Using CC in USA - Nationwide / Santander

katies_mum

Off to Florida in August and have been reading about Santander having no fees if you use abroad. However, have read about the trouble a lot of you are having with them.

We have a Nationwide card which we tend to use as backup for holidays if we need to.. I`m sure thought its a 1% charge.

Has anyone got anthing good to say about the Santander card? if not think we will stay with what we have got.

Thanks

BenL

I have had a Santander Zero card since around launch time to compliment my Nationwide.

It took 3 weeks to get it but I was in no hurry.

Since then it has been great, no problems at all. Their online servicing works well shows amounts authorised but not yet debited.

Statements arrive and I pay them, they charge no interest. They gave a good limit too.

I've used it in France, Spain and last weekend in France & Switzerland both in ATM's and shops for Swiss Francs and Euros without a problem.

dylanuk

There is also the Post Office card to consider - it also has 0% fee anywhere in the world.

Whereas Nationwide charge 1% outside of Europe.

katies_mum

Thank you BenL at last something positive.

dylanuk thats great to know thanks I`ll take a look at Post Office one didn`t realise they had 0% anywhere in the world as well.

Two to consider now. Got plenty of time to apply and only use them for holidays.

anna42hmr

i have got nationwide, post office and santander credit cards, the santander card came through very quick for me, despite many others having delays (i applied via their internet site) however have still not got online access, and called that many times i have given up trying

just be aware with the santander card, that they have a no usage fee of £10 so if you dont use it for more than 6 months they will charge the fee. so if you only go away once a year and use it for that holiday only you could get caught out so just use it now and then for small transactions and set a direct debit to pay in full.

nationwides only catch is 1% out of europe

i have been very very pleased with the post office, as they sent my card in less than a week after application and have had great customer service whenerver i have needed to call them.

k4rma_2

anna, have you used them abroad and compared the FX rates? Do any of them work out cheaper?

angelax

has nationwide always charged 1% outside of europe or it that new? i went to Florida about 2 years ago and i didnt think it charged

anna42hmr

k4rma wrote: »

anna, have you used them abroad and compared the FX rates? Do any of them work out cheaper?

very little if any difference when i have used them in canada last winter, 1p difference if that on the one occasion i used them on the same day (more often than not has been the same) however dont forget that as they charge abroad now nationwide will add 1%.

anna42hmr

angelax wrote: »

has nationwide always charged 1% outside of europe or it that new? i went to Florida about 2 years ago and i didnt think it charged

yeah it is they bought it out a few months back, they are basically passing on the visa charge, instead of swallowing it themselves, still cheaper than most other cards though (except for the other no fee foreign usage cards of course)