Debit card with zero cost for payments overseas

[King_Suckerman]

I work for Santander (formerly A&L) if anyone needs any help regards the zero a/c

Just reading up on this here -
Current Accounts - Zero Current Account: Santander

I have an old A&L current a/c that I could ask to be upgraded. Problem is i don't like gambling transactions and normal stuff (utilities, cash withdrawls, salary) all mixed together.

Do you think they'd let me keep my existing current and have a separate "Zero" account and transfer £1k per month from the old account to the "Zero" account each month to meet the criteria for the 5% interest?

Thanks

[munk]

Possibly great news out today regarding charge scrapping of forex fees on debit cards:

Foreign currency debit card charges scrapped by banks | Money | guardian.co.uk

Customers buying travel money in the UK with a debit card will no longer be charged fees – typically ranging from 1.5%-2% – at five major UK banks

British banks are swiping £1.1bn a year from holidaymakers, much of it in hidden fees, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has revealed.

It has ordered a major overhaul of the way consumers are charged for using debit and credit cards to buy or withdraw foreign currency, and banks have agreed to scrap controversial cash withdrawal fees for using debit cards to buy currency in the UK.

The fee, typically 1.5%-2% of the amount taken out, outraged consumer groups as it was charged to people using debit cards to buy currency in post offices and bureaux de change inside the UK, but not to those who changed their money in cash.

The OFT found that once abroad, holidaymakers are paying as much as 6% to withdraw money from cash machines, and ordered the banks to reveal to consumers the true amount they are charged.

...

Lloyds, HSBC, Co-op, Capital One, RBS/Natwest and American Express have agreed to display the actual charges incurred by customers far more clearly on their monthly and annual statements.

All major card providers will be required to break out and show in pounds and pence the amount of the exchange rate fee on monthly statements, and an annual statement, again in pounds and pence, which will show the total foreign use charges applied over the year.

Whilst it's not entirely clear right now exactly what charges will be scrapped (for example with Lloyds there is the 'built in' forex fee which is a result of the inflated exchange rate PLUS an extra 'overseas charge') or whether it will just lead to banks being forced to be more explicit about what charges were issued, hopefully it will benefit anyone using a debit card to make payments to overseas companies such as is the case with gambling related transactions.