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Q: Anyone tried using Union Pay in the UK?

I'm going to London for vacation and heard most of their ATM's accept Union Pay cards. On their website it says you don't have to pay the conversion fee, only a small commission fee. I guess every bank has different rules on this. Anyone tried using CUP to withdraw money in the UK? Any hidden fees?

 

8 years 42 weeks ago in  Money & Banking - China

 
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Yes, no problem. Works on UK ATMs on the LINK network.

Which is just about all of them.

I used ATMs at HSBC in the UK.

You can withdraw cash but can't check your balance.

From the Union Pay website,

http://en.unionpay.com/englobalization/all_globzlization/eneurope/ch_uk/

 

Lots of info on that page.

 

When you visit Britain, please remember to carry about your UnionPay cards (with card number starting with “62” and with UnionPay logo on card face). In Britain, UnionPay cards can be accepted in most hotels and shopping centers beloved by Chinese tourists. UnionPay cards can be used to withdraw cash in all ATMs in Britain. Chinese interface is available in some ATMs.

The 1%-2% currency conversion fee is exempted when using UnionPay card overseas or spending or withdraw cash via the UnionPay network. Low commission fee will be charged for ATM cash withdrawal with debit card. The amount in local currency will be directly converted into RMB amount based on the market exchange rate of the exact day, and the bank will deduct that amount from the cardholder’s RMB account accordingly.

Almost all bankcards with the UnionPay logo commonly used in Mainland China can be accepted in Britain so you do not need to apply for a new card.

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8 years 41 weeks ago
 
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honestly no idea, i thought chinese banks issued visa cards for going abroad. But rest assured that the small commission will be more expensive than a conversion fee!

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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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You can have Visa Gold debit account with China Merchants Bank. Best Chinese bank, IMO.

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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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You can use a unionpay card in almost all UK. ATMs. Any in the link network (basically all of them) accept it. I don't know how much is charged though. You'll have to check with your bank. 

 

You our can't use unionpay in the Republic of Ireland. At least not in the ATMs I tried. 

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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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You can use Union Pay with just about every bank in the UK that I have been to. It doesn't work for making card payments however, so you need to physically withdraw the money every time. No idea how much is charged, but I don't think this would be too much. 

 

A lot more convenient than having to transfer your money to an account in the UK.

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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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Yes, it's possible. I was there last year and I used my China card once or twice directly from a high street cash point. Commission is charged, but given the chance that I was able to withdraw money with a chinese card, I didn't care much. Agreed avoids the hassle of transferring to a UK account.

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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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Yes, no problem. Works on UK ATMs on the LINK network.

Which is just about all of them.

I used ATMs at HSBC in the UK.

You can withdraw cash but can't check your balance.

From the Union Pay website,

http://en.unionpay.com/englobalization/all_globzlization/eneurope/ch_uk/

 

Lots of info on that page.

 

When you visit Britain, please remember to carry about your UnionPay cards (with card number starting with “62” and with UnionPay logo on card face). In Britain, UnionPay cards can be accepted in most hotels and shopping centers beloved by Chinese tourists. UnionPay cards can be used to withdraw cash in all ATMs in Britain. Chinese interface is available in some ATMs.

The 1%-2% currency conversion fee is exempted when using UnionPay card overseas or spending or withdraw cash via the UnionPay network. Low commission fee will be charged for ATM cash withdrawal with debit card. The amount in local currency will be directly converted into RMB amount based on the market exchange rate of the exact day, and the bank will deduct that amount from the cardholder’s RMB account accordingly.

Almost all bankcards with the UnionPay logo commonly used in Mainland China can be accepted in Britain so you do not need to apply for a new card.

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8 years 41 weeks ago
 
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