Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

headgirl49

Believe nifty headache! with ICE i wold not recommend

NiftyDigits

headgirl49 wrote: »

Believe nifty headache! with ICE i wold not recommend

Perhaps it's just you(unlucky) as there haven't been any other negative reports so far.
Can't try a dummy run from here without entering my real passport details.

NiftyDigits

5hreek wrote: »

There should be a warning on the NationwideSelect credit card – I just got one and there’s a catch to the foreign exchangefee. I didn’t see it any literature or terms until I actually got a leafletwith the welcome letter from Nationwide:

You only get commission-free purchases abroad based on yourspend in the UK. So every £5 you spend in the UK earns you £1 of commission-freeallowance for using your card for purchases abroad. Any purchases over that “allowance”you’ve built up will be charged a non-Sterling transaction fee.

Sneaky I think!

Are you sure? That is the case with their 'normal' credit card, but not the Select card.
Re-check and let us know.

Seems that you either don't have a Select card or they sent you the wrong paperwork by mistake. Neither the Select nor ther old Gold and Classic CC work on that commission basis.

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/managing_your_account/using-your-cards-abroad.htm

jayu619

Thanks Nifty and Zagfles for your replies, I've decided not to go with Kalixa but go with ICE instead.

Should I be looking to go with the International GBP Card or the US Dollar card? I figure the GBP one would convert to Dollars when it's needed in transactions or withdrawals, but what about the Dollar card? (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Thank you in advance

NiftyDigits

jayu619 wrote: »

Thanks Nifty and Zagfles for your replies, I've decided not to go with Kalixa but go with ICE instead.

Should I be looking to go with the International GBP Card or the US Dollar card? I figure the GBP one would convert to Dollars when it's needed in transactions or withdrawals, but what about the Dollar card? (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Thank you in advance

International GBP Card.

usman.siddiqui

Greetings,,

I am tempted with the idea of the Halifax Clarity card as I am often finding myself travelling these days. However the fact that cash withdrawals result in interest being charged is a little off putting.

I was wondering, therefore if it would be possible to avoid the interest by depositing funds onto the credit card before travelling i.e put the card so it is in a positive credit balance in my favour.

I would be interesting in hearing your thoughts.

Cheerio
Usman

KTF

Although it is against the t&c there is no issue with preloading it. It is not currently policed.

Sometimes they do it themselves when they apply the £5 reward payment if you have a Clarity Reward card.

zagfles

usman.siddiqui wrote: »

Greetings,,

I am tempted with the idea of the Halifax Clarity card as I am often finding myself travelling these days. However the fact that cash withdrawals result in interest being charged is a little off putting.

I was wondering, therefore if it would be possible to avoid the interest by depositing funds onto the credit card before travelling i.e put the card so it is in a positive credit balance in my favour.

I would be interesting in hearing your thoughts.

Cheerio
Usman

The interest is trivial compared to usual currency charges, but pay off any cash advances as soon as you get back to minimise it (or on a long trip while you're there if possible).

As an example go to a typical high street travel agent/bank/post office and you'll likely pay around 4% or more markup over the interbank rate. Use the Clarity for withdrawals over a two week holiday and pay it off when you get back, you'll get pretty much the interbank rate and probably pay less than 0.4% interest, ie ten times less.

grace2much

Hi we are going to Canada for 2 weeks in mid July and was wondering what best way to take the bulk of our spending money. I'll take a few 100 Canadian dollars in cash but I'll need some way of dealing with the other 1500 Cad dollars.

I have used a Fairfax card before for use in Spain and it was find but I don't think Fairfax works in can Dollars.

Any advice would be great.........thanks

PS: We are going to family in Canada but I don't know if that helps you with any ideas?

NiftyDigits

grace2much wrote: »

Hi we are going to Canada for 2 weeks in mid July and was wondering what best way to take the bulk of our spending money. I'll take a few 100 Canadian dollars in cash but I'll need some way of dealing with the other 1500 Cad dollars.

I have used a Fairfax card before for use in Spain and it was find but I don't think Fairfax works in can Dollars.

Any advice would be great.........thanks

PS: We are going to family in Canada but I don't know if that helps you with any ideas?

Try reading what came before your post.