Global Exchange Reviews 12

Used their currency exchange in T5 at Heathrow. The exchange rate for US$ was a complete rip off. $1.08 per £1. Needed some dollars in a hurry as my flight was due to board so didn't have time to shop around. Raised a query about the exchange rate after I landed but no response from their Customer Service team. Felt like I had been mugged. You have been warned

Charged 70€ on currency exchange.
Absolute rip off

In Malaga, Spain airport, I went through the process of getting a VAT tax refund. You are required to go to a booth prior to Security and obtain an approval on your receipt. I did.
Apparently, the Spanish authorities have subcontracted the refund process to Global Exchange that has a booth past security.
When I presented my approved receipts for VAT refund, the teller tried to convince me to take my 15 euros in US$, my home country's currency. She then asked me if I have 10 euros. I did and I gave it to her. She then gave me $20 and said "thank you".
I was not fooled. I basically got less than 7 euros worth on a 15 euros refund. I persisted and asked her to correct what she did. She refused and insisted that it was correct. When I asked her her name, she refused and when I took my phone to take a photo of her, she threatened to call the police. I said "go ahead"...at that moment, she agreed to give me the full refund and I walked away.

Would give a zero if I could. The worst exchange rate, the guy told me I was getting a 30% discount but I ended losing £30 off the basic exchange rate. Fuming!

Travelled to 70 countries and this is the worst exchange rate I have ever come across. It should be criminal. Exchange rate USD to AUD was 1 to 1.63 and the rate at Global Exchange at SYD Airport was 1 to 1.35!

Twice at the airport counter in Istanbul I have been cheated by the GLOBAL EXCHANGE counter agents by being told that one or two of my VAT refunds doesn't show up in their system and asked me to leave my credit card info so they would credit it accordingly.
I never got the credits and they kept all the paperwork and pocketed the refunds

Don't use their ATM machine, ridiculous exchange rate and didn't tell you any charges they are applying. They exchanged less euros for the pounds you are paying, then what is the point of exchange at all? Ridiculous rogue company, because I used debit card to withdraw so can't even apply a credit card chargeback.

An absolute rip off! Stay away. It should be illegal what Global Exchange are offering consumers! On arrival at Bristol airport I inquired about exchanging 40 euros and was offered £21.12. That is an exchange rate of 1.89 euros for every £1.00. The "official" exchange rate is 1.18. While I understand that they are a business and have costs, this is simply not an acceptable rate to charge. Appalling!!

I needed to get 500 US dollars for a trip and GE wanted £598. This means their rate values the £ at less than a dollar. The High Street rate was £398 so there is a £200 difference that the staff member could only explain on the basis of "its what the computer says". I don't understand how the difference can be so big. It almost feels dishonest. It is certainly profiteering. Avoid Global Exchange airport bureaux.

Do not use their ATMs
Do not use their ATMs for anything other than local currency. My wife was charged an outrageous rate (£50 more than it should have been) for 200 Euro at their ATM in Bristol. Communicating with them is awful. You can only go through their web forms - they give you their email address but nothing gets through. Astonished at the subsequent lack of interest in our case