Bank queries and info.

[steve&jac]

Hi, we couldn't get to PP last year but are coming back once again in June. Last time out (09) there was a Barclays Bank with a cashpoint opposite the Eolo which was great for getting our holiday cash (not to mention FREE!). Is it still there does anyone know?

 

[Sparky]

Yes it is still there in the old Mir building.

 

[steve&jac]

Great, thanks for the update

 

[Nick]

Hi you two

Free??? How's that. I bank with Barclays in the UK, have done for 29 years now, and have an account at Barclays in PP but have to pay when I withdraw money.

Please tell me more!!!!

 

[emmalou]

Mmm yes I was thinking the same! Do tell!!

 

[Gommar Goffer]

Does anyone know if the Barclays PP accounts can appear on the online banking service?

 

[Lorenzo]

Barclays in PP

I have a euro a/c with Barclays in Puerto Pollensa. The staff there are very helpful. They gave me the instructions for looking at my Barclays euro a/c on line through the Spanish Barclays website. When I withdraw euros from the cashpoint there, using my Spanish Barclays bank card, there are no charges.

The big plus with the Spanish Barclays account is that they give me back a small percentage of my standing orders - electricity, community charges etc - which is very welcome.

 

[clinz]

For info, I opened an account with Santander which allows free overseas cash withdrawls, but you have to have a couple of accounts with them to get this one. Used to use my Nationwide Flaxaccount in PP which saved me a bit in commission but they charge now.

 

[Nick]

Hi GG

Yes you can view your Spanish Barclays bank account on-line.

Jst pop in and one of the very friendly/helpful full English speaking girls will show you what to do. It's v easy once you've done it a couple of times.

 

[tangofan]

I assume the big Santander branch is still in the port?

I too am an ex-Nationwide user but hopefully will be able to get free withdrawals at Santander as I am have my current account with them (Allliance and Leicester that was) but would like to be sure the bank is still there!

I used to use BBVA with nationwide and somehow can't remember seeing an ATM at Santander but surely there is one??

 

[Sparky]

Hi Tangofan, yes Santander bank is still here and they have an ATM outside the C/JuanXX111 entrance.

 

[tangofan]

Sparky, thanks very much, that is very reassuring!

 

[its cd]

Hi

Just check before you go because I think you only get free withdrawals if you have a zero account ............ I actually think people with just basic accounts get charged when they use their cards

We had a current account which wasn't a zero account ( again ex alliance and leicester ) and even though it did get £1,000 paid in each month ( which is what you need to get a zero account ) they didn;t automatically convert our account to a Zero account, we had to request this

Glad we did because we now get the free ATM usage at the Santander exchange rate which is usually at least 3 cents better than Halifax or M&S Mastercard. We have also got ourselves a Zero credit card which we just use when abroad as this now works out as the ceapest way for us to spend money in Majorca

If only Santander would find a way of allowing you to do on line transfers between your UK Santander account and a Spanish Santander account I would open up a spanish account .............. but they can't.

So far as I know the only bank that lets you do that is Lloyds ( ex Halifax ) which may seem convenient and cheap ( free transfers ) but their "bank exchange rate" is awful ................ worse than the M&S tourist rate

 

[tangofan]

its CD, thanks for this. I have my doubts about whether I can use my A & L card free as I have rung them twice and the first time I was told I couldn't but the 2nd time was told that I could use it in Spanish Santander ATMs free of charge. They said they would mark it on my account but I said I wanted it in writing! I just looked at the Santander website and the Zero account says it is free anywhere in the world but you don't get the free travel insurance. You get this on a Premium Account but it costs £20 a month but no free ATM! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh. Bring back Alliance and Leicester and their excellent service please!

It is quite ridiculous that they can't connect up the UK and Spanish accounts I agree.

Has anyone used their blue A & L card for free in the Santander ATM?

 

[Nick]

"It is quite ridiculous that they can't connect up the UK and Spanish accounts I agree."


"Can't" or "won't" ???!!!

 

[tangofan]

"Won't" I would say!

 

[copper]

Hello all

There is a huge amount on Martin Lewis Money Expert website re cashing money abroad and useing credit cards so it might have the A&L information on there There is also a forum on there

As we spend so many hoildays in Majorca and mainland Spain i might nip into the Barclays in PP when we are there to see about opening an account as I like many others opened my Nwide ac just for the withdrawels and now need to do something else

 

[whaleywanderer]

Hi Tangofan - I have used my blue A & L card to withdraw cash at the Santander ATM in PP and have not incurred any charges for doing so. The reason, I have been told is because this account is now Santander even though you are still using your old A & L card, which will eventually be replaced by a Santander one. However, I did upgrade my old premier account to a Santander Zero account so not sure if you can use it fees free with the old account.

If you meet the criteria for an upgrade to the Zero account this can all be done with a phone call, all your account details remain the same, just the name of the account changes and you get the extra benefit of 12 months, 5% interest on all credit balances up to £2,500.

Like you I used to have a Nationwide flex account which I only used when travelling, I have now closed this account and the Santander Zero works fine for me. Don't forget to call Santander before you go on holiday to authorize your card for use when on holiday or you may find access is denied when using in foreign ATM's.

I feel sure that at sometime in the future the facility to transfer money from Santander UK to Santander Spain will happen, so a case of 'Watch this space'.

PS: Another benefit of using the Santander card in ATM's (like the old Nationwide account) is you get the interbank exchange rate, which is usually several cents more than is being offered anywhere else.

Hope this helps

 

[Sparky]

Note for mods: Perhaps these posts should be moved to a new thread as technically they're not about Barclays bank

Whaley, to avoid confusion i have renamed the thread.

 

[tangofan]

Thanks whaleywanderer, though if I change to the Zero account I would lose the free travel insurance.......it sounds simple enough to change the account though.

I had better wait for the letter they are supposed to be sending me and see what that says. I will let you know what they say!

I think Nationwide were very naughty doing what they did because this was the theme of their advertising for so long then once new customers were lured in they stopped the benefit of free ATMs!