Credit Card Abroad

212

Thanks, yep I have both those - only a £250 limit on Aqua at the moment though!

Just realised today my N&P account would be even better at foreign ATMs - so the Halifax one might now not be used at all!

reclusive46

212 wrote: »

Thanks, yep I have both those - only a £250 limit on Aqua at the moment though!

Just realised today my N&P account would be even better at foreign ATMs - so the Halifax one might now not be used at all!

Bare in mind the MasterCard rate is normally better than Visa's rate.

It normally goes MasterCard, American Express and then Visa, although on rare occasions it does differ.

wikimilk

Traceywacey wrote: »

I am going to Lanzarote in June. I watched the Martin Lewis show last night - he advised the best way to spend money abroad is with a credit card and he suggested the Post Office. I already have all the spending money in savings. My question is - is it possible to load credit onto the credit card so you don't have to pay interest? To explain - I want to add all my savings onto my new credit card, say £700, so I will be in credit and then when I'm away I can spend the credit without being charged any interest. Is this even possible?????? I cannot find an answer anywhere on the web.

Thank you in advance.

We are not allowed to add money on to a credit card. A credit card is like "put something on the cuff". If you pay back in time, usually, they don't charge you interests, but it depends on the type of credit cards and which banks.
If you would like to deposit monkey onto your card, you may try debit cards or prepaid card. If you use a debit card, you will need to open a bank account. If you want to use a prepaid card, then you don't need to open a bank account.

Here are seven of the best prepaid cards to make your holiday spending go further.
caxtonfx.com
fairfx.com
mytravelcash.com
travelex.co.uk
acefx.firstpremierprepaid.co.uk
iceplc.com
postoffice.co.uk/travel-money-card

NiftyDigits

wikimilk wrote: »

We are not allowed to add money on to a credit card. A credit card is like "put something on the cuff". If you pay back in time, usually, they don't charge you interests, but it depends on the type of credit cards and which banks.
If you would like to deposit monkey onto your card, you may try debit cards or prepaid card. If you use a debit card, you will need to open a bank account. If you want to use a prepaid card, then you don't need to open a bank account.

Here are seven of the best prepaid cards to make your holiday spending go further.
caxtonfx.com
fairfx.com
mytravelcash.com
travelex.co.uk
acefx.firstpremierprepaid.co.uk
iceplc.com
postoffice.co.uk/travel-money-card

That is an overly simplistic listing and certainly not one in which I would place any faith.

NiftyDigits

reclusive46 wrote: »

Bare in mind the MasterCard rate is normally better than Visa's rate.

It normally goes MasterCard, American Express and then Visa, although on rare occasions it does differ.

I've seen spreadsheets that show a completely different story, so I certainly wouldn't use the Clarity in the place of the N&P debit on the basis of your statement.
What is more important is the time of the settlement. VISA and Mastercard may settle at differing times. Best not to be concerned about such things on one's holiday.

reclusive46

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I've seen spreadsheets that show a completely different story, so I certainly wouldn't use the Clarity in the place of the N&P debit on the basis of your statement.
What is more important is the time of the settlement. VISA and Mastercard may settle at differing times. Best not to be concerned about such things on one's holiday.

I suppose this is true.

They all apply the exchange rate on different dates.

I do know American Express applies it on the actual time the transaction was authorised (Or processed if the transaction was never authorised. I.e. Toll road) but I think this is rare for networks.

Visa, MC and Diners Club (If can find anywhere to use it) all vary slightly. Its a pain really lol

Herbalus

From what I've heard the difference between Mastercard and Visa is negligible. And if we're comparing the N&P debit (Visa) with the Halifax Clarity (Mastercard), the few pence interest on cash withdrawals with the Clarity Mastercard - if you use FP immediately after withdrawing - is going to affect the rate, though again by a negligible amount. Not sure you really gain anything between the two.

If you have the Aqua and N&P account, the only benefit I see from the Clarity is a bigger limit.

Buzby

dzug1 wrote: »

Given that this thread has been almost exclusively about Halifax Clarity which has neither conversion charges nor a purchase fee it's hardly surprising.

Unfortunately, that's not the thread title. All it takes is someone to misconstrue the thread and they've lost out. Badly. As Clarity is one of the few exceptions, it remains worth pointing out.