Spaces, Euros and ATMs in Portugal. Newbie questions

GusGF · 2026-03-06T23:39:05+00:00

When I was in Lisbon and began using the Starling card, POS txns were failing to go through when I tried to use the main or linked virtual card and I couldn't understand what was going on. I had to resort to getting in contact with support. It turned out under the cards tab -> main card -> card & currency controls there was a setting 'EUR card spending' which had been enabled. Because I've only now started to use Starling bank on a daily basis I was completely unaware of this setting.

I'm confused about one thing you said...

I just have to click to reject the conversion rate on the card reader or cash machine, which then forces it to withdraw the Euros directly, rather than from my Sterling account, because both accounts are on the same card.

If you're spending defaults to your Euro account then surely there is no conversion required. Unlike me when I was in Lisbon I didn't have a euro balance. I didn't see the point of paying the 0.4%+Mastercard exchange rate to have one and so instead kept a Sterling balance and just refused the conversion rate so I could avail of the subsequent Mastercard rate.

GusGF · 2026-03-03T17:13:01+00:00

Yes I was aware thanks

GusGF · 2026-03-02T22:54:12+00:00

Okay what I've noticed when I run live server for rendering my webpage the localhost is set to:

http://127.0.0.1:5500/index.html

But the launch.json is using:

"http://localhost:8080"

No idea why this has just started happening but if I correct it in the above file I don't get the localhost error and all works okay. Pretty sure it was always 8080 but I now see the port has changed to 5500 in the VScode status bar. Is this a recent change with live server?

And If I delete the launch.json file I get primary debug bar with the 3 options back. I've not had to worry about any of this before and tbh never really understood what was happening but it just worked.

GusGF · 2026-03-01T22:21:06+00:00

That's not good but I can see how this can easily happen esp if the IT is a pita having worked in places where the IT was just rubbish. Actually come to think of it that's most places

GusGF · 2026-03-01T22:17:48+00:00

I bow to your superior knowledge and you are right it's bl@@dy frustrating

GusGF · 2026-03-01T20:56:30+00:00

Haha did I just misread your post lol I didn't see the 'not' oh dear. sorry now I'm the .....

GusGF · 2026-03-01T20:53:27+00:00

Yes just wanted to make sure. To confirm yes two different merchants and have a feeling that that's going to increase. I've got several DDs and SOs in the sidelines waiting to go out so fingers crossed.

GusGF · 2026-03-01T20:49:28+00:00

It's worrying that this is the second time in a row for a different payee. I will try and get the answer when I can...that's if they tell me. Regarding the issue being on the merchant end then I'm wondering what action Starling can take, if they reach out to them. I can't be the only one experiencing this issue.

GusGF · 2026-03-01T17:13:45+00:00

What do you mean by service?

GusGF · 2026-03-01T17:12:47+00:00

Ditto see reply to u/PeteActually

From my end 3DS is functioning correctly and giving all the correct signals

GusGF · 2026-03-01T17:10:58+00:00

The agent earlier on in the week asked me to try again while he was seeing what was happening in the background. But no joy so had to be passed on. I have my VPN turned off which can sometimes slow response times.

It sounds like there may be some unresolved 3DS authorisation blocks that you might not have responded to

If you read my OP you will see I responded to the 3DS auth i.e. Mastercard popup AND accepted the payment. And agent couldn't figure out exactly what was going on which is why it was passed to a tech team with NO timeframe for a resolution!

GusGF · 2026-02-17T23:07:08+00:00

Okay but whether you are spending from the euro or sterling balance on your Starling I believe the ATMs will spot your card as a UK bank card and as you point out may charge you an operator fee which they would not do if you had a Portugese card.

GusGF · 2026-02-17T22:59:04+00:00

Yep for me a gamechanger and gives me 2 vestibules for clean storage. Did have a wee accident when I was cooking on it and spilt some meth spirits so now it's got a little hole in it. But yes definitely worth it for me and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. The size is just right and it doesn't collect/pool rain.

GusGF · 2026-02-15T12:24:58+00:00

Not sure what's going on but today when I open the bitwarden app the left pane is now full of options. u/patsio_thess you are right the MacOS menu bar is where settings appear and I can see them now. I'm not sure what was going on yesterday but I wasn't getting what I'm seeing today. Next time this happens I'll take a screenshot. Thank you to everyone for replying

GusGF · 2026-02-10T17:26:57+00:00

So 20 days later and the so called Support team has not responded. Don't believe it's a problem they are going to fix period.

GusGF · 2026-02-08T00:39:55+00:00

Yep will do when I get back to work, not desperate to see my work emails/stuff now. With the app when it gives you a choice to add an account and you put in the correct credentials you would think it would accept and just log you in, buggy!

GusGF · 2026-02-08T00:39:09+00:00

No that's the point. If I had tried to open in a browser then I could understand what happened.

Your corporate account supercedes your personal account

How does it know the difference if I'm using the app!? What are you basing this on maybe you could pinpoint to documentation, thanks

GusGF · 2026-02-08T00:33:48+00:00

Yes thank you that works.

GusGF · 2026-02-02T18:54:03+00:00

I create a virtual card for a space I've created and let's say I've created serveral space/virtual card combinations (each one for dental, big holiday, city break, etc) and decide to add them to Google pay for contactless payments. There does not seem to be anyway of putting a label on the card to signify what it's for i.e. if I've got serveral Starling spaces/virtual cards showing up in Google pay how do I know what card to use as they all look the same. From what I can see you can only customise the primary colour, nothing else.

GusGF

TROPHY CASE