We have had problems with our NW debit card and I emailed them with my concerns. The reply did not seem too helpful BUT said if you used your card in Australia instead of clicking on current account click on savings account. Today, in Goa, current account did not work but savings did immediately afterwards...seems a bit strange but worth trying if you get a problem.

cocopop

did this happen when using the same machine? we arrive on Tuesday and I am concerned about all the problems people are reporting as I always rely on my NW debit card whilst on holiday, going to take more sterling than normal just in case

silentman

Can anyone over there let me know what the exchange rate is at the moment - thanks

Yes Silentman it was the same machine....ICICI in Varca.

Yes we had problems with our N/W card at easter and our barclays card several times and all different atm lucky we had taken some cash, we will be taking more cash again this time as it could spoil our hols we spents hrs trying to get it sorted plus a lot of money ringing the uk as we had not got our sim card at the time. it was very stressfull you just dont want that whilst on your holidays. valuable drinking time was taken up with this problem and its just not on

Pip
x

We are now back home so I can restate our experience.The bank at Dabolim airport is Axis and that didn't work with Nationwide, neither did the Bank of India at either Calangute or Panjim. However my other half used her Halifax debit card with no problem at the Bank of India but they gave a lousy R73 to the £ plus a £1.50 charge which I reckon works out at about 4-5% commission whereas the Nationwide always give a good exchange rate and charge 1%. Mind you if you can't get your money out they earn more interest on it themselves !!
When we did discover you can use it on other machines our cash flow problems were resolved but fortunately I had taken a large amount of sterling notes as I had expected to have to pay for the Wildernest in cash as they don't take plastic.
The Nationwide debit card didn't have a problem when used to pay other bills.
My advice is to take alternatives just in case and cash gives the best exchange from what I could see. I can appreciate not everyone feels comfortable with large amounts but I left mine in the hotel room hidden away.

I want to advise everyone NOT TO USE THE NATIONWIDE CARD IN GOA it can not be trusted ..
we went to the local branch and also phoned the head office in england and told them that the card did not work for us in March while we were there and it cost us £28 on phone calls to get the card un blocked they said you dont need to tell us you are going away BUT they will put a note on our file that we will be in India and took note of the dates down ....well need I tell you the card did not work and we had to ring them 3 times to get it sorted I will never agin take my Nationwidw card to Goa with me its not worth the trouble .....colleen

thanks for the warning colleen. we alsways take our card ,we keep it just for holidays,but i think we'll stick to cash this time.

I think Colleen is over reacting a bit but I can understand her frustrations. The Nationwide (when it works ) is by far the best deal for withdrawing money abroad. In Calangute there are several banks, it was only after we were told which one accepted the card were we able to withdraw money. For large purchases, the debit worked no problem and I wait to see what fee they charge when I get my statement.
As always it's best not to put all your eggs in one basket, so an alternative card and some cash are strongly recommended if the main one fails.
Phoning the UK is best done on an STD phone, it cost me just over a £1 to ring up the Nationwide and check there was no problem with my account or card.
cheers
Dave
PS DONT change all your cash into rupees at the airport if you can avoid it, you get a rotten exchange rate so wait until you arrive at your resort and just change enough to pay for a taxi or whatever.

Dave we've used our Nationwide debit card for purchases abroad and always got a really good exchange rate on our transactions (usually €'s)

Just got my Nationwide credit card statement and can see they gave me an excellent exchange rate of R75.99 on 23/11 and R75.70 on 2/12. No other charges.
No complaints there !!

We used our nationwide debit card for the first time ever this nov in candolim and we got our money out first time trying i was amazed to be honest i was expecting trouble,i think it did help that we only asked for a small amount 7.000rps we had heard from friends that if you ask for small amounts you normally get it so in all i was pleased...

Just to add to the good advice already given above, I used a Euro FairFX card at ICCI in Calangute last week with no probs. Max withdrawal was 20,000 INR. Excellent rate too and a standard 1.5 Euro fee. The rates had changed in my favour since I had loaded the card, so I actually made a small profit!! Obviously, you need to be careful as this could go the opposite way. I see FairFx have a new UK Pound prepaid card out, which would take the Euro v Pound exchange rate guesswork away.

please can anybody advise us on the best currency to take as we keep being told different things by travel agent
many thks kim

The currency is the Indian rupee, which you are best getting after you arrive in Goa. Although it is a closed currency it is possible to get it in the UK but you will get an extremely poor rate!

please can anybody advise us on the best currency to take as we keep being told different things by travel agent
many thks kim

Hi Kim
Sterling GB pounds are easily changed, although rates are displayed for Euro, USD etc you should not have a problem with any major currency or travellers cheques in Sterling or USD.

There are many money changers around that display there rates, at the airport is a convenient way to get some cash quickly for a taxi etc, but the rate is poor, as are the rates at hotels.
Many people as you will read here use a Visa debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs some offer a free withdraw facility,

Mids

We a week tomorrow,has anyone an up to date exchange rate please.
Thanks
Cybergran
Not excited or anything
In complete control

Hi Cybergran,
it is about 74.2 at the moment, so not too bad. We were getting about 77 in November.
I can understand you being a little excited, because I am as well because we go back in 12 days for 6 weeks!!!!

Thanks Squigs
not be long