ATMs in Spain

GailGwyn · Aug 31, 2020

Hi. This may seem like a daft question, but can someone tell me, when I withdraw cash from an ATM in Spain and a message comes up with a choice of pressing either a red or green button, which one do I press?

Last year, when faced with this choice, my Spanish wasn't good enough to read and translate quickly enough, so I sometimes pressed the red, sometimes the green. I'm guessing it may be something to do with the exchange rate or bank charges?

I'd be grateful if someone could enlighten me please.

Thanks very much.

SabsP · Aug 31, 2020

GailGwyn said:
Hi. This may seem like a daft question, but can someone tell me, when I withdraw cash from an ATM in Spain and a message comes up with a choice of pressing either a red or green button, which one do I press?

Last year, when faced with this choice, my Spanish wasn't good enough to read and translate quickly enough, so I sometimes pressed the red, sometimes the green. I'm guessing it may be something to do with the exchange rate or bank charges?

I'd be grateful if someone could enlighten me please.

Thanks very much.

If I'm correct green is just to confirm your transaction ( after typing in your code ) and the red button is when you do not want to continue? Well, this is the case here in Belgium. So not something to do with exhange rates.

Red: cancellar aka to cancel.
Green : aceptar or to accept.

GailGwyn · Aug 31, 2020

SabineP said:
If I'm correct green is just to confirm your transaction ( after typing in your code ) and the red button is when you do not want to continue? Well, this is the case here in Belgium. So not something to do with exhange rates.

Red: cancellar aka to cancel.
Green : aceptar or to accept.

I think the question asked was something about whether we wanted the transaction in euros or pounds.

jsalt · Aug 31, 2020

GailGwyn said:
when I withdraw cash from an ATM in Spain and a message comes up with a choice of pressing either a red or green button, which one do I press?

I don’t know the answer to your question, but when I’ve used an ATM in Spain I’ve usually had an option somewhere to make a language choice, and could choose English.

GailGwyn · Aug 31, 2020

jsalt said:
I don’t know the answer to your question, but when I’ve used an ATM in Spain I’ve usually had an option somewhere to make a language choice, and could choose English.

I'll see if I can find that option next time. Thanks.

amancio · Aug 31, 2020

The ATM should detect you are an English speaker by the bank code in your card. You want to find IDIOMA or CAMBIAR IDIOMA, that option would let you change language

CarolamS · Aug 31, 2020

GailGwyn said:
I think the question asked was something about whether we wanted the transaction in euros or pounds.

I've had that choice in Europe and never knew which was the best to choose. I guess it might be about whether the exchange rate is applied when you take the money from the machine or when it comes out of your account. I was totally random in my choices.

jdpiguet · Aug 31, 2020

It may the question:
Do you want a printed receipt?
Yes or no?

Buen Camino,
Jacques-D.

trecile · Aug 31, 2020

CarolamS said:
I've had that choice in Europe and never knew which was the best to choose. I guess it might be about whether the exchange rate is applied when you take the money from the machine or when it comes out of your account. I was totally random in my choices.

Always choose the local, not your own currency.

Dynamic currency conversion: Why you should avoid it - The Points Guy

When visiting another country, dynamic currency conversion allows you to pay in your home currency. Here's why you shouldn't use it.

thepointsguy.com

Top ways to save on overseas ATM withdrawals - The Points Guy

You'll likely need to withdraw money from an ATM during a trip abroad, but unless you pick the right debit card, you'll be hit with costly fees.

thepointsguy.com

GailGwyn · Aug 31, 2020

CarolamS said:
I've had that choice in Europe and never knew which was the best to choose. I guess it might be about whether the exchange rate is applied when you take the money from the machine or when it comes out of your account. I was totally random in my choices.

Glad it wasn't just me then

GailGwyn · Aug 31, 2020

trecile said:
Always choose the local, not your own currency.

Dynamic currency conversion: Why you should avoid it - The Points Guy

When visiting another country, dynamic currency conversion allows you to pay in your home currency. Here's why you shouldn't use it.

thepointsguy.com

Top ways to save on overseas ATM withdrawals - The Points Guy

You'll likely need to withdraw money from an ATM during a trip abroad, but unless you pick the right debit card, you'll be hit with costly fees.

thepointsguy.com

Thanks Trecile. Interesting reading. I always pay in euros when I use my card. Just need to get to grips with those pesky ATMs!

lindam · Sep 1, 2020

GailGwyn said:
Thanks Trecile. Interesting reading. I always pay in euros when I use my card. Just need to get to grips with those pesky ATMs!

The implications (i.e., the actual cost of any withdrawl made at a foreign ATM) outlined in the article posted by Trecile can be seen in paractical terms in this video: . Perhaps the question of the OP (GailGwyn) is related to the method of currency conversion used at the ATM.

GailGwyn · Sep 1, 2020

lindam said:
The implications (i.e., the actual cost of any withdrawl made at a foreign ATM) outlined in the article posted by Trecile can be seen in paractical terms in this video: . Perhaps the question of the OP (GailGwyn) is related to the method of currency conversion used at the ATM.

Thanks. That's a great help. I think this may be what we were being asked.

GailGwyn · Sep 1, 2020

amancio said:
The ATM should detect you are an English speaker by the bank code in your card. You want to find IDIOMA or CAMBIAR IDIOMA, that option would let you change language

Thank you

Former member 95219 · Sep 2, 2020

GailGwyn said:
Thank you

Always take the money in euros! You will
lose approx. £15 on a €300 euro transaction if you take in pounds!

Bert45 · Sep 5, 2020

GailGwyn said:
Thanks Trecile. Interesting reading. I always pay in euros when I use my card. Just need to get to grips with those pesky ATMs!

There have been three times on two different caminos where I have not been given the option. Despite this, the receipt comes out saying "I have been given the option ..." I have complained to my card issuer and I have been refunded the charges or the difference that paying in GBP with their banks exchange rate and a 2% charge has made. 97 times out of 100 the payment is presented in euros, so I thought I didn't need to say "I want to pay in euros" (Quiero pagar in euros), but you need to practise that just in case. But the OP wants to know about ATMs. I have pressed the English key and everything has been in English, right till the end when a message flashed up saying (in Spanish) that a charge of (I think) 0.66 euros will be made on this transaction. Last time I was in Spain I found it very difficult to find an ATM that didn't make a charge of some sort.

Steve Taylor · Sep 6, 2020

In my experience, when you insert your payment card, you get a choice of languages. As for paying in euros or pounds, I always opt for euros, as I read somewhere that the exchange rate offered at the time of your transaction isn't always the most favourable.
By the way, I think I got this image from a previous forum discussion, but it's useful, as it tells you the charges imposed by each bank.

I can add the following bank to the list:

Caja Rural De Navarra €1.50

ACGMadrid · Sep 7, 2020

Choose the option to view your request in English @GailGwyn In my 6 years living in Spain, I have never not had the "choose your language" option.

MaryLynn · Sep 8, 2020

CarolamS said:
I've had that choice in Europe and never knew which was the best to choose. I guess it might be about whether the exchange rate is applied when you take the money from the machine or when it comes out of your account. I was totally random in my choices.

I think you might be right about the buttons. My bank told me to always choose to allow my bank to do the conversion instead of the Spanish bank, and I will get a better rate, so that is what I do.

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