Can't decide FariFX vrs CaxtonFX card most cost effective

sallyali

Sorry posted this question in the wrong section, so posting it hear hopefully will get some good!

I have never had a credit card jsut debit cards with Natwest.
I wanted to get a Santander Zero Credit card or the Halifax
to start building a good credit history. However, had a credit chech done at Santander and they said I didn't qualify, he didn't bother to tell me why? I'm guessing its becuase I've never had a credit card and they reduced my hours at work so now I'm a part timer 15 hrs for the time being. Other than that I don't have any over drafts. I do have a student loans I need to pay back but my erning aren't above £15.000, so I'm not able to at the moment, could this cause a decline in my cerdit check? I can't take a credit card out with Natwest as you have to earn per year around £10.000.
I also wanted to take out a credit card to use it whilst traveling abroad, work placements. Around the EU, Australia, US, Iceland and Thailand. I heard credit cards are the cheapest way to take out money aborad and the cheapest option not to in cure additional charges.
- What other credit cards could I consider which won't charge high interest and
The only credit cards I have been suggested are ones like Capitol One and they charge extremely high interest.

I have consider pre paid cards but do they really work out cheaper than Debit cards? I'm torn by these three options

Current markets has gotten worst and I've asked this before but I don't know if I should be exchange my sterling for Euros?

Fair FX Anywhere; You pay only for the transaction fees at 1.4% for all transactions + ATM widthdrawal £1. so a bit cheaper than a debit
They say don't mark up the prevailing interbank exchange rate! what does that mean and those Caxton do this?

Caxton Global traveler: No ATM fees,
No fees, commission, or extra charges on your transactions meaning all costs and charges are included in the exchange rate applied. But doesn't this work out more expensive, so when ever I pay for something I will in cure the cost of converting their currency to sterling and it will be at the exchange rate change at the time of purchase, where as Fairfx locks the currency to the rate it's at when I topped up the card, or is the transaction the same for either card in sterling?
The exchange rate applied is fixed at 2.75% above the prevailing interbank rate. Is this the same for Fairfx Anywhere?


So if I don't get either card in sterling, I won't be able to use the euro or $ cards when I'm in Iceland/thailand/australia whitout getting charged the hefty exchange rate conversion?

Which card shall I get for euros?

Fairfx euros: Must pay for card £9.99 charge. Good exchange rate.
ATM fee £1.50/$2.00 at any machine in europe plus the atm owners charges (not sure how much that would be those it vary at each atm? No transaction fees,
Master card can avoid Raynair £6.00 card payment fee,can use the card 3 times to take out money from an atm 24hrs, return fee £10,rpelacment fee £10

Caxton euros: Just top up £10 which is included to use. Bad exchange rate.No ATM fees except for the ATM owners fee, No transaction fees. It's a VISA so can't avoid the Rayanir Card charges £6.00, can only use the card twice in 24hrs to take out money from an atm, No fees if not using the card, return fee 2 euros,replacement fee £10, what is the investigation fee £50 is this if I disagree with a fine they have incured and I will have to pay £50 to complain??

OK, so these are all the pros and cons and I still can't decide :mad:
will it work out cheaper that the FairFx has a better exchange rate or that the Caxton doesn't charge ATM fees abroad?

I can obviously use either card in either EU or US but than I will be stuck with travelers chaecks in Iceland and thailand. Won't this work ojut even more expensive?
Please help which card should I get and what's worked out the most cost effective card, other than credit cards or just not going abroad;)

thank you for the help and sorry for the loooooong question!!!

jno

A long question which I got lost by reading - I can only say I use Neteller Prepaid card for booking Ryan Air flights and paying at POS (Point of Sale), neither of these incurs a charge. The card is also 100% free to get hold of, but there is a long and drawn out application process. Neteller charges for use at ATMs though, see table at the bottom of this page:

http://www.neteller.com/netplusprepaidcard/

In order to avoid the Neteller fees, I never use my card at an ATM and just load it up, then pay with it - there has been no charge to date in over 6 months of using it.

dzug1

Put it this way - if you can't decide then (assuming you are not thick) there's not much between them and it doesn't matter either way.

whatmichaelsays

When did Caxton change to Visa?