Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


High denomination notes and Europe

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> Touring & Exploration Goto page 1, 2  Next
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 05:05 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: High denomination notes and Europe Reply with quote

Not something that's immediately pressing, but something I've been thinking about for a while.

What is the highest denomination note that shops routinely accept in say, France or Spain?

In the UK a £50 is going to be frowned upon basically anywhere but a bank, I think even buying a car with fifties would seem a bit odd. Is this a quirk shared by other countries or are we just weirdos?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

.Chris.
World Chat Champion



Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:41 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

500 Euro notes are looked upon with suspicion, but then you're unlikely to come across any as a tourist, as bureaux de change here don't sell them and they're rarely in circulation.
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Maruchino
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:08 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

never had any problems with 50's and 100's, never tried a 200 or 500 though
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

waffles
World Chat Champion



Joined: 04 Oct 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:30 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

500 Euro notes are often forged so people don't really accept them in shops
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:52 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maruchino wrote:
never had any problems with 50's and 100's, never tried a 200 or 500 though


That's pretty much what I'm after.
Seems like the easiest method of bringing spending money is just to bring a few 100's rather than sod about with credit cards. Wallet on person at all times, job done.

Cheers.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Maruchino
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 20:17 - 10 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derivative wrote:
Maruchino wrote:
never had any problems with 50's and 100's, never tried a 200 or 500 though


That's pretty much what I'm after.
Seems like the easiest method of bringing spending money is just to bring a few 100's rather than sod about with credit cards. Wallet on person at all times, job done.

Cheers.


Personally I'm a big fan of the credit card. Some like Nationwide (I think?) and Post Office don't charge for transactions abroad.

Also if I need cash I just draw it out on debit card from an ATM.

Haven't bothered changing money in this country for a long time. In my book the high street offers dire exchange rates anyway, so unless you plan ahead and order your money, you get shafted. So I just stick to plastic most of the time.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

John933
Crazy Courier



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:19 - 11 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

In all my year's travelling in Europe. I have only once seen someone use a 500 euro note in a shop. Well it was a motor way station. No problem. They swiped it in a machine, and then took it. I on the other hand I find the 50 euro note is no problem.

You don't need many of them. But why carry cash all the time? Get one of them card's that you load up with money and use that.
John933
____________________
My trip
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 03:31 - 19 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

John933 wrote:
But why carry cash all the time? Get one of them card's that you load up with money and use that.


I don't really like credit/debit cards, I rarely use them in England unless I'm buying something expensive from a store.

Cash is universally accepted and it makes you think about what you're buying more, handing over a fiver means more to me than seeing £5.00 flash up on an LCD, for example.

I mainly asked about the denomination issue since having a wallet full of 20 euro notes would probably be quite annoying.

Cheers for the tips guys.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Marmalade
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Apr 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:28 - 19 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just get it out a hole in the wall as required.

Losing or getting mugged for 600 euros would be a huge heartbreak

Getting your card cloned would be a pita but you'd get it back if it did happen
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

621andy
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 07:31 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

50s are OK, 100s sometimes cause problems in smaller shops. Wouldn't take anything bigger.

Be aware that UK cards aren't always accepted by foreign machines...especially in France(!)
____________________
'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Marmalade
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Apr 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:16 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

621andy wrote:
50s are OK, 100s sometimes cause problems in smaller shops. Wouldn't take anything bigger.

Be aware that UK cards aren't always accepted by foreign machines...especially in France(!)


What sort of cards are these?

I'm in euroland pretty much every 2 weeks and I use visa debit and credit cards, a mastercard and a paypal e-card and have never had any of them refused anywhere in euro whether in shops or garages with prepay at pump
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

shereen
World Chat Champion



Joined: 15 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:30 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Visa cards are used worldwide and pretty much accepted everywhere.
____________________
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

c_dug
Super Spammer



Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:40 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed, working in the science museum I see all sorts of weird and wonderful cards from Europe, it is very very rare for us not to accept a European card, can't see why it would be any different the other way around.

Our transatlantic cousins on the other hand ALWAYS pull out an AMEX card first, they're the ones that cause issues.

While were on the subject does anybody here have one card that works both as a debit and credit card? Every couple of weeks I get given a card with debit/credit written on it, when it is inserted into the machine the customer gets the choice of which they want it to be. Cool stuff, I'm fairly certain it's just Spanish people who have them though.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Maruchino
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 11:07 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sometimes I think people live in the dark ages! The world is such a small place now, credit card for everything. Safe / secure / insured / easy to use / universally accepted / card-only petrol stations.

Small notes / change for coffees and snacks and tolls, apart from that it's plastic all the way!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 11:43 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maruchino wrote:
Sometimes I think people live in the dark ages!


I'm not really a technophobe, I just prefer cash because it feels more like a real object. I find it easier to spend £10 on a credit card than £10 in real cash money because it's well, there. When it comes to bigger spends, even more so.

I'm not that worried about getting mugged to be honest, a couple of hundred quid would be the least of my problems if that were to happen - my holiday would already have presumably been ruined etc. People carry around phones worth £££ without giving it a second thought, it's not really a problem unless you flash it around I'd think.

Plus, cards will never be accepted everywhere. All corner stores, maybe, but how about person to person?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

fatpies
World Chat Champion



Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 11:50 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maruchino wrote:
Sometimes I think people live in the dark ages! The world is such a small place now, credit card for everything. Safe / secure / insured / easy to use / universally accepted / card-only petrol stations.

Small notes / change for coffees and snacks and tolls, apart from that it's plastic all the way!




Except it costs more, while you guys might think credit card transactions are 'free' I accept cards from a couple of my customers.

My card company charges me 6% on the bill total. Rather than eat the loss. I increase my prices to account for this.
____________________
"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:26 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

fatpies wrote:
Except it costs more, while you guys might think credit card transactions are 'free' I accept cards from a couple of my customers.

My card company charges me 6% on the bill total. Rather than eat the loss. I increase my prices to account for this.


Plus the fact that actually having to buy a card machine and set up the infrastructure (phone line or whatever) costs money.

If I were a small business owner I'd prefer cash with audit trail to card, sod giving MasterCard and co a cut of everything I take in.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Maruchino
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:37 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

fatpies wrote:
Maruchino wrote:
Sometimes I think people live in the dark ages! The world is such a small place now, credit card for everything. Safe / secure / insured / easy to use / universally accepted / card-only petrol stations.

Small notes / change for coffees and snacks and tolls, apart from that it's plastic all the way!




Except it costs more, while you guys might think credit card transactions are 'free' I accept cards from a couple of my customers.

My card company charges me 6% on the bill total. Rather than eat the loss. I increase my prices to account for this.


I think you'll find you have a particularly poor deal with your merchant bank. I would be shopping around as 6% is ridiculous!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

fatpies
World Chat Champion



Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:45 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derivative wrote:


If I were a small business owner I'd prefer cash with audit trail to card, sod giving MasterCard and co a cut of everything I take in.


Erm you do realise that banks charge businesses for putting cash in the bank right?

It costs me 0.55% to put money INTO my business account.

Just moving stuff around in my accounts costs me 0.5%
____________________
"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Derivative
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:52 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

fatpies wrote:
Erm you do realise that banks charge businesses for putting cash in the bank right?

It costs me 0.55% to put money INTO my business account.

Just moving stuff around in my accounts costs me 0.5%


Yeah, I also understand the logistical issues of moving around large amounts of heavy coins if you're running a larger operation.

Still, I tend to think it'd come out cheaper than taking card payments. Of course nowadays you have to have both anyway.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

shereen
World Chat Champion



Joined: 15 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 20:37 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

fatpies wrote:
Derivative wrote:


If I were a small business owner I'd prefer cash with audit trail to card, sod giving MasterCard and co a cut of everything I take in.


Erm you do realise that banks charge businesses for putting cash in the bank right?

It costs me 0.55% to put money INTO my business account.

Just moving stuff around in my accounts costs me 0.5%


Not if you bank with Santander Thumbs Up
____________________
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 20:43 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Derivative wrote:

Cash is universally accepted and it makes you think about what you're buying more, handing over a fiver means more to me than seeing £5.00 flash up on an LCD, for example.


Maybe my age, and having to sign old style credit card receipts after someone has laboriously filled it in, by using a card makes me think more than cash. Mentally cash is spent once it is out of the hole in the wall. I avoid carrying cash to ave money.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

fatpies
World Chat Champion



Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 22:36 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

shereen wrote:


Not if you bank with Santander Thumbs Up



Are you talking about business banking or normal banking? Normal banking doesn't count. And Santander isn't exactly safe either.

While the UK government says they are safe, the fact that councils and businesses are drawing out their money from Santander tells me that it is NOT safe!"
____________________
"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Marmalade
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Apr 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 23:48 - 21 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think shereen was referring to the lack of charges.

I have business accounts with santander and pay about a fiver a month.

Santander UK is separated from santander spain
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

c-m
World Chat Champion



Joined: 12 May 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 10:15 - 22 May 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oddly enough Spain has the highest amount of 500EUR notes in the Eurozone. Criminal gangs and dodgy dealers use them for payment.

In reality you're not going to have a problem with any of the notes. It's only UK that gets a bit gay with 50s event though 20s and 10s are more routinely forged.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 13 years, 324 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> Touring & Exploration All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.08 Sec - Server Load: 0.36 - MySQL Queries: 13 - Page Size: 133.47 Kb