Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

NiftyDigits

Aaron wrote: »

No. When I last used a Caxton card, there was a small fee to refund it back to Sterling. It was in the small print.

Two fees I imagine. A percentage for the conversion and a redemption processing fee. Unless it's the Global Traveller.

robgriff

A while since I visited this site, bit of advice please - I’m flying to Bangkok travelling for 3 months around Asia and then onto Australia for 8 month working.

Presume the Halifax clarity would be best for this or anything else? I’m currently with Natwest Debit which will be took as a backup card.

Money_Saving_Dude

zagfles wrote: »

Followed by "If so, we will require your personal information to be protected to at least UK standards."

The bit you highlighted was about making foreign payments, not about using foreign call centres.

And if they don't meet uk standards?

zagfles

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

And if they don't meet uk standards?

Johnny Foreigner will probably do a better job! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7449927.stm

davidfromdevon

Sorry Martin, am I missing the point here? Why get a credit card, for example Halifax Clarity, apart from the added protection, when a debit card, eg the Norwich and Peterborough lite , has no fee on purchases, or cash withdraws, like the Halifax, PLUS no interest on cash withdraws from ATM’s – or am I just being thick ?

zagfles

davidfromdevon wrote: »

Sorry Martin, am I missing the point here? Why get a credit card, for example Halifax Clarity, apart from the added protection, when a debit card, eg the Norwich and Peterborough lite , has no fee on purchases, or cash withdraws, like the Halifax, PLUS no interest on cash withdraws from ATM’s – or am I just being thick ?

Lots of reasons:

1) If you're hiring a car or booking a hotel, they'll usually put a "reserve" on your card, sometimes of much more or on top of what you spend, for a debit card this will make your money inaccessible, for a credit card it just uses up some of the credit limit.

2) If you're not sure how much you'll need to spend, you don't need to make sure you have the right amount in your current account, you can sort it out when you get back.

3) Should any fraud occur, the bank will be temporarily out of pocket not you.

4) Clarity is Mastercard, N&P is VISA, Mastercard rates are generally slightly better than VISA, the difference could even outweigh the interest on the Clarity!

5) Clarity doesn't require 5 transactions every month to avoid charges like N&P.

Of course you shouldn't rely on just one card anyway - so best bet is to get both!

NiftyDigits

robgriff wrote: »

A while since I visited this site, bit of advice please - I’m flying to Bangkok travelling for 3 months around Asia and then onto Australia for 8 month working.

Presume the Halifax clarity would be best for this or anything else? I’m currently with Natwest Debit which will be took as a backup card.

Halifax Clarity for a CC and Metro Bank or N&P Gold Light for a DC.

Jeanettedot

I like using the prepaid cash cards. Have done twice (Australia and Europe). But I've got a question...

Both times I've had to use my credit card as the amount I want to put on it has been over my daily cash withdrawal from the bank so couldn't pay with a debit card. Obviously this resulted in a cash withdrawal fee etc on my credit card.

Does anybody have any suggestions as I'm going to NYC in September and want to use one of these again?! Thanks.

Doshwaster

zagfles wrote: »

Of course you shouldn't rely on just one card anyway - so best bet is to get both!

A credit card is also better in an emergency as you aren't limited to the balance on your debit card. I got a credit limit of £9000 with Halifax Clarity. There's no way I'd spend that much while away on holiday and I prefer to use a debit card but it's nice to know that funds are there should anything go wrong.

Credit cards are also better when travelling for work. I put on all my expenses onto a credit card, claim the money back as soon as I return and work pays me the money (hopefully!) before the credit card bill is due. With a debit card I'd be out of pocket until my employer reimburses me.

zagfles

Jeanettedot wrote: »

I like using the prepaid cash cards. Have done twice (Australia and Europe). But I've got a question...

Both times I've had to use my credit card as the amount I want to put on it has been over my daily cash withdrawal from the bank so couldn't pay with a debit card. Obviously this resulted in a cash withdrawal fee etc on my credit card.

Does anybody have any suggestions as I'm going to NYC in September and want to use one of these again?! Thanks.

I think Kalixa is the best option, last time I checked.