Using a debit card abroad

SuperHan

Ballard wrote: »

I wouldn't use a credit card in an ATM unless it was an emergency. The fees aren't much fun. Quite often cash is the only way for purchases. Try getting by in India or Ethiopia with plastic and let me know how you get on.

With the right credit card, the fees will be a lot lower than your debit card.

No fees on the Halifax Clarity for example, then very little interest if you pay off quickly.

Now, try taking the advice the people in the know are giving you instead of shouting it down with little knowledge of what's best

benjus

This thread probably belongs on here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=193

In most countries you're best off either paying in plastic or getting cash at an ATM (in both cases using one of the recommended cards), although there are a few exceptions.

SimonSays

benjus wrote: »

This thread probably belongs on here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=193

In most countries you're best off either paying in plastic or getting cash at an ATM (in both cases using one of the recommended cards), although there are a few exceptions.

Unregulated advice

DCFC79

Its common knowledge to either check the rate of withdrawing cash or arrange a card that has low or zero fees eg the Halifax Clarity card.

benjus

SimonSays wrote: »

Unregulated advice

What? Don't understand what you're trying to say.

Ballard

DCFC79 wrote: »

Its common knowledge to either check the rate of withdrawing cash or arrange a card that has low or zero fees eg the Halifax Clarity card.

I go on holiday a couple of times a year at most and don't feel that it's worth opening an account just to save maybe £10-15 per year.

benjus

Ballard wrote: »

I go on holiday a couple of times a year at most and don't feel that it's worth opening an account just to save maybe £10-15 per year.

It's not just about holidays. I recently bought an SSD as an upgrade for my laptop. I found that it was considerably cheaper (currently £136 compared with £170) to buy it from Amazon France due to the weak Euro. Having a fee-free card meant I could buy it without any foreign transaction fees. (it was actually shipped from a UK warehouse in the end...)

System

First Direct refunded you as a goodwill gesture as you agreed to their charging structure - I wouldn't rely on it.

Other than that, what is the point of this thread if you're going to stick with what you have?!

Ballard wrote: »

I go on holiday a couple of times a year at most and don't feel that it's worth opening an account just to save maybe £10-15 per year.

Ballard

Heng_Leng wrote: »

First Direct refunded you as a goodwill gesture as you agreed to their charging structure - I wouldn't rely on it.

Other than that, what is the point of this thread if you're going to stick with what you have?!

I was simply alerting people that they shouldn't make the same mistake that I had. I thought that that was largely the point of the forum but I'm sorry if I've got that wrong.

SnowTiger

Ballard wrote: »

I was simply alerting people that they shouldn't make the same mistake that I had. I thought that that was largely the point of the forum but I'm sorry if I've got that wrong.

And saving money - the clue's in the title.

Halifax Clarity and N&P Debit Card are two of the best ways to withdraw money and pay for things abroad.

But you're happy to pay an extra £15 a year, but quibble about paying an extra fiver...

Probably more because you're likely to get a poor, hidden, exchange rate in addition to the visible charge.