Abbey/Santander ZERO v Nationwide Visa Debit for Foreign cash

chattychappy

dechass wrote: »

Hi guys, this is where I am at....
3 cards -
nationwide flex acc - preloaded.
santander card - balance paid off fully and unused since.
post office - balance also paid off and unused since.

The santander zero card does not allow pre-loading as chatty suggested....
My holiday (in USA)...
I leave 28th May return 19th June.
I have pre-loaded my nationwide flex card, and intend to use this for cash withdrawals and purchases until the 7th June. And do not have to worry about paying it off, but will incur 1% forex charge.

The 7th June is the new statement period for the zero card. Pay due 6th, which will be £0. Then I will use the zero card for cash withdrawals and purchases, and pay it off in full when I return.

Is that the best plan for me?

Post Office card date works perfectly, it's the day before I go, so if i make a purchase on it, i can pay it off after I get back with no fee.
Is this of any value? Should I use it for purchases, (but def not withdrawals).
I think it's withdrawing cash that will be where I get charged no matter what...

Regards.

Good plan - yep keep Post Office for purchases. There won't be any forex loading.

If you will have online access whilst away and are set up with internet banking, then I'd use Zero for all the withdrawals and just pay shortly afterwards. With Zero you can't pay on their website - so you must pay from your Flex account, which means taking the card reader thing with you.

Since I started this thread, a few posters have reported pre-loading Zero. I've never bothered trying as I always have online access and pay within a couple of days.

With the ash cloud thing, I would make sure you have relevant phone numbers and preferably online passwords etc set up, just in case!

dechass

thanks chatty,

i dont have a card reader thing...? I can make payments to my zero card online through my A&L current account, My flex account isnt used as my main account or anything. I only use it on hols....

anyway....

purchases....
i'll use Post office card for all purchases (or Zero card after 7th June (or as a back up)).

cash....
I have some dollars which I got off crowncurrency.co.uk @ $1.68 - £1, if only i'd got more!! great service, - arrived y'day as expected.

cash withdrawals....
I'll probably not have to use my NW card for cash withdrawals that much, as I have that cash which will keep me going for a while into the holiday.
I'll withdraw cash using Zero card after 7th June, and try to make a payment on it while i'm away, maybe around 13th.
I'll be sure to have all the phone numbers and passwords etc that I might need.

I think we've got as good a plan there!

Cheers Chatty....:beer:

cjp26

I've just had a letter from Nationwide saying that foreign usage charges are going up from 1 November. The exact wording is:

"From 1 November 2010, buying goods and services with your Visa debit card in currencies other than sterling will incur a 2% commission charge. Cash withdrawals overseas will incur a further £1 charge. These charges replace our current 1% third party foreign currency charge for all transactions outside the Visa Europe region."

Please bear this in mind when reading previous posts. Nationwide appears to be substantially worse now that the Santander Zero account, although I've still to find out for sure how much exchange rates differ between Nationwide and Santander.

I was given this link below by Santander to check rates although it appears to be for tourist rates which previous posts showing near Forex rates seems to contradict.

Santander Home Page > 'How Do I' tab > 'How Do I Get Travel Money' link > 'Santander Travel Money' box > 'Ordering your travel money' paragraph click here link

Do these rates match the ones given for zero account current account and credit card use?

dechass

thanks cjp26.


just a follow up to my posts, i was able to pre-load my santander zero card. I made a payment and it went on the card. I got a letter from them saying I could/should not do this. However they didnt make me take it out or penalise me.

cheers all.