We have heard from some students that some of you have had problems while buying plane ticket or recharging your cell phones using your debit or credit cards.
We have contacted the most popular companies that our students usually use and this is the result of our investigation.
* This is the official version of the companies but all of them have mentioned that most of the times the problems while using a credit or a debit card from another country arise because of the particular arrangements with the foreign banks.
CELL PHONE COMPANIES: as a general rule, when you put your credit card in the ATM machine, if it lists “recargar móviles” as an option, you will probably be able to do it, whether your card is debit or credit. Try using the ATM machine of a major bank with international ties (such as Banco Santander or BBVA)
- MOVISTAR: They prefer credit cards to debit cards if they are from other countries. If you are trying to use a foreign credit card and it does not work, your bank at home may be able to adjust something so that you can recharge cell phones here.
- VODAFONE: same as Movistar
- ORANGE: They say that they accept debit and credit cards from other countries (preferably VISA and MASTER CARD). If your card does not work, maybe your bank can make an adjustment to be able to recharge cell phones abroad.
TRAVEL AGENCIES AND AIRLINES
- VUELING: They say that they accept debit and credit cards from Spain and any other countries (preferably VISA and MASTER CARD). They charge 2,50€ when using the credit card and 4,50€ when using the debit card.
- EDREAMS: They accept debit and credit cards from Spain and any other countries (preferably VISA and MASTER CARD) for booking flights, and they only accept credit cards for booking packages of flight plus hotel.
- RYANAIR: This is one of the most used companies by our students and we never heard that they had problems while booking with them.
Usac San Sebastian 