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Definitely a set amount each time.
Citibank Plus - No Fee No Overseas Transaction Fee Account
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RB
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The ones that I used in Germany & Italy in the last 2yrs have had the general statement that your bank may charge a fee & do I want to proceed ( as per travelislife above). Have proceeded & Citi have not charged a fee nor has the European bank-I placed feedback on here of what the excellent exchange rate were at the time
moa999
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It is somewhat semantics, but my definition as follows was:
Cat 1 - Countries where direct charging enabled (which allows but doesn't mean they will surcharge other cards)
- This is the case in Australia where most machines charge for non-home network cards, subject to exceptions such as the Westpac/St.George/BankSA/BankofMelbourne (all Westpac owned) and the Westpac international group (which includes Citi)
- Similar in the US, where most charge varying amounts, albeit I believe Chase machines in DuaneReade (at least in NY) are fee free
- Sort of similar in the UK, except all high street banks have chosen not to levy a fee, so you just have to avoid the 'convenience' machines
Effectively places where an Australian Citi card is treated the same as a local card from Bank YYY being used in Banks ZZZ machine.
Cat 2 - Countries where there is a distinct charge for foreign cards only (essentially a tourist tax)
eg. Thailand (THB150-180), Cambodia (~US$3), Philipines (~PHP200), PNG (~PGK20);
Places where an Australian Citi card is treated differently to a local card from Bank YYY being used in Banks ZZZ machine.
Going back to my memory banks, I believe Spain is similar to Cat 1 and that on a trip two years ago I was prompted to accept a fee at a couple of ATM machines, I think it was actually charged at one, but not at the other (from memory a Deutsche Bank ATM)
Generally you should be informed of the fee by the ATM and it will just charge US$202 rather than US$200 for example - no breakout on your statements.
Direct Charging machines will always prompt you to accept the additional fee.
That general statement is for countries where there is a risk that your bank may charge you an interchange fee (like it used to be in Australia).
For a Citi card that will mean no fee.
Isochronous
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Surprised HSBC in HK was free in your experience. Citibank HK is part of JetCo, which covers all ATMs except HSBC/Hang Seng. I was under the impression the latter 2 would incur a fee.
I have had this experience in Malaysia as well. The ATM told me that a fee would be charged, but no fee was actually debited.All of the ATMs I have used recently have advised me that there is a fee, and do I accept it. Looking at the exchange rates, none of them appear to have actually charged me the fee.
A Citibank branded ATM in a Seoul subway station also charged me a fee, while one in the branch was free - I think it was KRW 1500 or something like that. The transaction was just one line, but on the statement (NOT the internet banking), the actual amount withdrawn was itemised separately from the transaction fee in the transaction details.
I haven't used HSBC in HK, but was quite impressed when the Citibank ATM in IFC Mall told me the current balance in the account as well - in AUD!
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C$3 fee for Royal Bank of Canada according to the ATM. I declined to do the transaction, so not sure if its actually charged.
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I've had a disastrous experience with Citibank in the Philippines.
I left Australia almost a month ago. About 24 October my Mother emails to say my new Citibank card has arrived. I was confused so checked the expiry on the existing card and it's 10/14. So I phone Citibank and ask why the heck a replacement only just arrived. They said it was issued on 5 September. At this point I'm prepared to accept that there's a fair chance Australia Post is at fault. For the life of me I can't understand how the government lets that operation be run so poorly.
My Mother sends my the card by ordinary mail on 26 October.
Two days ago, with the card still not having arrived from Australia and in light of the fact I was fast approaching the bottom of my financial reserve, I go to the local Citibank here after speaking with Citibank in Australia (well, ironically, the agent was actually in Manila!). The agent said I could get emergency cash from a branch. At the branch I arrive at 4.15pm only to be told the bank closes at 3pm but worse, the emergency cash facility closes at 1pm. Unbelievable. No information about anything so basic as the regular bank hours or even a phone number on the Citibank website (findmyciti.com) let alone more specifics.
So I go back the next day. I'm told it will take some time as they have to verify my details with Australia. Fine. I wait briefly before being called to see a manager. He tells me that they will charge $25 (presumably USD) for the feature and they will apply an exchange rate of 43.9 PHP to 1 AUD, rather than the market rate of 39 PHP to 1 AUD, which of course is much closer to the rate I'd get if I was using my ATM card. Not happy, I asked the guy if I could use the branch phone to contact Citibank. No, he wouldn't let me but ever so kindly allows me to use a conference room to contact Citibank on Skype. Naturally, the call drops twice and each time I call back I have to start all over again. I left the branch empty handed.
I go home back to the place I'm staying and phone Citibank a fifth or sixth time and begrudingly order a replacement card to be sent to me in Manila. They tell me it will take "five to 10 business days" which puts me right on the cusp of my departure. I ask them to rush it, saying I'm leaving on day 10 and they say they will do what they can and then add there's no guarantee it will arrive within 10 days anyway.
Today, 18 days after my Mother sent the card from Australia, it arrives in Manila, after Australia Post told her seven to 10 days for delivery.
I fail to understand why, even with an expired card, I couldn't access my money over the counter at a Citibank branch, with that card and multiple forms of ID. I haven't lost the card; I haven't lost my ID; the card has simply expired and I don't have a new one. Of course, I can't use it at any ATM, or even a Citibank ATM, but if I present in person I don't understand why it would be a problem.
For me, the whole episode has reinforced my contempt for Australia Post and my hatred of banks.
I left Australia almost a month ago. About 24 October my Mother emails to say my new Citibank card has arrived. I was confused so checked the expiry on the existing card and it's 10/14. So I phone Citibank and ask why the heck a replacement only just arrived. They said it was issued on 5 September. At this point I'm prepared to accept that there's a fair chance Australia Post is at fault. For the life of me I can't understand how the government lets that operation be run so poorly.
My Mother sends my the card by ordinary mail on 26 October.
Two days ago, with the card still not having arrived from Australia and in light of the fact I was fast approaching the bottom of my financial reserve, I go to the local Citibank here after speaking with Citibank in Australia (well, ironically, the agent was actually in Manila!). The agent said I could get emergency cash from a branch. At the branch I arrive at 4.15pm only to be told the bank closes at 3pm but worse, the emergency cash facility closes at 1pm. Unbelievable. No information about anything so basic as the regular bank hours or even a phone number on the Citibank website (findmyciti.com) let alone more specifics.
So I go back the next day. I'm told it will take some time as they have to verify my details with Australia. Fine. I wait briefly before being called to see a manager. He tells me that they will charge $25 (presumably USD) for the feature and they will apply an exchange rate of 43.9 PHP to 1 AUD, rather than the market rate of 39 PHP to 1 AUD, which of course is much closer to the rate I'd get if I was using my ATM card. Not happy, I asked the guy if I could use the branch phone to contact Citibank. No, he wouldn't let me but ever so kindly allows me to use a conference room to contact Citibank on Skype. Naturally, the call drops twice and each time I call back I have to start all over again. I left the branch empty handed.
I go home back to the place I'm staying and phone Citibank a fifth or sixth time and begrudingly order a replacement card to be sent to me in Manila. They tell me it will take "five to 10 business days" which puts me right on the cusp of my departure. I ask them to rush it, saying I'm leaving on day 10 and they say they will do what they can and then add there's no guarantee it will arrive within 10 days anyway.
Today, 18 days after my Mother sent the card from Australia, it arrives in Manila, after Australia Post told her seven to 10 days for delivery.
I fail to understand why, even with an expired card, I couldn't access my money over the counter at a Citibank branch, with that card and multiple forms of ID. I haven't lost the card; I haven't lost my ID; the card has simply expired and I don't have a new one. Of course, I can't use it at any ATM, or even a Citibank ATM, but if I present in person I don't understand why it would be a problem.
For me, the whole episode has reinforced my contempt for Australia Post and my hatred of banks.
RB
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Remind me who made the first error
Isochronous
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Australia Post is inept because it is government run.
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Some rules in relation to longish trips(or any for that matter) when needing regular access to local currency:
Rule #1 - have a backup
Rule #2 - see rule #1.
Citibank have a very poor reputation in regard to Customer service - that reinforces rule #1.
Rule #1 - have a backup
Rule #2 - see rule #1.
Citibank have a very poor reputation in regard to Customer service - that reinforces rule #1.
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My backup is the 28 Degrees card but I despise giving banks any fees wherever u can possibly avoid it so I was waiting until after a day of begging on the streets of Manila failed before using that option.
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Mine is that as well; but in the end, 3% / $4 is better then begging ...
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My card had an expiry of 10/14 as well, and I was heading o/s. I rang Citi a couple of weeks before I left to ask when the card would arrive. They said it had already been sent! In the end they express posted me a new replacement which arrived a couple of days later (no charge). No complaints about Citi from me about fixing this. Even if the original replacement didn't arrive for whatever reason.
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I agree with rules 1 & 2.
Rule 3: ring your bank/credit card provider and let them know your travel plans in advance. I did this with Citi and found that there were no problems in any of the countries I visited.
And yes, Citi have a bad reputation but to be fair I have found that they have significantly improved their game over the part couple of months.
anat0l
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This, +100.
It is fairly simple to do and doesn't take excessively long, but people often do not do it then end up having to sort out unblocking whilst they are overseas, and many times when they are in a compromising position.
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Totally agree; you explain it so much more eloquently than I. One simple phone call can avoid a lot of issues and increase your security.
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Very interesting. Perhaps there is an issue with Citibank, rather than Australia Post.
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Having run my own post office for a few years in the past and having seen the system from the inside AP cops more than its fair share of criticism.
Not saying AP aren't blameless, just I would tend to look elsewhere first.
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