Heathrow ATM currency

The ATM's in terminal 5, can you get Pounds and Euro's or just pounds? (Different ATM's of course)

The ATM's in terminal 5, can you get Pounds and Euro's or just pounds? (Different ATM's of course)

At a bank ATM you can only get Pounds. AT the VERY expensive money changing places you can get both but you will pay dearly. Why not wait for an ATM in Europe for the Euro purchase?

OK, so I'll get some pounds in terminal 5 and then get some Euro's in Ireland.

Thanks

The only ATMs that I have seen offering a choice, are some on the Channel Islands. They will dispense local currency or GBPs.

There are multi-currency ATMs in LHR Terminals and in some of London's mainline stations. My impression is that Sterling/Euro is a more usual choice, but there are some triple-choice that can also dispense dollars.

Whether they are a good idea or not is a different question, but they certainly exist.

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To illustrate the point, here is one airside in T5 at LHR. Taken in 2012, which is presumably the last time we had a similar thread!

As you can see, a triple-currency version. Also clearly branded as belonging to a ForEx firm, so you'd be getting their rate, not a bank rate.

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I stand corrected:

Moneycorp intros multi-currency ATMs at UK airports

 

Aug. 22, 2012

The currency specialists at Moneycorp have launched a multi-currency ATM network at London-area airports using NCR SelfServ ATMs. Machines have been installed at Gatwick, Stansted, Southend and Southampton airports in the U.K.

These ATM's are not bank ones, and so will charge for withdrawals or maybe as well have a poor rate. Advice earlier only use London ATM's for sterling withdrawals.

I find these ATM much more expensive with poorer exchange rates than high street banks. Typically you won't have any trouble finding bank ATM in London.

I recommend changing a small amount of currency before leaving home or if you must use Heathrow ATM, just withdraw amount.

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These ATM's are not bank ones, and so will charge for withdrawals or maybe as well have a poor rate. Advice earlier only use London ATM's for sterling withdrawals.

You are correct, of course, but your advice to only use "London ATMs" or "bank ATMs", may mislead I'm afraid. There are multi-currency ATMs on London mainline railway stations and on the Underground network that are operated by Raphaels Bank, which is associated with International Currency Exchange, and is renowned for poor rates (they also "offer" Dynamic Currency Exchange for non-sterling cards).

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What if you are not going to London and need pounds to pay for taxis to other places from Heathrow?

All taxi cabs take cc's and debit cards now, no need for cash. Most ATM's at transport hubs which are freestanding as in the earlier post are not bank related and a bad deal, equally the ATM's you find in convenience stores are the same with a charge.

Just because I can, here are a bank of multi-currency ATMs at T2 taken when I came through last night.

Actually the point is that these are landside (Arrivals). Heathrow used to have main retail banks' ATMs landside in the past, but for years now all the ATMs on their estate are forex company owned.

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Is there any issue with having a US Bank credit card with chip but no pin? I keep reading various threads that there is sometimes a problem in Europe.

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Is there any issue with having a US Bank credit card with chip but no pin? I keep reading various threads that there is sometimes a problem in Europe.

 

 

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You shouldn't have any problem in the UK, the system will just print out a receipt for you to sign. You may have a problem if served by a youngster whose only ever known chip and pin, but just a quick explanation that you just need to sign the receipt should do the job. The only other problem I could see, is if you hire a car and fill up with fuel out of hours at a pay at the pump, as obviously they have no way of processing a receipt that requires a signature.

Is there any issue with having a US Bank credit card with chip but no pin? I keep reading various threads that there is sometimes a problem in Europe.

 

 

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The point is that they won't work in machines like some ATMs or ticket dispensers at stations. American travellers have a number of options now but anyone planning to spend time in Europe would be well advised to get the PIN enabled, or to get a card from another bank that does have a PIN.

Most shops and restaurants can manage, but since it is out of the ordinary, it may cause a delay while the assistant finds out how to do it. In a big store, you would probably have to go to customer services, rather than through a normal checkout (ask before you start shopping).

That said; thousands of Americans come here every year using cards with no PIN and don't really have much of a problem.

Here we go again. US credit cards lacking pins will work 99% of the time in the UK. Period. As far as difficulties some student might have processing the card, the terminal flashes in bold letters "SIGNATURE REQUIRED". A signature slip will print, the hassle might be finding a pen, you will sign the receipt and be on your way. Period.

US credit cards lacking pins work 100% of the time in the tfl machines in the Underground. They work 100% of the time on mainline rail terminals. When somebody outside the USA suggests getting a pin, please be informed the overwhelming majority of US banks issue credit cards that do not provide for the use of pins. It's not so easy to say get a card with a pin. Every card in the USA almost without exception is what the industry calls a signature preferred card. At a pos terminal, you will almost always be prompted for a signature. Now some do have pin capabilities and for peace of mind, you might prefer to get a card which is signature preferred with pin capabilities but most of the larger credit card banks do not issue such cards. It simply is the way it is. There should be no problems in the UK, at least, as most unpersonneled kiosks there do accept what they industry calls no cvm (credit verification method) cards. I have been travelling to the UK a couple of times a year for the past 20 years. My primary credit card is a signature preferred cards without pin capabilities and have never once been asked for a pin. Relax and don't worry about the naysayers who don't know what they're talking about.

All taxi cabs take cc's and debit cards now, no need for cash. Most ATM's at transport hubs which are freestanding as in the earlier post are not bank related and a bad deal, equally the ATM's you find in convenience stores are the same with a charge.

Thanks. So I do not need to get pounds right away and can wait until I have access to a bank ATM.

The point is that they won't work in machines like some ATMs or ticket dispensers at stations. American travellers have a number of options now but anyone planning to spend time in Europe would be well advised to get the PIN enabled, or to get a card from another bank that does have a PIN.

Sounds like a good idea but does not work given that US banks will not issue PINS for their chip enabled credit cards and do not plan to do so in the immediate future. Barclaycard has a pin but still defaults to signature when that option exists. A small number of credit unions offer pin cards but not all of them are open to the general public. Thank goodness the only issues tend to be unmanned ticket machines or self service gas pumps and one learns to work around them.

I will try to explain and help some people from outside the United States understand. Every card with a chip has a sequence of cvm (card verification methods) programmed into it in priority order, separate ones for purchases as opposed to cash. If A doesn't work then the card and terminal try B. If B doesn't work then they try C till they hit one that works and that's end of the game. Nothing the merchant or cardholders can do about it.

So my card may have as A signature. Since almost all pos terminals with a human can process signatures, it's game over. The message signature required flashes on the terminal, a slip is printed and one signs and is done. A card issued in the UK probably has as priority A pin so at the very same terminal, a UK cardholder will be asked for a pin. At kiosks, where signatures are not possible, it go es to B which might be online pin. Then C which is offline pin. Only if the bank issuing the card has set up their cvm's that way. D might be no cvm. Almost without exception every credit card issued in the USA has for cvm A signatures. That is why almost every American credit card will default to signatures. Many of the larger banks do not bother with pins and make B no cvm needed. MC/Visa rules require kiosks to honor these cards. Unfortunately a few in some places do not and that's where one might have a problem with a US credit card. It almost never happens in Britain though.

Where is a good place to get some coins in GBP. We will need them for tolls and toilets.

What tolls are you referring to?

Most UK toilets are free, not charging . Good free toilets are the Golden Arches of McDonald's or any coffee shop or pub. All food outlets with sit down tables have by law , toilets. All paying attractions also have them.

Only pay toilets are at main line railway stations like Paddington and the high-tech cubicles in the street, and don't linger too long here as they open automatically after a few minutes!!

Only UK shops now like Harrods and Selfridges have toilets , few in most towns.

What tolls are you referring to?

Most UK toilets are free, not charging . Good free toilets are the Golden Arches of McDonald's or any coffee shop or pub. All food outlets with sit down tables have by law , toilets. All paying attractions also have them.

Only pay toilets are at main line railway stations like Paddington and the high-tech cubicles in the street, and don't linger too long here as they open automatically after a few minutes!!

Only UK shops now like Harrods and Selfridges have toilets , few in most towns.

M&S, Debenhams etc. will all have toilets.

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