Visa Electron

yer_averagejoe · 26 Nov 2006 at 23:24

Its amsterdam hes going to, not the congo. It'll be fine. Sure you might be limited in SOME places, but most I reckon you'd get away with. just draw out cash when you're there if you're unsure what shops take etc.

gumbald · 26 Nov 2006 at 23:24

I found it to be very favourable, better than any of the exchange bureaus were offering, presumably because it's processed as part of a huge business transaction every day or such rather than a small dealing over a counter.

Cob · 27 Nov 2006 at 02:09

I use my Visa Electron for buying from foreign websites. I just select the standard Visa credit card option and it usually accepts my card number and processes it as if I'd selected Visa Electron. I've used it with success on a good few UK sites that claim they don't take Electron too.

I would assume that shop purchases abroad would work in the same way as long as the cashier doesn't simply refuse to take it.

Rhyzz · 27 Nov 2006 at 03:10

Visa Electron is a paper boys card, get a proper debit card!!

I'd suggest taking cash, Electron is renowned for not being accepted at certain places, it's even more useless than an AMEX card.

gimp_hunter · 27 Nov 2006 at 03:25

Rhyzz said:
Visa Electron is a paper boys card, get a proper debit card!!

I'd suggest taking cash, Electron is renowned for not being accepted at certain places, it's even more useless than an AMEX card.

An AMEX card isn't useless :eek:

I was in prague and even the guys painting etc on the street took it (with a manual swipe thing)

Rhyzz · 27 Nov 2006 at 04:22

Yea but in the UK very few places accept them because of the rates AMEX charge the companies. Selfridges is a good one to use it at, they'll take it all day long!

I use my AMEX where possible, the rewards they offer are awesome. I've got a few thousand points on it now, enough to buy me a couple of plane tickets to anywhere in Europe, and all I did was pay for my holiday on it.

I'd recommend AMEX to everyone

gimp_hunter · 27 Nov 2006 at 11:35

True, I got my first Amex in 2003 and I think it's great, the travel and lifestyle benefits are excellent and the rewards are also pretty good if redeemed for travel (like plane tickets), although I keep saying I want to save more before using them. Must have around 90k by now

Rotty · 27 Nov 2006 at 11:38

One thing you might need o know there are often very big queues at cash machines in Amsterdam so if you need cash and see one with only a couple of poeple waiting then get in as quick as you can

Samtheman1k · 27 Nov 2006 at 11:49

Pez said:
VISA handling fees are normally near 2.75% + whatever exchange rate there is. Remember, to visa, this is the same as walking in and exchanging card cash over a counter, hense why they charge.

I don't normally get charged anything when I use my VISA card abroad, just the standard amount of dollars or euros converted into GBP.