Paying for Surgery in the United States

willpeterrex

Basically... what type of card should I use? Cost of surgery is $9,795,

nidO

Halifax Clarity, or possibly the new Travelex Supercard.
Afaik, the Clarity is basically still the best (straightforward) card to get for payments in foreign currencies though.

grumbler

>> Top Travel Spending Cards
>> Your Card: Overseas Charges
>> Travelex Supercard: get cheap overseas spending

chattychappy

nidO wrote: »

Halifax Clarity, or possibly the new Travelex Supercard.
Afaik, the Clarity is basically still the best (straightforward) card to get for payments in foreign currencies though.

Clarity would give s75 protection (subject to the usual provisos). In fact, even if I couldn't get a traditional unloaded card, I might still prefer to pay the extra 3% foreign exchange loading over travelex in order to get s75. I don't know anything about surgery in the US, perhaps S75 is superfluous if protection is good there.

Don't wish to hijack the thread, but I've got a friend who wants to have cosmetic surgery and wants me to lend her the money. I'm up for that, but would love to pay directly using my CC in order to get S75. But she would be the contracting party, so no S75. Can't see a way around it - she won't get a CC. (Foreign national, not permanent in the UK.)

eddddy

I guess it also depends on why you want to pay by cc.

If you want to pay off the full amount against the next statement and want section 75 protection, then the advice above is all good.

If you actually need to borrow the money for a period of time, then you need to consider APRs as well.

If you want to borrow the money, you may find that a personal loan is cheaper (but no s75 protection - unless you then use a CC to make the payment).

If you just want the cheapest way to pay US$9k (either because you have the money already, or you take out a loan) a specialist currency exchange company is probably cheaper than paying by CC - but no s75 protection.

If you don't have the relevant CC already, you will need very good financial standing to get a £6.5k (= US$9.5k) credit limit straight off.

jonesMUFCforever

chattychappy wrote: »

Don't wish to hijack the thread, but I've got a friend who wants to have cosmetic surgery and wants me to lend her the money. I'm up for that, but would love to pay directly using my CC in order to get S75. But she would be the contracting party, so no S75. Can't see a way around it - she won't get a CC. (Foreign national, not permanent in the UK.)

You can't - even if she was an additional card holder on your account it would not work.

chattychappy

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

You can't - even if she was an additional card holder on your account it would not work.

Yep, quite correct.

Many years ago I remember it was possible to get a Barclaycard if a third person acted as a guarantor. I'm sure those days are long gone.