account immediately and within days she had cheque book, card etc. I know that the Nationwide account has the benefit of free withdrawals abroad but she has been a customer with the Nationwide for over 10 years (only as a kid account holder but surely that is likely to be buisness forever as most people stay with the same account once they have opened it. I can't knock it as I am surprised at how easy the TSB made it for her but surprised at how hard the Nationwide made it for.
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Refusual from the bank may not reflect your credit worthyness but whether the bank can make money serving your needs. TB
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Thats right Twin Bee my wife had a egg credit card and as it was paid each month in full, they have withdrawn the service and closed the account as they where not making any money.
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Stephen (Chorleboy) Sorry if my reply to you Onur Air post was a bit harsh. I just feel that they get a lot of undue flak on here.
Anyway I feel sure that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding with Nationwide. I cannot believe that any bank would not allow anybody to open account into which they want to make deposits. They make money from credit cards as they are giving you money up front which you can't necessarily cover. With the Flex Account debit card you have to maintain sufficient funds in the account to service the card. I had one long before my place in Calis and I do thoroughly reccommend their service. I think it would be worth your while to visit a local branch around Chorley/Preston or Bolton.
Ken :D:D
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http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=627415 The link is for money saving expert - seems others have experienced this.
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I am amazed that Nationwide is doing this at a time when banks are strapped for cash, there is pent-up demand for mortgages, and interest rates for savers are going up every month (my internet bank is offering 7.15% for 12 month deposit). However, what seems to be the message from GB's useful link is that if you apply in person and contact a human being then the chances are that the decision will be reversed. This may be case of automated responses producing inappropriate decisions. It is a bit of a worry though since a standard question when opening a new bank account is whether you have ever been refused previously.
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I have just opened a Nationwide flex account,went into my local branch with I.D.filled in the form, had to put in £100 to open it, and a week later the debit card has arrived.