Latest news update - 'phoned Nationwide. Excellent woman (Thanks, Tracey) on customer services, despite the late hour.

Confirmed yes, there are current problems worldwide in using NW cashcards in ATMs. It is because Mastercard/Cirrus are globally in the middle of updating all their ATMs. NW have no control over Mastercard (presumably they as many others are tied into a contract). The problems seem not to be software-based, but network-based - I assume as they upgrade sections they switch off and on parts of the network, which will have a domino effect and block communications. (Techies can correct me but I think that's the gist of it.) NW's latest update from Mastercard was as far back as May. Not good enough, but not NW's fault.

In addition, my card (but not my husband's) had just been "restricted" - on the grounds that it kept on being put into different ATMs but without cash being withdrawn....... (Grrrrrrrrrrrr.) The fraud/restrictions team had been in an emergency meeting for 3 hours (and as she and I spoke) which was expected to last until 11.00pm. (Presumably because all of us frustrated NW ATM attempters abroad had been restricted, and someone bright somewhere realised something was wrong?)

She promised someone would phone back. In fact, she did herself, 2 minutes afterwards - fraud team out of meeting - my card now de-restricted - still be hiccup problems with non-uk ATMs for a few months though.

At least we know what's going on now. But yes, watchdog or moneybox should take it up. Mastercard is the enemy though, not Nationwide.

Any more thoughts, out there?

For the last couple of months we have been experiencing difficulties with Nationwide#s Visa Debit Card also but in SE Asia. I phoned Nationwide three times over this and got a different answer each time, reasons given included countries I visited were high on fraud list, my card being temporarily restricted also due to no cash being withdrawn and a few days ago I was asked to stick to International Banks like Citi and HSBC as there ATM's are Chip & Pin enabled.

The lady we spoke to on the most recent phone call was also very helpful and we actually managed to make a withdrawal just after our phone call. We are relying on our monthly income for living expenses and if this problem does not get fixed soon we will have to open local Citibank accounts here so money can be transferred from the UK. So it appears that the problem may not just be with Mastercard then, I am happy that Visa & Mastercard do take action by limiting possible fraudulent transactions but it seems to be going too far now.

I wonder is this same problem happening with other British Bank ATM Card users, would be interesting to find out but I have always let my card issuers know in advance where I am travelling to and for which dates