My U.S. cell phone plan works the same-same cost-throughout the 50 states. In the E.U., my German cell phone is cheap to use in Germany, but charges are much higher elsewhere. So I had to buy a Dutch cell phone to use in Holland-even though both are TMobile phones!
I can charge purchases on my German bank card in euros throughout the euro area; but except for a few locations in Spain, Portugal and the U.K., if I take money from an ATM outside Germany, Deutsche Bank charges me $6. So I set up an ING account in Holland, with no charge at ATMs within the country.
Clearly, the euro has reduced transactions costs; but even the euro-area has a long way to go to approximate America’s low monetary and time transaction costs.
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So you’re saying that transaction costs among the different countries of Europe are higher than those within the single country of the US? And suggesting this is unreasonable or reflects badly on Europe?
How do the costs within a single European country compare with those within the US? Or those between the US and other countries compare with those between European countries (badly for the US, by the sound of Iljitsch’s comment)?
You forget that Europe is a continent, not one country. Try using your US cell phone or bank card in Canada or Mexico and you’ll find that the experience you had in Europe is not much different.
If you’re being charged (especially $6!) to use your card abroad you should consider a different bank. I’m not familiar with Deutsche bank or German banks specifically, but I’ve got bank accounts in America (BofA), France (BNP Paribas), and England (Barclays). Of these, the only one which has ever imposed a transaction fee has been Bank of America, though even this is avoidable if using global partnered banks (e.g. BNP, Barclays, etc.). I’ve used my Barclays and BNP cards throughout Europe, even in eastern nations outside of the EU free from charge. This appears to extend to America as well as I’ve yet to be charged here.
In India, apart from very low call rates, roaming rates are pretty reasonable and standardized across states. And with pan-India telecom licenses some operators might reduce roaming charges to zero in the future. Not to mention zero ATM withdrawal charges (for first few transactions every month).
several points are wrong with the post:
1. the atm charges: the eu regulated that banks aren’t allowed to charge more inside the Euro-zone than in their own country. Austrian banks charge nothing for a withdrawal from any atm inside austria – so withdrawing money from any ATM in the Euro area (even Germany) is free. As far as I know its just the german banks who charge a fee for any withdrawal from an ATM not belonging to their group.
When I was working in germany the cheapest solution was to have my salary paid into my Austrian account (wiring money falls under the same regulation) and to withdraw it on any German ATM for free.
2. The roaming issue: The Austrian market is very small and has all the big players in it – so the prices are falling. Orange for example offers 1000 minutes calling in Austria and 100 minutes for calls to europe or roaming minutes for 33 USD (25$). More minutes are available on the more expensive plans. Add to that that beeing called inside Austria does’nt use up any of your minutes and its much cheaper than any plan I ever had while attending university in the US.
I was in Belgium last year and used by atm card at a Fortis and did not get charged. My own bank allows for 4 out of network ATM withdrawals without a fee per month, so the only difference was that it showed up on my statement after the conversion (which was also done at a very low cost).
I think you’re missing a big fact: the Euro area as you know is only 10 years old. Being able to pay with the same currency is already a big progress compared to the situation before.
As for surcharges, the EU is fighting them and they’re slowly decreasing.
Are you really surprised that you pay different costs in different countries? Just because countries are in the European Union and cooperate on certain matters, it doesn’t make them identical.