How to avoid fees in america

dubleon

Hi all, I am visiting america for a couple of months and my card charges me 1.75GBP + 3% each time I buy something in the USA and I think there is a fee to take money out too.....how can I avoid this?

Thanks,

Leon

opinions4u

Get a Halifax Clarity card.

Minimise use of ATMs.

Post Office Credit Card may be an alternative.

dubleon

Thanks!

The Travel money card looks great! has anyone has experience with these? I'm worried I might lose it but I hear its ok if you do?

Thanks,

Leon

anon_ymous

Halifax clarity might be harder to get than others?

The Aqua reward card is pretty good, but has a low limit, which has a 0% loading fee, 0% spending charge etc... but it gives you the same cashback abroad as it does here

Nationwide select is useful if you have a Flex account

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

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges

Whilst not a credit card, the Norwich & Peterborough debit card is also something to look into, and I suppose if you already have the card, you're sure that you can't go over what you have in the bank account

unimaginative_user_name

If you go for Halifax Clarity apply in plenty of time as it takes a while to come through. It's a good card for overseas spending and ATM withdrawals.

benjus

If you can get to central London easily, a Metro Bank current account may be worth considering. They can only be opened in a branch, but the account is opened instantly and the debit card printed on-site. Overseas transactions are free and are converted using the wholesale inter-bank exchange rate. The only charge to worry about is a charge imposed by the ATM itself, which is pretty common in the US - although there are apparently some banks that don't do it.

anon_ymous

benjus wrote: »

If you can get to central London easily, a Metro Bank current account may be worth considering. They can only be opened in a branch, but the account is opened instantly and the debit card printed on-site. Overseas transactions are free and are converted using the wholesale inter-bank exchange rate. The only charge to worry about is a charge imposed by the ATM itself, which is pretty common in the US - although there are apparently some banks that don't do it.

With N&P you don't even need to go to London. The downside of course is that you either need to do 5 transactions or transfer in £500/month, depending on your account type

Personally Im on the N&P gold light account, and Im transferring £500/month (with 5 "transactions") in the hope that they'll upgrade me to gold classic and also give me the free keys and card protection, which Metrobank don't do