Anyone who withdraws money with their debit card (commonly known as an ATM card) in a non-euro holiday destination sometimes has to pay hefty expenses. The AK has calculated: If you withdraw the equivalent of 267 euros in Croatia, you must expect expenses of up to just under five euros, depending on the bank. Be careful, there can also be expensive exchange rates. AK Konsumentenschützer Christian Prantner advises: “Inquire at your house bank about the charges. Attention, it gets even more expensive with the credit card! "

In non-euro holiday countries, withdrawing and shopping with the debit card costs differently depending on the bank. Mr W. complained to the AK Konsumentinnenberatung about high expenses after withdrawing an ATM in Croatia. He withdrew 2.000 kuna - the equivalent of 267 euros. He immediately noticed the extra charges on the account statement. "Anyone who withdraws money from an ATM outside of the euro area must expect expenses of up to one percent of the amount withdrawn plus a fixed fee of up to EUR 2,36," explains AK consumer protector Christian Prantner. The fees and the charged exchange rates differ from bank to bank. "According to our calculations, the charges for a withdrawal amount - converted into euros - of 267 euros, depending on the bank, are between two and 4,90 euros." -Euro vacation country costs. Avoid withdrawing cash with your credit card! That is even more expensive - in this case up to 13 euros! "

In addition to high expenses, fluctuations in the exchange rate can also have a negative effect on the amount ultimately debited. “There is an expensive expense trap in the form of the so-called dynamic currency conversion,” says Prantner. In the case of ATMs outside the euro area, the ATM operator can offer that the amount of money withdrawn will be paid out in the local currency - for example Croatian kuna - but immediately converted into euros. “That can be disadvantageous for vacationers. This instant conversion is usually more expensive than billing in a foreign currency, ”says the AK expert. He recommends: “Avoid dynamic currency conversion by selecting the Billing in foreign currency option. The exchange rate charged for this is usually cheaper than the immediate conversion of the withdrawn amount into euros. ”Depending on the bank, shopping with the debit card in a non-euro holiday destination also costs expenses.

In euro countries, the best way to get away is with the debit card: no expenses for paying and withdrawing. Attention, there are a number of exceptions when withdrawing money: ATMs that are operated by so-called third-party debt collection companies - that is, their own ATM companies that are independent of banks. These expenses from third-party operators are high in many holiday countries, but especially in Germany - for example 6,50 euros. “You should therefore pay attention to the information on the display. Usually, the expenses are displayed before they are resolved so that the process can be canceled, ”says Prantner. "Cashless payment in shops in the euro area does not have any additional charges."