Spanish Cashless payments

Captain Yoghurtpot

Captain Yoghurtpot

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VW 2005 T5 Campervan
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Since September 2018
Good Morning all.
Thinking of a quick jaunt to Spain but not in the MoHo.
Just wondering, as I have not been since full lockdown or Br.x.t, if they are now just as much embroiled as we are with cashless payments using your bank card.
If so, and I take my UK bank account debit card, will I pay in Euro and then its converted at that days rate whenever the transaction materialises, or will it now not work at all, and I would be better off with cash to start, and go to the bureau de change and raise cash there from my card if I need more
Is cash better, and / or anyone have any info regarding what bank/ exchange rate charges are being currently applied.
Must say, I am thinking for a quick few days, cash might be easier.
Ta very much 😊
 
In Nerja now. I use a Starling card. Good currency conversion as I have a GB and Euro account. I withdraw cash at the Sabadell bank and the charge is 1.80 Euros to use ATM.
 
I have always used ATM's and paid bills with a debit card in local currency, i.e. Euros, as my bank's exchange rate is far better than that of the foreign national bank. I don't bother with pre-loaded cards (e.g. Revolut?) as more than enough money is already available in my bank account.
 
I have an FX card with some Euros on it as a backup. Mostly just use Halifax Clarity credit card and take some cash with us. Supermarkets, garages and restaurants all take cards.
 
Thanks for the replies folks.
So, will my visa debit card with Barclays be ok to pay for things as we do here ie tap and go?
 
Halifax clarity card (Mastercard). Low credit limit but enough for a trip. Always Pay using local currencies as then daily Mastercard rate applied. No additional charges for use, (no currency conversions). Use as tap and pay, insert or withdraw cash from ATM just as you would any ccard. Used mine for 3 trips last year only in EU.

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We use a combination of Halifax Clarity card, Revolut & Metro Bank.
When using wifi on the card machine I think the limit is €45 but just to confuse you in Spain for higher amounts you can use the wifi then enter your pin. I find it great until I come back to the UK then the shop assistant wonders what I doing. :giggle:
 
Captain Yoghurtpot said:
Thanks for the replies folks.
So, will my visa debit card with Barclays be ok to pay for things as we do here ie tap and go?
Click to expand...
I've never had any issues anywhere when using my Lloyds and Nationwide debit cards. I haven't had a credit card since I handed back my company Amex card 15 years ago.
 
Am in Spain now and mainly used a fee free credit card. No issues anywhere

It has always asked whether to pay in euros or sterling and I always choose euros for reasons already mentioned.

I have also used cash for some payments but the card payments are very common now. Would still recommend you keep a few euros in your wallet though.
 
Captain Yoghurtpot said:
Thanks for the replies folks.
So, will my visa debit card with Barclays be ok to pay for things as we do here ie tap and go?
Click to expand...
My Barclays debt card gives good rate of exchange but 0.5% handling fee. It's as good as buying Euros in the UK. Personally using revolut at the moment and Euros as some bars are cash only. I don't use cards on phone wallet as cannot draw cash out of ATM and seen a lot of people struggling with phone signal at payment. Also have Barclays app so phone pings everytine it is used to stop it if cloned
 
Chase card hands down cashback and zero charges, other options that are not cashback Nationwide or Halifax
 
BikerGraham said:
I have also used cash for some payments but the card payments are very common now. Would still recommend you keep a few euros in your wallet though.
Click to expand...
Good point!
Don't assume that everywhere will take a card for smaller amounts. In several smaller local businesses - particularly corner food stores, there is a limit for card payments below which they won't go - usually €5 but sometimes €10.

Seeing since the idea of MH is not to spend unnecessarily, it is wise to have a stash of cash.

Also, be careful with Spainland bank machines when you use them in cardless or 'I'm not a customer' mode. I have noted that they are starting to charge at certain times to carry out certain transactions which were previously free, e.g. cash paying a paper-based utility bill incurs a €2.50 fee between 9am-3pm at smart BBVA machines, which isn't applied later. I imagine this is part of a rolling strategy to introduce commission charges for all non-customer transations.

Fees like this may not seem much but are no joke. Carry out 10 transactions that incur a €1.50 fee and you have paid a bank €15, which is the price of a cheap&cheerful menu-lunch where I live or a night's site fee at a local MH park. 'Every little counts' as we are often reminded!

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Simon Meadwell said:
2021 we found Spain had a thriving cash economy and imo seemed to prefer cash payment.
Click to expand...
That was my initial leaning towards what might be best, but thought I would ask.
From the replies , my question/ concern seems to have created some level of interest, which may also help others.
Thanks 😊
 
We spent 6 weeks in Spain earlier this year and didn’t use more than about 200 euros in cash. Everywhere seemed to accept contactless up to 50 euros. Just used our Barclays debit card with a linked travel wallet and our Platinum travel Barclaycard.
 
In Spain at the minute on week 6 , I use clarity card for everything mostly. Have used less than 40 euros cash . Everywhere takes card and with clarity there's no fees .

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Cashpassport.com - its a Mastercard backed card that you preloaded with an amount of your choice in sterling then through the app or website you can convert it to which ever currency you want when ever you need to.
 
First thing you need to do is check the charges Barclays make for using your card abroad. There could be a conversion charge and commission for payments and ATM withdrawals.

We have Curve cards they are an intermediary company which you link your cards to and then use the Curve card to pay for stuff, this makes your UK card issuer only see the transactions in £ so no fees etc - quite a few threads on here about Curve.

We also have Chase with no fees for using it as well as Revolut for cash withdrawals.

As backups we also have Virgin CCs with no charges for purchases.
 
Currently in Spain using a fee free Nationwide Select Cedit card for all fuel purchases and stopover fees.
For cash withdrawals, we are using a fee free Metro debit card. All transactions for both cards are done in Euros. (y)

I can't be bothered with the "card loading App type" banking. I just make sure my card usage is fee free before I set off.

One thing I do find annoying, is the ring fencing of €200 a time, by Filling Station selve service pumps, for fuel you haven't purchased. Before we were in Spain, our credit card account showed an expenditure of £671. :Eeek:
Admittedly, it was all sorted out within 3 x days, but annoyingly scary nonetheless. :(

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
Chase Bank with great exchange rate and 1% cash back. Use my Applepay on phone then there are no upper limits on contactless.
No problems using this in Spain or France.
 
JockandRita said:
Currently in Spain using a fee free Nationwide Select Cedit card for all fuel purchases and stopover fees.
For cash withdrawals, we are using a fee free Metro debit card. All transactions for both cards are done in Euros. (y)

I can't be bothered with the "card loading App type" banking. I just make sure my card usage is fee free before I set off.

One thing I do find annoying, is the ring fencing of €200 a time, by Filling Station selve service pumps, for fuel you haven't purchased. Before we were in Spain, our credit card account showed an expenditure of £671. :Eeek:
Admittedly, it was all sorted out within 3 x days, but annoyingly scary nonetheless. :(

Cheers,

Jock. :)
Click to expand...
I have only had that happen to me once in 23 years,,,BUSBY.

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