Credit Cards - Using Abroad - Insurance

holygamoly

I am off travelling for 7mths. I am taking my trusted Nationwide Debit Card and Credit Card as they are the best for using abroad.

If these are stolen/lost, I am in big trouble. So, I have several queries:
1. Is normal travel insurance adequate to cover theft/loss of these cards?

2. Should I arrange for the £20 card insurance you can buy ad hoc (or does this add little to conventional travel insurance)?

3. Is there anyway of having a replacement card sent to me abroad, should I lose my cards? I am wondering how I would be able to access funds, should this happen. Does any insurance product cover for this?

Any other advice? Should I use travellers cheques if I am worried of the above?

Thanks!

smartsaver

This article by Martin may help..

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1106765397,71685,

pin

See if you can get a Nationwide Gold card, as they offer a free courier service to replace lost/stolen Nationwide Gold cards that are lost/stolen abroad.

Reaper

If you are traveling to exotic countries I suggest you do not rely solely on credit cards. I met someone in Belize who had just discovered there are no ATMs in the country (there are 1 or 2 in Belize City now) and had to spend the last of his money to get a long distance bus to Mexico just to get some more cash.

Always take a mixture. When I do long trips I take cards, travellers cheques, small amounts of local currency, and a couple of well hidden US$50 bills for emergencies.

While I don't normally recommend card insurance from 3rd parties if you are doing a big trip it may be worthwhile. Check what your travel insurance covers and in particular excesses. The following are covered by CPPs basic card insurance (£20) as extras in addition to standard credit card protection:

Up to £100 cash replacement each year for lost or stolen cash
Up to £100 cover each year for communication costs incurred when reporting lost or stolen cards
Up to £100 cover each year to replace your handbag or wallet, £25 excess applies
Advance of up to £1,500 per policyholder to help pay hotel bills
Advance of up to £2,500 per policyholder for replacement travel tickets
Up to £200 each year to help you retrieve your lost luggage
Up to £200 each year to help replace your passport or driving licence

They also offer a more comprehensive one for £29

I went for it because it covered things my insurance excluded and because they would loan be money in a worst case scenario (eg being mugged and losing everything). I canceled it after I returned.

frogmort

if you are not heading too far off the beaten track then i suggest you can get less comprehensive cover for about £12 (i've got it from Accucard and it covers all of my cards)

markmat

pin wrote:

See if you can get a Nationwide Gold card, as they offer a free courier service to replace lost/stolen Nationwide Gold cards that are lost/stolen abroad.

Has anyone ever seen this in writing from Nationwide and/or had to use the service? We queried it with them a couple of weeks ago (on the phone) and they didn't seem to know anything about it.

thanks