Nationwide debit/credit cards!

Mr_P_5

So after reading Martins info on using credit cards abroad and speaking to people on this site i think im right in saying when i go to Italy in the Summer i should get myself a Nationwide debit card! i could get a credit card but that charges u more?!

now one question is.. im getting car hire there.. am going to book it in a couple of weeks.. its direct to place in Italy! now am i right in saying that im best using one of them to book it because if i use my current credit card i will get charged? i will be paying things in Euros!

Darryl

If you're paying for the car hire in Euros, then yes use either the Nationwide credit or debit card. I'd go for the credit card myself, as it offers you more consumer protection than a debit card. And don't worry about charges - the Nationwide credit card is 0% for 6 months on purchases and BTs, and there are no Euro currency transaction fees/loadings, except for the exchange rate.

HTH

Darryl

fairenoughclough

Use Nationwide credit cards for paying bills abroad.

Use nationwide debit card for getting cash abroad.

grumbler

Just want to add:

NW credit card - for paying bills and purchases.

NW debit card - for cash machines (or purchases). You can withdraw as little amount as possible without any charges - you can always get home without any foreign currency left. However, be aware that sometimes you cannot find as many cash machines abroad as we used to have in UK. In the centre of Rome you can expect to walk 10-20 minutes to find a cash machine. And they did not accept credit/debit cards to pay for many tourist attractions! This is from my 2 years ago experience.

When using debit/credit card for purchases be careful - skimming is quite common in some places even in Europe. If you do not bother about cashback and interest-free period cash is safer.

Cash card is the safest option. Even if it is lost or stolen there is no danger. You can have more than one Flex accounts with NW - one with a debit card and the other with a cashcard.