I need a MASTERCARD Credit card

Zipped50

My duaghter has just returned from Canada , and said that most places only accepted Mastercard credit cards , as opposed to Visa cards.

We are going to Toronto in September and wish to take a credit card with me , can anyone tell me which one to apply for ?

I am a small wage earne , less than £12000 pa , and will only be using the card when on holiday.

Help !

***Zippy***

grumbler

MBNA, Lloyds TSB, Barclaycard, ….
I guess Amex is also popular in US - not less than Mastercard.
However, I do not think that credit card is the best way to spend abroad. Have you read 'Save 6% by using the cheapest way to spend overseas' article. I’d prefer debit or cash card.
I have never seen Mastercard debit card. However, there are a lot of Maestro and Cirrus debit cards around. Cirrus and Maestro are under Mastercard.

Zipped50

Cheers , off to read the link :-)

grumbler

Nationwide debit card is Visa, but their cash card is Cirrus. However, I think (not sure) even in Canada most of cash machines accept Visa without problems. Hence, it is still better to apply for Visa debit card. I have 2 accounts in NW - one with debit card and another with cash card.

jonesMUFCforever

Try for an Egg (blue) card. This is Mastercard.
Green Egg card is Visa.
Eric

Zipped50

Thanks Eric , will have a look at their website.
Egg is a British company I think ( willing to be proved wrong ) so would like to keep it *in the family* so to speak.

Bargain_Rzl

Can't you only apply for a blue Egg card if you've already held the green one for 6 months or more?

dccarm

Bank of Scotland Charity Platinum credit card is mastercard and has 9months interest free on balance transfers and purchases. Plus a donation paid to the charity when you first use the card.

student100

The Lombard Direct Mastercard is similar to Nationwide's credit cards in that it doesn't apply a foreign exchange loading when you use the card abroad. I've not heard from anyone that uses it so I couldn't say if they're any good generally...

I'm surprised that Mastercard is accepted any more widely than Visa in Canada though ? Wikitravel says:

Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard being accepted in most places, American Express somewhat less frequently and Diner's Club only in the more upscale restaurants and hotels.

grumbler

I want to join to Student100:
Lombard Direct credit card is definitely the best Mastercard for purchases abroad.

jonesMUFCforever

Zipped50 wrote:

Thanks Eric , will have a look at their website.
Egg is a British company I think ( willing to be proved wrong ) so would like to keep it *in the family* so to speak.

I might be missing something here but what difference does it make?
Eric