Cards frr Overseas Use ...

Loobeylou

We have previously used Nationwide Flex account and credit cards for withdrawing money from cash machines, and using to pay for goods and services. I have been given to understand that Nationwide now impose charges for using these cards abroad.

I was advised by the Halifax that when using their Clarity credit card we can withdraw money (cash advance) and use it for paying hotels etc, without charge. The small print does state that there is no foreign exchange fee. For withdrawing cash of maximum £500 they will charge interest from the day cash is withdrawn, but that there is no withdrawal fee.

So ... are there any further suitable cards to apply for which don't charge at all?

stilltheone

Metro Bank

N&P

Loobeylou

Many thanks for your post stilltheone. I have never heard of Metro and the N&P one means switching my main current account to them.

Any further ideas anyone?

dzug1

Your Nationwide credit card charges haven't changed - only debit card ones.

If you live in their branch area Cumberland Building Society are another possible. They don't accept postal applications from outside their area.

Santander zero's another one - but the conditions for getting one are tricky

apt

Loobeylou wrote: »

Many thanks for your post stilltheone. I have never heard of Metro and the N&P one means switching my main current account to them.

Any further ideas anyone?

You do not need to switch your main current account to N&P, but you do need to pay in £500 per month or (lite version) use it 5 times per month.

ferf1223

there's an entire section here about this.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

Oddly, I'm sure they used to list Metro Bank...but maybe not...my experience with them so far has been brilliant...best bank in terms of customer service I've come across in the UK.

zagfles

Loobeylou wrote: »

We have previously used Nationwide Flex account and credit cards for withdrawing money from cash machines, and using to pay for goods and services. I have been given to understand that Nationwide now impose charges for using these cards abroad.

I was advised by the Halifax that when using their Clarity credit card we can withdraw money (cash advance) and use it for paying hotels etc, without charge. The small print does state that there is no foreign exchange fee. For withdrawing cash of maximum £500 they will charge interest from the day cash is withdrawn, but that there is no withdrawal fee.

So ... are there any further suitable cards to apply for which don't charge at all?

Rather than mess around with cards with strings attached like having to have a current account with them and having to pay in every month, if you already have a Nationwide CC and a Halifax Clarity, use the Nationwide for all your CC purchases and the Clarity for all your ATM withdrawals.

Then when you get home pay off the Clarity straight away, don't wait for the statement, check what the balance is online and pay it. Assuming you got the "typical" 12.9% APR the interest will be trivial - if you went abroad for 3 weeks and made ATM withdrawals over the period then an average of 1.5 weeks interest ie under 0.5%.