Debit Card

[waterlilly]

Does anybody out there know if our debit cards work in France to withdraw money from the ATMs?

[jobber604]

Look on the back of the debit card and notice the "Cirrus, accel, acculink, the exchange, interac...", if the ATM in France has those same fund transaction agents, then yes you can withdraw money with a nominal service charge of about $5 - $10. Of course if you will be withdrawing money in France, you will be receiving Euros at the posted bank exchange rate at that time.

[AndrewL]

The only thing I would add to jobber's comment is if your debit card has a 5 digit pin number it may not work in Europe. Of course that was a couple of years ago. Check with your bank to confirm if restriction has changed.

[jobber604]

Further to what I mentioned earlier, better to also call your bank and go onto the internet to see which banks in France takes your ATM. Saves you the hazzle when you're there trying to look for a specific ATM.

[tony1928]

You could also consider other things such as traveller's cheques, some services like Visa Cash cards, and bringing a few euros with you as well. I myself can't stand paying the huge fees that these ATM's may demand for foreign money withdrawals.

[waterlilly]

You could also consider other things such as traveller's cheques, some services like Visa Cash cards, and bringing a few euros with you as well. I myself can't stand paying the huge fees that these ATM's may demand for foreign money withdrawals.

Our daughter is going on a school trip to France. They had advised against Traveller's cheques, I guess because they don't want the whole group waiting outside a bank. At times it can take quite a long time. We got her a prepaid Visa card (gift certificate) but I worry a little that it won't get accepted as easily as here.

Thanks everybody for your input.

[onefishtwofish]

yes 4 number pins and i think my daughter needed it to be a chequing account?

[Mercy]

Our daughter is going on a school trip to France. They had advised against Traveller's cheques, I guess because they don't want the whole group waiting outside a bank. At times it can take quite a long time. We got her a prepaid Visa card (gift certificate) but I worry a little that it won't get accepted as easily as here.

Thanks everybody for your input.

I think prepaid visas are the worst way to go in terms for getting your money's worth,

- my beliefs - they charge you service charge to use, to check balance etc

- what I know - if you had 30 buckets left in the card and you try to pay for 40 bucks worth of stuff adding on 10$ cash, it wont work..

You would have to get the exact balance on the card tell the cashier to punch that in, but then again there's a service charge.for checking balances

[Captured Moments]

Don't bother with traveller's cheque. Most banks will not even accept them in France.
When I travelled to Paris on a holiday, I went to my bank and changed my PIN code on my debit card to a 4 digit because it will not work otherwise. You should also contact Visa if you plan on taking your credit card with you and let them know you are travelling because otherwise there is a risk of the credit card holding the account if they see a sudden usage in a different country and they think it may be stolen.

[jobber604]

Since the trip is for your daughter for a school trip. Cash is the best way to go. Gives her empowerment to maintain a fixed budget for daily expenditures. Plus having your money exchanged here will definitely save on transaction service charges - you only get charged once at the exchange companny. Have a safe fun trip.