so if you use your debit card to buy foreign currency at a UK bureaux de change...

[onamissiontomakeithappen]

Your bank is likely to charge you a transaction fee??!! unbelievable!!!! I just called my bank (RBS) and they confirmed it!!

If I've got it wrong please let me know...

it is true. I normally withdraw cash and then use that to buy currency. You dont (normally) get charged if you buy from your own bank.

shocking!!! I thought it was only if you were abroad...

HSBC don't do this, or charge you when you are abroad.

the rbs rates and charges leaflet says they dont charge. I'm sure they used to charge

although I suppose the company you are buying it from may charge you instead

interesting ilovepowerhoop thanks for looking into it as when I spoke to them they said there was a charge, maybe its the small print * commission charges apply*? not going to risk it though so will withdraw cash!!

Is the foreign currency Euros or US Dollars? If so, I can recommend the pre-paid credit cards offered by companies such as FairFX - comparisons here. Good exchange rate, low commission and no charges when using them except for cash withdrawals.

I had a good look at mse, and there is a good card comparison tool wrt, withdrawing money in a different currency/paying for things abroad. The best choice seems to be certain credit cards, if you've got time to apply for one.

i used my card in ramsdens and didn't get a charge from the bank.
its a shop, so how would the bank tell its for currency? i don't think they can, can they?