I was surprised recently when I went to Vanuatu that my bank told me that my card would charge me no more for a transaction there than here. Must be some sort of arrangement as I don't think that'd be the same if I went over to the UK - although when I went for convenience I did end up just using my card for a lot of stuff and copping the fee, but I did try to take cash out when I could.
I'm quite happy going everywhere cashless but got caught out abroad in Croatia, lots of bars and restaurants were cash only so relying on a Monzo wouldn't have helped, we also found paying for trips had 2 prices with a large discount for paying in cash.
I go to Lanzarote.I always take a couple of hundred euros for bars etc but use the card for supermarkets,restaurants etc.I never new that about Croatia but I'm sure that'll soon disappear if we're anything to go by.
Croatia has just joined the Euro zone so things may well change. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64144309
I know some people still prefer to use cash, although I don't agree with it it's none of my business. My issue is with people demanding it to be accepted everywhere. So at City where it's already hard to serve everyone during half time you're expecting everyone in the queue to wait for you to perform your cash transaction and get your change, just to satisfy your personal objection to modernisation. And expecting the club to deal with the extra overheads that accepting cash brings. I don't really get how anyone can justify that stance.
Ideally the move away from cash would have happened over a much longer timeframe than it has. It could have been introduced in a more planned way and people would have had more time to get used to it. But covid happened so it was done in a rush. I can understand how some people might feel they've been hijacked.
I thought some places want cash because of the charges for using cards etc? Of course there is another reason some places prefer cash.
Easy to get caught out. Went down to my local expecting to pay by phone. No card on me so couldn’t go to a nearby cash machine. The pub machine was down and it was a new landlord who didn’t know us. The barmaid told him who were regulars and who he could trust to settle up next time they were in.A bonus as it was a good reason to go in the next night. As I told the wife, if someone owed you mone you would want it settling promptly, wouldn’t you?
Monzo is very good, and particularly as it flashes up what they’ve charged you immediately. Having said that I do still have an emergency £20 tucked away in a pocket just in case
Once I get out of the EU my phone provider charges 2quid a minute for calls in or out, 60p per text message receiving or sending and internet costs loads. Receiving an alert shortly after using a bank card is not cheap.
She’s not the only one. My wife will not use online banking or register with online sites. Of course she is quite capable of saying I have just seen so and so on Amazon or some other site, followed by could you…?
It’s not a text (well Monzo isn’t anyway) It’s just a notification that flashes up on your screen) Linked to the app, but no charges as far as I’m aware
Don't have bank app on phone. If I did I would need data roaming on which is a cost. Heard of a work colleague very tech savvy but had never travelled outside EU. Managed to run up a mobile phone bill over 2 grand on a week visit to Russia. Was a while back may be better these days.
