how do you withdraw money on an ATM from a UK account?

[micmac 6]

Not sure if anyone else had this problem but its really getting to me.

Basically I have two bank accounts, one with RBS and one with Alliance and Leicester/Santander.

I really need to withdraw money from the A&L one, and whenever I put it in an ATM it says "withdraw from 1)checking 2)savings 3)credit"

I have tried all options and none of them work. When I use the card as debit in a store it usually has to run as credit, even though its a visa debit. I am really confused. I would have put this money on a thomas cook travel mastercard but it was being refunded from a retailer when I left scotland so it was too late. I would query whether the money had been refunded but the RBS card has the same issue when I try to withdraw or balance check.

Is there any way of sorting this other than paypalling the money to myself? Cause paypal takes ages to set up and I need the money asap.

[TeapotGirl 66]

as long as it has Master card or visa logo, it will work anywhere in the world for withdrawal and even on purchases. Did u check if there's a visa logo on the machine you used?

Edited October 17, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[TeapotGirl 66]

If the machine has an error, there's several reasons behind it. Problem on your bank, the machine doesn't have money or there's a network problem. Try calling your bank.

[micmac 6]

Yeah it does, it has all the logos! haha. But the problem is this checking/savings/credit thing I think. In Britain that option does not exist on ATMs, we have one card for each.

[Anh map 2,098]

Not sure if anyone else had this problem but its really getting to me.

Basically I have two bank accounts, one with RBS and one with Alliance and Leicester/Santander.

I really need to withdraw money from the A&L one, and whenever I put it in an ATM it says "withdraw from 1)checking 2)savings 3)credit"

I have tried all options and none of them work. When I use the card as debit in a store it usually has to run as credit, even though its a visa debit. I am really confused. I would have put this money on a thomas cook travel mastercard but it was being refunded from a retailer when I left scotland so it was too late. I would query whether the money had been refunded but the RBS card has the same issue when I try to withdraw or balance check.

Is there any way of sorting this other than paypalling the money to myself? Cause paypal takes ages to set up and I need the money asap.

Contact the UK bank(s) and ask them?

[micmac 6]

I am not calling the bank, I am sure this is a pretty simple problem and I would be very surprised if someone from the UK on visa journey had not encountered this. That's why I asked.

The bank is not the issue, alliance and Leicester is under santander, one of the biggest banks there is. And it is a Visa Debit card so it should work. Its this "checking/savings/credit" thing, and I doubt that customer services would know what I am talking about unless they had first hand experience of it. Call centres are generally useless when it comes to out of the ordinary queries.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Not sure if anyone else had this problem but its really getting to me.

Basically I have two bank accounts, one with RBS and one with Alliance and Leicester/Santander.

I really need to withdraw money from the A&L one, and whenever I put it in an ATM it says "withdraw from 1)checking 2)savings 3)credit"

I have tried all options and none of them work. When I use the card as debit in a store it usually has to run as credit, even though its a visa debit. I am really confused. I would have put this money on a thomas cook travel mastercard but it was being refunded from a retailer when I left scotland so it was too late. I would query whether the money had been refunded but the RBS card has the same issue when I try to withdraw or balance check.

Is there any way of sorting this other than paypalling the money to myself? Cause paypal takes ages to set up and I need the money asap.

Actually paypal can be set up in about 5 minutes (well the adding of a new bank account... I already had a paypal account). Just did it yesterday. Give it a try.

[Anh map 2,098]

I am not calling the bank, I am sure this is a pretty simple problem and I would be very surprised if someone from the UK on visa journey had not encountered this. That's why I asked.

The bank is not the issue, alliance and Leicester is under santander, one of the biggest banks there is. And it is a Visa Debit card so it should work. Its this "checking/savings/credit" thing, and I doubt that customer services would know what I am talking about unless they had first hand experience of it. Call centres are generally useless when it comes to out of the ordinary queries.

Why do you think that the issuing bank could not give you an explanation of why their card isn't working for you?

Could probably get info via email or an online chat via the bank website if you are not willing to pay for a phone call.

Best of luck in your frustration.

Edited October 18, 2011 by Anh map

[micmac 6]

As far as I remember it took me at least 5 days for my account to be verified with paypal and that was only december, you can't transfer money before it has been verified with the bank.

I know that the call centre won't help. Call centre training will generally not include questions like that. It is very specific. The woman in the bank couldn't even tell me what percentage the conversion fee for using the card abroad was, and that is pretty standard. What I wanted was for someone from the UK to tell me what option they use on the ATM. Very simple problem for someone who has done it before.

It is not the bank's fault it is the american banking system versus the UK one. Neither of my debit cards work in the machines here.

[Chris921 13]

i always hit checking and had no problems was with santander too, but you don have to inform them that you wish to use your card in the us if you haven't i have a visa debit too.

[micmac 6]

i always hit checking and had no problems was with santander too, but you don have to inform them that you wish to use your card in the us if you haven't i have a visa debit too.

Thank you! Thats annoying, and I was in santander like three days before I left and I told the teller I was moving to america and she just said "shhhhhh dont tell them" I am guessing incase they wanted to close my account. She could have said about the card thing!

[* Kristin * 49]

That's peculiar. I kept my accounts open with HSBC and occasionally withdraw from them with no problem.

Did you tell the first that you were going to America? When my mate came to visit earlier in the year, he didn't, and they put a freeze on his account until he wrong them. hey thought his card was fraduently being used abroad.

As far as I remember it took me at least 5 days for my account to be verified with paypal and that was only december, you can't transfer money before it has been verified with the bank.

I know that the call centre won't help. Call centre training will generally not include questions like that. It is very specific. The woman in the bank couldn't even tell me what percentage the conversion fee for using the card abroad was, and that is pretty standard. What I wanted was for someone from the UK to tell me what option they use on the ATM. Very simple problem for someone who has done it before.

It is not the bank's fault it is the american banking system versus the UK one. Neither of my debit cards work in the machines here.

[cmoore25 4]

When Allan visited last time - he had to tell his bank he was visiting before he came over - try that.

Also, your comments about call centers made me laugh -I'm always telling Allan, "Just call the customer service number, they'll sort it." And he always gives me the SAME response you did - they are useless!! Lol I thought it was just him being a bit dramatic at first - but then when he did call, he'd tell me their response - and you're VERY right - they are useless in the UK!! Lol

[Tina&Kieron 1]

Hi, Kieron did not have a problem but we have been transfering money back and forth via the two accounts for awhile. He used his card at my bank atm. You do have another option that is to walk into the bank hand them the card and ask for cash off of it. HTH.

~Tina

[VanessaTony 3,567]

As far as I remember it took me at least 5 days for my account to be verified with paypal and that was only december, you can't transfer money before it has been verified with the bank.

I know that the call centre won't help. Call centre training will generally not include questions like that. It is very specific. The woman in the bank couldn't even tell me what percentage the conversion fee for using the card abroad was, and that is pretty standard. What I wanted was for someone from the UK to tell me what option they use on the ATM. Very simple problem for someone who has done it before.

It is not the bank's fault it is the american banking system versus the UK one. Neither of my debit cards work in the machines here.

I can GUARANTEE it can be done in 5 minutes. A lot can change in almost a year and I did mine the day before my previous post. they allow you to log onto your internet banking account (securely) to activate it that way. I also transferred money that same day. Totally fine.