will visa check card work overseas?

[Rallispec]

Does anyone know if a Visa Check card (through suntrust, if it matters) will work in europe (ireland, to be specific)?

I've been told that a standard Visa Credit card will, want to make sure about the check card though.

 

[PricklyPete]

Yes, I've used my check card over in Ireland, Spain, and France without problems.

 

[PricklyPete]

By the way...where are you going in Ireland?

 

[Czar]

yebb, should work without problems if it is a visa card, might want to ask your bank just to be 100% sure

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
By the way...where are you going in Ireland?

my girlfreind is going in january with a class for 2 weeks. Hitting up the main points of interest... dublin, etc..

 

[dabuddha]

I personally would not use it though. If someone gets ahold of it, they can clean your bank account out 🙂

 

[edro]

How does it handle conversion? Does your bank do the conversion, or does the ATM's bank do it? How updated is the rate?

 

[Uppsala9496]

Was in Dublin a month ago, and had no problems. Since it is a Visa, it was treated as such. No problems and the ATM's either.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
I personally would not use it though. If someone gets ahold of it, they can clean your bank account out 🙂

You can fix that by only keeping a limited amount of money in your checking acount so that your exposure is quite small. I never have more than 1K in my checking account associated with my check card.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: edro13
How does it handle conversion? Does your bank do the conversion, or does the ATM's bank do it? How updated is the rate?

The bank handles the conversions and attempts to get the best rate possible at the time. This is generally considered the best way to go as the banks convert large sums and usually get much better rates than you will individually. Read Frommers, etc....they will all tell you this.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Oh, and the conversion is a lot better than you would get at a local Forex.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
By the way...where are you going in Ireland?

my girlfreind is going in january with a class for 2 weeks. Hitting up the main points of interest... dublin, etc..

Ah...well if it is with a quided class, then I'm sure she doesn't have much of a choice. The best parts of Ireland are the small towns and their wonderfully friendly pubs.

Doolin, Dingle, and the south western coast is just awesome. The coast of Northern Ireland is also quite beautiful.

 

[Hikari]

Yeah, it'll work fine. I'd call your bank before you go though, just to make sure their security department doesn't go crazy when it starts getting used overseas. Mine worked just fine in Wales when I was there in September.

 

[Splork]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: edro13
How does it handle conversion? Does your bank do the conversion, or does the ATM's bank do it? How updated is the rate?

The bank handles the conversions and attempts to get the best rate possible at the time. This is generally considered the best way to go as the banks convert large sums and usually get much better rates than you will individually. Read Frommers, etc....they will all tell you this.

You'll also get charged a fee depending on the amount of the purchase, so keep that in mind when you're buying things b/c the larger the purchase, the larger the fee.

-sp

 

[artikk]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Yes, I've used my check card over in Ireland, Spain, and France without problems.

So yes🙂

 

[RossMAN]

It should work with no problems but I would first ask your bank if there are any per transaction fees.

 

[huberm]

mine worked for a few days until they realized i was making purchases in another country, and it sent their fraud computers barking mad. You just have to call your bank and tell them youre going and planning on using it there, they'll take care of the rest.

 

[phreakah]

my wamu visa check card worked fine in taiwan... i bought lots of stuff there with it, too

i didnt get any transaction fees or anything... they just converted the money with the current exchange rate

 

[jspeicher]

Originally posted by: huberm
mine worked for a few days until they realized i was making purchases in another country, and it sent their fraud computers barking mad. You just have to call your bank and tell them youre going and planning on using it there, they'll take care of the rest.