Selecting account type at ATM (UK)

[trippin_the_rift]

I've recently discovered that most (all) ATM's in UK don't ask what account type you want to withdrawal cash from and automatically default to the card type.

Eg: if you insert a Visa credit card that is linked to your savings account - it will withdrawal cash from your VISA/Credit line - thus making it a cash advance :evil:

I have a card where the is no savings account on it and the ATM is clearly trying to default it to savings and I can't select cheque anywhere through the process...

Does anyone know how to get around this or select cheque?

 

[Dave Noble]

To get around it, use a card that is not a credit card for making cash withdrawals

Use an ATM card that is specifically for the bank account rather than a credit card

Dave

 

[Will]

To get around it, use a card that is not a credit card for making cash withdrawals

Use an ATM card that is specifically for the bank account rather than a credit card

Dave

That is not a get-around. That is just telling him not to do it.

Most people with a credit and savings account at the same institution don't even get issued a separate ATM card for the bank account.

Sorry, trippin_the_rift, I don't have any ideas. Other than suggesting the Wizard Clear Advantage card, which once pre-loaded with cash gives you fee-free cash advances from your credit account.

 

[albatross710]

Maybe try an entirely different UK bank. A different bank with a different style of ATM.

 

[Mal]

Maybe try an entirely different UK bank. A different bank with a different style of ATM.

They're all pretty similar (to me!) with how they handle my local card. The only difference I've noted is that some want to charge a machine transaction fee (ie like in Australia, but with plenty of warning), but most don't.

I'll have a play around with some ATM's and my OZ credit/savings card and see if I can find anything out, although I'm sure I'll soon after get a call from my bank advising that they think my card has become compromised and needs to be replaced!!

 

[Dave Noble]

They're all pretty similar (to me!) with how they handle my local card. The only difference I've noted is that some want to charge a machine transaction fee (ie like in Australia, but with plenty of warning), but most don't.

I'll have a play around with some ATM's and my OZ credit/savings card and see if I can find anything out, although I'm sure I'll soon after get a call from my bank advising that they think my card has become compromised and needs to be replaced!!

Many Australian cards can be used in UK ATMs. The UK doesn't have Cheque/Saving/Credit type options on ATMs

Dave

 

[trippin_the_rift]

To get around it, use a card that is not a credit card for making cash withdrawals

Use an ATM card that is specifically for the bank account rather than a credit card

Dave

Thing is Dave, I'm not using a credit card.

I'm using a basic commonwealth ATM card - problem is - there is no savings account on it - only a cheque account and since ATMs try to default to savings (if not using credit card), it's making accessing this cash quite difficult....

 

[medhead]

If you only have one account linked to it then it can only take money from that account. Does it actually give you money if you go through with a transaction. If it gives you money it can't give it to you from a non existent savings account

 

[Dave Noble]

Thing is Dave, I'm not using a credit card.

I'm using a basic commonwealth ATM card - problem is - there is no savings account on it - only a cheque account and since ATMs try to default to savings (if not using credit card), it's making accessing this cash quite difficult....

Does the Commonwealth ATM card have any international standard logos on it ( e.g. PLUS , Cirrus etc ) . If it does you are fine

There is no default to savings since the UK has no concept of this ( you may have noticed that this sort of question is never asked in shops ); it will default to whatever account is linked to the card

Dave

 

[Mal]

I did some playing around today with various ATMS (and still waiting for that "fraud" call from my bank!)

Couldn't see any that offered me an option as to where to take money out of. Some were nice, and advised me that my bank would charge for a Visa Cash Advance, others just didn't care - but still didn't seem to want to offer any choice.

So yeah, that definately is the way ATM's work over here.

It seems that the only real option (as Dave has mentioned) is to have a card that directly links to your account, which as you have I would expect to work. (For example, I can use my ANZ card over here to withdraw from my savings account).


Thanks for the education about how to use my card over here BTW - hadn't tried it before (and only had it as a last resort backup), but didn't realise that I'd be having a cash advance vs a withdrawal if I attempted a transaction.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Does the Commonwealth ATM card have any international standard logos on it ( e.g. PLUS , Cirrus etc ) . If it does you are fine

There is no default to savings since the UK has no concept of this ( you may have noticed that this sort of question is never asked in shops ); it will default to whatever account is linked to the card

Dave

Yes and I've used this card in many other countries:

AU, NZ, JP, HK, USA

After further reading on this issue it seems that UK does not understand the concept of cheque accounts with ATM access and that cheque books are required to withdrawl funds

 

[chrizzz14]

Im in the UK at the moment and had very similar issues. Im with westpac and have all my accounts linked on one card, which happens to be a mastercard.

Because of all the fraud issues here in the UK, Uk banks do not allow account selections. Full Stop!

If you insert a cc then money comes from cc, same for savings card. As for chq account, they dont even have electronic chq accounts here! Only way it would work is if the cards only link was to a chq account!

Hopefully your not stuck in a position i am! Because all my accounts are linked to the one card, i only have the one card with me. Westpac refuse to send a savings card internationally, so i was forced to withdraw cash from my cc until i managed to transfer $ to my uk bank account - which are almost impossible to open once your here!

 

[Mal]

which are almost impossible to open once your here!

They're actually quite easy as long as you have a visa or passport which shows that you're authorised to be here. The easiest way is to call up your Australian bank and change your address to be a local one here. Then get a statement issued. Use that + passport, and that is accepted by most banks as proof of identity. Some banks require a local job to open up certain accounts.

 

[chrizzz14]

They're actually quite easy as long as you have a visa or passport which shows that you're authorised to be here. The easiest way is to call up your Australian bank and change your address to be a local one here. Then get a statement issued. Use that + passport, and that is accepted by most banks as proof of identity. Some banks require a local job to open up certain accounts.

this may have been the way once, now they want proof of residence here in the UK. Bank statements not acceptable. You need lease agreements etc. They also want proof that you have lived in the UK for at least 3 months.
Banks here have really 'up'ed' their safety protocols.

however it would seem it is easier to open an account before you enter the UK. FastrackUK is a company sponsored by Lloyds TSB - that help australians/nz'ers move to the UK, they somehow make opening an account alot easier. Worked for me, even without leaving the country. Otherwise like i said, id have to live in the UK for 3 months first.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Im in the UK at the moment and had very similar issues. Im with westpac and have all my accounts linked on one card, which happens to be a mastercard.

Because of all the fraud issues here in the UK, Uk banks do not allow account selections. Full Stop!

If you insert a cc then money comes from cc, same for savings card. As for chq account, they dont even have electronic chq accounts here! Only way it would work is if the cards only link was to a chq account!

Hopefully your not stuck in a position i am! Because all my accounts are linked to the one card, i only have the one card with me. Westpac refuse to send a savings card internationally, so i was forced to withdraw cash from my cc until i managed to transfer $ to my uk bank account - which are almost impossible to open once your here!

Actually mate I'm in the same position as you - except that I've the added luxury of a few CC's on me.

I bit the bullet and took a few bucks as a cash advance on a card that is not carrying a large balance - and prepaid the balance off in advance as to limit the interest rate damages.

Last year in a similar position I called the bank (westpac) and made a complaint that I had no option. All interest charges associated with the cash advance were waived (had to call up each month to get them waived) and the interest free periods re-instated.

I hope this thread serves as fair warning to other travellers.........

 

[chrizzz14]

Last year in a similar position I called the bank (westpac) and made a complaint that I had no option. All interest charges associated with the cash advance were waived (had to call up each month to get them waived) and the interest free periods re-instated.

I hope this thread serves as fair warning to other travellers.........

you seem luckier than i, i did the same, rang westpac. they offered to waive the cash advance fee, but said they could do nothing about the interest charges.

 

[Mal]

this may have been the way once, now they want proof of residence here in the UK. Bank statements not acceptable. You need lease agreements etc. They also want proof that you have lived in the UK for at least 3 months.

I only had that problem when I applied for a credit card ... ouch it was painful (and as I didn't have any of those types of documents was denied). Bank account was opened without any dramas in late June using passport+statement.

Agree that opening accounts up in Australia can be a better option. Especially the options that give you a basic credit card over here.

 

[simongr]

Because of all the fraud issues here in the UK, Uk banks do not allow account selections. Full Stop!

If you insert a cc then money comes from cc, same for savings card. As for chq account, they dont even have electronic chq accounts here! Only way it would work is if the cards only link was to a chq account!

Don't take this personally but the level of ignorance about UK banking in this thread is summed up in this post.

The UK has never had the chq/savings/credit option for banking - not because of "fraud issues" - they just don't have it. They had this radical concept that you could have a bank account that had a cheque book and an ATM card and if using a debit option (which is basically what happens in Oz when using a non-credit card in the credit option in your local shops) you never got charged.

Because the UK has never had the antiquated taxes on deposits/withdrawals that were thankfully scrapped when GST came in - people were able to move money freely and easily between their own accounts.

I was much happier banking in the UK than I have ever been in Australia.

To the OP - I am not sure what the problem is. You have an ATM card linked to a bank account and when you take money out it says it is a cash advance and you will be charged a fee. Well one would expect to be a charged a fee withdrawing cash overseas (except for certain accounts of course).

 

[Mal]

To the OP - I am not sure what the problem is. You have an ATM card linked to a bank account and when you take money out it says it is a cash advance and you will be charged a fee. Well one would expect to be a charged a fee withdrawing cash overseas (except for certain accounts of course).

The OP writes:

I have a card where the is no savings account on it and the ATM is clearly trying to default it to savings and I can't select cheque anywhere through the process...

so the ATM appears to be refusing to allow the transaction because it doesn't know about the account type on the card.

ATM's can be programmed to recognise certain card types - and behave differently (eg, I believe some ATMS in countries will display English when certain cards are inserted rather than a "local" card) I just don't know if any in the UK are set up that way to handle the possibility of multiple accounts.

 

[medhead]

so the ATM appears to be refusing to allow the transaction because it doesn't know about the account type on the card.

ATM's can be programmed to recognise certain card types - and behave differently (eg, I believe some ATMS in countries will display English when certain cards are inserted rather than a "local" card) I just don't know if any in the UK are set up that way to handle the possibility of multiple accounts.

Except we don't know that it is refusing to complete the transaction at all. The OP seems to be looking to select his cheque account as you quoted. However, he also only has one account linked to the card. In this case, there should be no need to select the cheque account. If it gives him money then it has to come from the cheque.

If it doesn't, i.e. it refuses to do a transaction, (perhaps the OP might like to inform us of that instead of leaving us guessing), then that is a undesirable position to be in.