Credit Cards Abroad

dave_stevens

Hi
Which are the best credit cards to use outside of the UK
Dave

BenL

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

There is a full article on the best cards to have for foreign spending.

I use the Halifax Clarity card myself.

chattychappy

PURCHASES: Post Office, Clarity*, Santander ZERO are all loading free. Also consider the new Nationwide card*(can be 0%), the old Nationwide Gold visa (if you have it - only 1%) and Sainsbury's*. (The one with the fee.)

CASH: All will still charge interest, but Clarity, Zero and Sainsburys (I think) don't charge a fee on top. If you pay off promptly, the small amount of interest can work out cheaper than using a loaded debit card. Bear in mind that purchase of TCs and foreign exchange over the counter is usually counted as cash. Whatever card you get, foreign ATMs can levy their own charge.

CCs can't be relied upon to work overseas without a hitch. So take backups. Even a 2.75% loading is better than messing around with Western Union etc.

Some cards say you should phone them in advance to let them know where you are going so they are less likely to get blocked. I long stopped bothering as I found it made no difference. When they have been blocked, I've always been able to get them unblocked by phoning up. (Sometimes only to get them blocked again on the very next transaction.)

* = no personal experience - advice regurgitated from here and elsewhere. Rest is personal experience - mostly Asia, but also Europe and US/Canada.

dave_stevens

Do you get charged for using your Switch card at ATM's outside UK

lisyloo

Do you get charged for using your Switch card at ATM's outside UK

You won't get charged interest (as you aren't borrowing money).
But you will probably get laoded (usually around 2.75%) which will be hidden in the currency conversion.
Plus you may face a foreign ATM fee.

Some credit cards are cheaper than debit cards even though you have to pay interest (for example Halifax Clarity).
You can minimise the interest charged to a relatively tiny amount by paying back the CC when you return to the UK.