Credit card for abroad

top_drawer_2

Hello

I will be going abroad for work fairly soon, awhile back I applied for a clarity credit card (Barcleycard) and was refused. I think because I told them the truth about my address history although surely people move etc!

Can anyone suggest another that I could look at? I don't want to be charged ridiculous fees whilst abroad but will need a back up, just in case....

grumbler

Clarity is Halifax, not Barclaycard.
Before applying for other cards it's worth checking your credit files to understand why you were refused. Yes, lenders don't like people changing address too often or with more then one active address in the credit files.

For other CCs see MSE article: Cheap Travel Cards
There are good prepaid cards if you can't get a CC.

NiftyDigits

Where is "abroad"? How old are you??

ampersand

N&P Classic Gold - debit card, not a Credit Card, which I refuse to have.
See Martin here:
Norwich & Peterborough BS: The Norwich & Peterborough BS Gold Classic current account has 0% overseas spending fees and no cash withdrawal fee worldwide. You need to pay in £500 a month (£6,000 salary) or keep £5,000 in the account to avoid its £5/mth fee.
#
This was the advice given to me when I posted a similar ? for NZ and France earlier this year.
In my case, it's the same £500 mthly, revolving door deposit. V.easy for me, as main Bank and N&P are 50 diagonal yards apart in a nearish place:-)
Check noddle for free credit ref.
https://www.noddle.co.uk/

System

ampersand wrote: »

N&P Classic Gold - debit card, not a Credit Card, which I refuse to have...

I wouldn't assume that because it is a current account it will be easier to get than one of the sub-prime credit cards. N&P can be quite fussy and the basic version of the account now has overseas charges.

Capital One Classic Extra (MasterCard) would seem more appropriate.

nubestreet

Hello
I've had a Halifax Clarity card for use abroad for over 3 years and have been very happy with it. However this week they have reduced my credit limit from over £7k to just £500 because I don't use it regularly. They're obviously trying to make more money out of people like me who only use it abroad and then pay off the whole balance once they're home.

So, it's a great card to have for foreign spending but to keep it at a credit limit that's reasonable use it each month for a small amount and then pay it straight off.

Hope that's helpful to someone.

AFK_Matrix

I took out a Metro bank current account which comes with a debit card which doesn't charge fees to use abroad. You do have to go into a branch to set one up but its not that difficult.

I like it as I can transfer in the amount of the per diem I get from work and know how much I have to use abroad for work.

grumbler

AFK_Matrix wrote: »

I took out a Metro bank current account which comes with a debit card which doesn't charge fees to use abroad.

In Europe, not abroad.

NiftyDigits

Further to post #5.

Capital One Classic Extra

Capital One Classic Extra:

For people with an average to good credit history
0.5% cashback on all your purchases
Earn a £10 annual reward for paying on time each month
Paying on time helps build your credit rating
Pay no fees on purchases in foreign currencies
No annual fee

Perhaps a Kalixa Pay Prepaid Mastercard as a backup/alternative. Though of course, it is not a credit card.

ampersand

Hello nifty -

I wouldn't use anything but my N&P card, but in case OP doesn't ask, I'm wondering if cash w/d overseas via COCE would incur any charges?

Cash is what I need on brocante/antique buying trips, hence my choice, aside from antipathy to CC's.
#
Heng Leng, re:post 5, I made no assumption re: 'ease' or otherwise. I just don't believe in credit cards[colonial upbringing] under any circs, but gladly welcome free access to my own money worldwide. Yes, it required 2 lots of checks, but I am unaware of any N&P charging. I'd be grateful if you could point me to this info. as I will close the a/c if it is so. An overseas retailer or ATM may add a charge, but that is so for the unwary on the domestic scene also, and this charge would be flagged before completion of txn. Are you saying this has changed?

NiftyDigits

ampersand wrote: »

Hello nifty -

I wouldn't use anything but my N&P card, but in case OP doesn't ask, I'm wondering if cash w/d overseas via COCE would incur any charges?

Cash is what I need on brocante/antique buying trips, hence my choice, aside from antipathy to CC's.

If you are going to use abbreviations, you should be sure that they are in general usage.