Spending Overseas: The cheapest way to pay Article Discussion Area

Kernow_Kid

andyni wrote: »

Having read all the good things about the Nationwide debit card I am thinking of setting up a current account so I can have a Nationwide Debit Card for travelling to Australia.

The thing is I already have a current account with Another Bank which I do not want to change. ie the Nationwide one would be a secondary account which I would just put money in for travelling.

Do they expect you to fund the Nationwide Current account with a certain amount every month? Or can you just open one and put money in as and when you can?

Any help/info greatfully appreciated!

Just to say that FlyingVet is wrong.

No offence please, FV, but I opened our two accounts (one each for me & the OH), 4 weeks before we went and said what it was for (holiday only), and they said fine and had account opened and ready within 2 weeks.

When I phoned to say I was going to use the card abroad, they said we didn't have to tell them as thats what most people use the account for.
Always worth doing this as I forgot to tell a bank once and they froze my account.

I've just registered my account online and had a look today at the statement (only 2 days after appyling for online). The only downside is that they don't put in the exchange rate (as Halifax and Barclays do), but I calculated that from the 9th August to the 20th August, we had an average exchange rate of £1:$1.999. Good in anyones book. If you take out the charges its still £1:$1.95, better than any cash conversion.

Unfortunately we had to pay $2.50 every time we withdrew cash, but it was easier than paying with the card (quite slow sometimes), but in the end the charges only totaled £12.50, so thats fine by us.

Its also worth taking out their card protection insurance as its only £12 (£18 for a couple), and covers all your cards and documents for a year, with only one phone call cancelling and reordering them all!

Thanks to Moob for his comments, to Dzug for filling me in, and to Pin for all his advice.
I'll recommend the Nationwide Card to anyone.

hollydays

Thanks to Martins advice my OH aplied for a Nationwide card.Just received it,took about 2 and a half weeks. It is a Visa debit card with a "link" logo but no visa logo.Never heard of link.Have I finally got the right card for spending abroad?

moob_2

hollydays wrote: »

Thanks to Martins advice my OH aplied for a Nationwide card.Just received it,took about 2 and a half weeks. It is a Visa debit card with a "link" logo but no visa logo.Never heard of link.Have I finally got the right card for spending abroad?

Does the card not have Visa Debit on the bottom right hand corner of the front of the card?

What mine looks like:

Top left: 'debit card' in large letters.

Top right: Nationwide logo

Bottom Right: Visa DEBIT logo.

Rear of card bottom left: Link logo

Rear of card bottom right: Nationwide logo

It also has the £100 cheque guarantee hologram on the rear.


How did your husband apply for the account? Online/in the bank?

hollydays

He initially applied by phone,they sent him some paperwork and he took it into a branch.
The card:
top left "nationwide"
top right-visa logo (white background blue lettering with a bit of yellow on the V,)word DEBIT underneath it

back of card is same as yours.

Just tried to use telephone banking but it is trying to put me (ahem,Him) through to an operator.Decided to do a test by transferring £1 from my other account to see if its up and running etc. Solely will use this account for travel.

moob_2

hollydays wrote: »

He initially applied by phone,they sent him some paperwork and he took it into a branch.
The card:
top left "nationwide"
top right-visa logo (white background blue lettering with a bit of yellow on the V,)word DEBIT underneath it

back of card is same as yours.

Just tried to use telephone banking but it is trying to put me (ahem,Him) through to an operator.Decided to do a test by transferring £1 from my other account to see if its up and running etc. Solely will use this account for travel.

Seems a different layout, but I reckon the fact it states Visa Debit on it means it is all ok - you're good to go!

I'd register for the online banking if you haven't already, the layout is fantastic and the most user friendly interface I've ever used from an online bank.

hollydays

Ok thanks moob

beario

Hi all,

I have a Nationwide debit card with all my spending money ready in the account for going to Orlando, Florida tomorrow, but I am concerned I will incur bank charges from the US banks when I withdraw. Can anyone tell me any banks that do not charge, or if any at all do?

Thanks,

Abi

moob_2

beario wrote: »

Hi all,

I have a Nationwide debit card with all my spending money ready in the account for going to Orlando, Florida tomorrow, but I am concerned I will incur bank charges from the US banks when I withdraw. Can anyone tell me any banks that do not charge, or if any at all do?

Thanks,

Abi

You will find that the majority do not charge.

Forgot to add, you can use this link to search for ATMs.

However, I've heard that SunTrust do charge a fee, as will all 'portable' ATMs found in small grocery stores - these are the freestanding types we see over here as well.

I understand that Citibank do not charge verbatim.

Good luck and enjoy!

tobys_mummy_2

at birmingham airport you can get currency from travelex and currency express. i know with travelex if you don't order it beforehand online you pay a worse rate. does anyone know if it is the same with currency express or is their online rate the same as if you go and get it from them on the day?

elash

Hi all, can you help? I'm off travelling for a year soon, and need a credit card that:
1. Has the longest 0% on purchases possible
2. Is free to spend on overseas

It seems that the longest 0% offers are on cards that charge for spending abroad - while the ones that are free to spend on are only 3 months max 0%!
Any ideas?!
Cheers