Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

isayhello

Thanks guys, your responses are appreciated.

I'm going to the USA soon, do you know which are the best/most easy to find banks which wouldnt charge an additional fee for withdrawing money out there on a metro bank card.

Also, is it worth letting metro bank know about the card being used abroad beforehand in case they block any transactions.

I dont think I've got time to get a clarity card now as I'm going in a week, so will withdraw half my holiday money beforehand and use the metro card for the rest, with my old nationwide card as a backup.

any tips for doing it differently?

Baldur

isayhello wrote: »

Also, is it worth letting metro bank know about the card being used abroad beforehand in case they block any transactions.

The last time that I spoke to one of their advisers, I was told that they didn't need to be informed.

Have used mine in Bulgaria & Dubai in the past two months, haven't informed them and have had no problems.

You can always ring them to confirm, if you wish - https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/Supple/Contact-us-/.

inicholson

Can anyone recommend another debit card I can use at ATMs in France - I realise none of them are free anymore, but which is likely to cost me the least?

I already have accounts with Smile, First Direct and Nationwide but I'm happy to open a new current account and transfer some money over - I'm not keen to transfer my main current account away from Smile though.

I've just booked a holiday in France and plan to use my Post Office credit card for most purchases. However I will need some cash (but I have no idea how much). In the past I used a Nationwide card to withdraw money form ATMs but apparently they now charge for this.

cepheus

inicholson wrote: »

Can anyone recommend another debit card I can use at ATMs in France - I realise none of them are free anymore, but which is likely to cost me the least?

I already have accounts with Smile, First Direct and Nationwide but I'm happy to open a new current account and transfer some money over - I'm not keen to transfer my main current account away from Smile though.

I've just booked a holiday in France and plan to use my Post Office credit card for most purchases. However I will need some cash (but I have no idea how much). In the past I used a Nationwide card to withdraw money form ATMs but apparently they now charge for this.

There are still several cards which don't charge fees but better to pay the debt ASAP to avoid interest. I think most are credit cards.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/low-rate-no-fee/clarity-card/

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

Tarostar

FYI, I was told by Halifax Clarity that you do need to notify them of trips abroad or you risk being blocked.

I was wondering though. If there is no cash withdrawal fee with the clarity, but only interest until you pay the money back then can you not withdraw the money and then immediately pay it back online? Even if it takes a few days the interest would then be minimal. Even better, can you leave the card in credit to avoid any interest charge?

cepheus

I think there are clauses which prevent preloading the card, I certainly have that problem with Santander zero. There is nothing preventing paying these of quickly though via the internet. I'm not sure if you have to wait a few days before a debt registers or not. Either way it won't cost much.

malc_b

FYI I discuss the Clarity back at post #1344. Yes it does work but.

1. Pay off money when you see it online as that way you don't go into credit, or the money doesn't go towards purchases.
2. Check the interest since Halifax got it wrong for me and put all the payments towards purchases.

See the ATM withdrawal and pay it off online takes about 6/7 days I found when in USA recently. BTW Halifax eventually accepted they had made an error and cancelled all interest. I had to get them to send me a letter explaining how they worked out the interest on that bill first though. Even in the letter they were still saying it was right, when clearly, when you read the numbers in the letter they had messed up.

isayhello

If you have a dd setup, how can you make an online payment earlier to clear the balance?

Lets say your credit card bill is currently £300 for this month and you have a dd due in a few weeks to collect £400 from your previous month.

Do you need to pay £700 now to clear the old balance and the new transactions? will a further £400 still be taken out when its time for the dd to be collected as well, so you're £400 in credit now?

I wasn't quite sure how this works in reality.

Thanks

isayhello

Just to add, my last post was meant to be in reference to the Halifax clarity card and trying to pay it off so as to minimize interest.

I was looking for a real example of how to do this.

Thanks

adindas

Which one offers a better exchange rate, Visa Exchange Rate or Master Card Exchange Rate?
I have Cumberland BS Debit card which uses Visa Debit
And I have Halifax Clarify Card as well as Santander Zero Credit Card Which uses Master Card

On 17/04/2011. I did it in Poland

-I withdraw cash in Polish Zloty using my Cumberland Visa debit. Exchange Rate is £1/4.45
On the same day I did purchasing using Halifax Clarity Card £1/4.44
-Halifax Clarity card Zero Master Exchange rate:
-Santander Zero Master Card Exchange rate: £1/4.434

On 20/04/2011 VT
- I withdrew cash in Polish Zloty using my Cumberland Visa debit. Exchange Rate is £1/4.49
- Purchasing using Halifax Clarity Card £1/4.44
It seems to me that Visa Card offer a better exchange rate? Am I getting it right here?

ADINDAS