Using a Credit Card Abroad

keeleyjadex

Hiya,

I'm going to Orlando at the end of August and would like to take my credit card with me for any big purchases or as a back up just in case!

I currently have a NatWest World Mastercard with 0% interest free until December - does anyone know if the 0% still stands on purchases made out of the UK?

I've never used a credit card abroad so can anyone explain what sort of charges I would get? Eg. Am I charged for using it (I won't be withdrawing cash) etc?

If the above card isn't suitable, is there one that would be recommended? I would be looking to clear the card as soon as I get home.

Thanks in advance
KJ

OllyM

NatWest cards are bad abroad - I think they use their own rate (worse than the MasterCard wholesale rate almost everybody else uses) and will add ~3% load on top.

You should read this article - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

A Halifax Clarity card would be my recommendation.

lisyloo

Am I charged for using it

Normally there is a conversion fee which is not obvious.
Usually this is about 3% which actually is not bad - compared with say changing your money on the high St.
You won't actually see any charges but the exchange rate would be slightly worse by about 3%.

is there one that would be recommended?

You could apply for a card that has 0% commission.
Halifax Clarity is popular, Aqua have on and I think the post office do.
So you'd basically get better exchange rates.

Whether it's worth doing this depends on how much you travel.

Although this is an MSE site and a new card is the best way, the commission on credit cards is quite good compared with say changing cash on the high St, so your alternative is just to use your existing cards.

keeleyjadex

OK thanks! I'll have a look in to the Halifax Clarity card

chattychappy

Consider also Sainsbury Gold if the fee/travel insurance makes sense. It is also excellent for taking out cash - no exchange rate knavery, no fee, and (very unusually) an interest free period if you pay off in full by the due date just as with purchases.

mellywoo

chattychappy wrote: »

Consider also Sainsbury Gold if the fee/travel insurance makes sense. It is also excellent for taking out cash - no exchange rate knavery, no fee, and (very unusually) an interest free period if you pay off in full by the due date just as with purchases.

I have a bad experience of using my Sainsbury's card abroad when using the insurance. Last August my daughter slipped on a wet floor in a shop in Hollywood Studios she hurt her back , My daughter was rushed to Celebration Hospital by Disney's own on site ambulance they were so quick, wanted to get her off site I think so no more their problem. She spent a total of 4 hours in hospital having xrays etc but was released, the bill came to just under $2000, we were told we had to pay immediately by credit card , we tried to contact Sainsbury's insurance but could not get through , they told us if we settled then in full on our card they would reduce the bill , if we could get the insurance to do it direct they would charge the full $2000. We settled on our card and when we got back to the villa we rang the insurance to log it with them , they just said that to send the paperwork and invoice off when we returned to England . When we returned to England we had my daughter x-rayed and she saw our chirporactor and 11 months later still has to , she done more damage than the hospital picked up !!! Secondly we are still getting letters from Celebration hospital and 2 different debt collectors for the money as 2 more invoices arrived months after we got home as apparently the bill you pay is not the final one , there are further costs added by each person who saw her ?? The invoices were sent to the insurance and it takes them many many weeks to deal with then so delays it and then we get another letter and another as it is not paid. We are now worried that if we want to return to Florida we will have unpaid debts over us and debt collectors so will be refused entry!!!! Today my Sainsbury's card statement came through showing a refund from Celebration hospital for just over £300, so am really now confused , not sure if that is because now they want the full $2000 and probably now incured extra costs , and it is now not anything to do with the Hospital but the debt collectors who are chasing it, when I spoke to Sainsbury's insurance last time they said not to worry it would get paid but they just take soooo long to do it . Plus the excess is quite steep in the first place.

dzug1

OllyM wrote: »

NatWest cards are bad abroad - I think they use their own rate (worse than the MasterCard wholesale rate almost everybody else uses) and will add ~3% load on top.

You should read this article - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

A Halifax Clarity card would be my recommendation.

Natwest cards are average abroad - they did use their own rate on the quiet at one time but got rumbled and had to give it up

The Clarity card is the best - if you can get it in time. A month should be enough - but get moving on it. Don't leave it until the last minute

reclusive46

Just to keep in mind. When I was in Orlando, I came across 2 restaurants (Cheaper ones, the more expensive ones take all) that only took US debit cards and American Express. Wasn't an issue for me as its my main card.

AMILLIONDOLLARS

I'm taking the Nationwide, Select Card, No fees or loading to use aboard, plus 12 months interest free credit, not planning on drawing any cash, but if I did 12.9%, so not a bad card to get. Turn around on application was seven days.

AMD

Plxply

keeleyjadex wrote: »

I'm going to Orlando at the end of August and would like to take my credit card with me for any big purchases or as a back up just in case!

Just a quick reminder but remember to tell your bank and make sure they have your mobile phone number. Sometimes even if you tell them you're abroad they will block the card.

reclusive46 wrote: »

Just to keep in mind. When I was in Orlando, I came across 2 restaurants (Cheaper ones, the more expensive ones take all) that only took US debit cards and American Express. Wasn't an issue for me as its my main card.

You'll find that if a merchant displays the Visa or Mastercard logo they must accept all valid cards. It's much more serious in America and Visa even has a page where you can "Report a Merchant".

https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp

"The merchant displayed an improper Visa acceptance mark, did not display Visa signage or displayed Visa signage but refused to accept your Visa card."

chattychappy

mellywoo wrote: »

I have a bad experience of using my Sainsbury's card abroad when using the insurance.

Personally I prefer to buy my own insurance rather than have it "bundled" and really I don't have much choice because of my weird travel pattern.

I'm not sure if other companies would have been better. I used to use "insure'n'go" as you could tailor your needs online. But on googling I found no end of complaints about hassle in processing claims. I subsequently bought M&S as there had been fewer complaints. Now I'm with Amex. Of course it's the underlying company rather than the brand that is the issue - but it seems to me that they offer different levels of service depending who you buy through.

Sorry I don't have any advice to help, but I'll refer future posters to your experience.