If you are planning a trip or you already have a destination closed, you have to be careful when spending. The use of the bank card abroad can suppose an additional cost due to the commissions that the banking entities can charge, as the Bank of Spain has warned in its portal for the banking client.
As stated in a note published this Thursday, one of the assumptions is for foreign currency spending. If a currency other than the euro is used in the country you are visiting, banks may charge a commission for currency exchange when making a card payment in a business or when withdrawing money at an ATM.
Another of the commissions also refers to ATMs. Specifically, it is the transfer to the customer of the charge made by the foreign entity to ours for the withdrawal of money at one of its ATMs. There is a possibility that the full amount will be charged. It is an important detail, because it is not usually reflected in the card contract.
In any case, it is recommended to review the particular conditions of the card that you intend to use on the trip and find out about the different alternatives that exist to pay in foreign currency before leaving the country, it is warned.
Comparing is also a good way out. Cards with lower or even zero commissions are currently offered for operations abroad.
Due to these fees, the use of cash can be a cheaper method when traveling abroad. In fact, some businesses offer lower prices if you pay in cash to avoid being charged commissions for the use of the dataphone and the need to convert the currency.
It must also be taken into account that in some countries, in addition to paying with their own currency, it is possible to use dollars or euros.
