pre load a credit card to use abroad

pollards

Are there any negatives to loading cash into MBNA credit card and then use to withdraw cash abroad?
Santander advised me to open Visa card with them to do this, but then when I told them I was visiting 4 countries outside Europe, told me they could only note 3 and I would have to phone them from Australia (obviously at my own expense) to advise of 4th country. Will now be cancelling that card.

ironlady2022

Depending on the credit card you cannot pre load the credit card as they don't allow for a positive balance especially with the load free ones. If you do it is likely to be returned best off ringing up.

izools

There are next to no credit cards available that actually permit positive balances.

Whilst Scamtander Customer Services advised you can do this - if you check the T&C - you aren't permitted to. Same for Halifax Clarity.

Egg World was one of the last cards on the market allowing positive balances but they have closed this loop now, too. (At least on new accounts).

Your best bet would be to pre-load a prepaid card designed for overseas use. A list of most of those available, along with their benefits / costs, is here:

http://www.what-prepaid-card.co.uk/prepaid-travel-cards/travel-prepaid-card.html

And here:

http://www.compareprepaid.co.uk/prepaid-cards/travel/travel-cards.html

Good luck! :beer:

chattychappy

pollards wrote: »

Santander advised me to open Visa card with them to do this, but then when I told them I was visiting 4 countries outside Europe, told me they could only note 3 and I would have to phone them from Australia (obviously at my own expense) to advise of 4th country. Will now be cancelling that card.

Oh hold your horses! Zero is the only credit card that doesn't load the exchange rate and doesn't charge a fee for withdrawals. (Clarity purports likewise, but there are some doubts.) MBNA will probably add around 3% forex loading and again for a cash withdrawal.

When you call Zero and give them the countries you are going to, they simply flag it on the system so it can be considered as part of fraud monitoring. Not telling them doesn't mean you will be declined, telling them doesn't mean it will go through OK. For about 2 years I travelled to many countries without telling Zero and didn't have a problem. For the last month or so they've been constantly blocking it - even though they know where I am!

I don't think you can ever assume that any particular card will be OK overseas. You need backups - and I certainly wouldn't throw out Zero.