I need a card that I can use in Europe

Psyclist

Evening all,

I've recently got myself a new job that requires me to travel around Europe for extended periods. Although this was my first tour, I've had to take money out of my UK account a couple of times and make a payment with my card, so I'm going to get charged for that and probably get a pretty naff exchange rate.

What I want to know is whether anyone knows of any accounts I can open that would give me a card to use in Europe that doesn't charge me even though I'm a UK resident.

At the moment I get paid into my UK account from my German employer in GBP, so I would have to make bank transfers to pre-load the account, but my main concern is exchanging details in foreign languages as although I speak a little German, I certainly don't speak German bank language so I'm not really in a position to rock into my local Deutsche Bank and ask for an account.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

YorkshireBoy

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

dggar

N&P for cash out of ATMs.
Nationwide Select Credit Card for purchases, hotel bills, meals, travel fares, etc.

SnowTiger

dggar wrote: »

N&P for cash out of ATMs.
Nationwide Select Credit Card for purchases, hotel bills, meals, travel fares, etc.

N&P is a good. Or Metro Bank, whose current account comes with a Mastercard whereas N&P offers Visa. Apparently, Mastercard offers (slightly) better exchange rates than Visa.

If OP wants a credit card, Halifax Clarity might be an easier option than Nationwide Select.

To get a Nationwide Select card you have to already have a Nationwide current account, otherwise you only get a card that offers a commission-free allowance based on UK spending.

missbiggles1

The UK is part of Europe, you know.

dggar

missbiggles1 wrote: »

The UK is part of Europe, you know.

I may be a bit dumb here but I can't see how this comment is relevant.

Anthorn

missbiggles1 wrote: »

The UK is part of Europe, you know.

Hey you don't say.


+1 for Norwich and Peterborough Building Society Gold Classic Current Account Debit Card. Credit £500 per month or pay a fee of £5 per month.
http://www.nandp.co.uk

missbiggles1

dggar wrote: »

I may be a bit dumb here but I can't see how this comment is relevant.

OP posted that he wanted a card he could use in Europe, when he's already living in Europe.:D

SnowTiger

missbiggles1 wrote: »

OP posted that he wanted a card he could use in Europe, when he's already living in Europe.:D

OP is looking for a card they can use throughout Europe without incurring fees.

The UK is part of Europe. The OP didn't say or suggest it isn't.

Perhaps you're unaware that most card issuers charge fees and offer a poor rate of exchange on foreign transactions?

Ted_Bloke

I used for a time a Nationwide card that made great play on being commission free, though, speaking from memory, it was worse than Ryanair - when looked into they made it up in other mysterious charges. Anyway they withdrew their facility. I more lately found the Halifax. I think it was called Clarity, but I'm now using its replacement which has no special name.

For that you gotta watch this fact too: think of it as a convenient payment card rather than a credit card. All my other credit cards send me a statement and start charging interest from a future date specified on the statement: this Halifax one charges interest from the moment of spending. So if you spend thousands on a long business trip and leave it till you are home in a month or two you may be surprised at the unnecessary interest you pay. So after seeing that once, every few days on trips I check online and pay it off; sometimes I even pay in advance outgoings I know I'll have.

Another thing with these credit cards for abroad - the issuers worry that you may take them abroad.:o They ask you tell them you're going, for which I can't always be àrsed. Would do no harm just in case of emergency. But I set their little minds at rest by using it for a payment or two when back in UK, but no more because as I said it's not a real credit card.

unimaginative_user_name

Unless things have changed since last summer the Halifax Clarity only charges interest on ATM withdrawals as these count as cash advances but it doesn't charge for payments in shops or for using the ATM and the exchange rate you get is as good as it gets. You can avoid paying the interest by clearing your card as soon as the charge appears on your account. It depends how much cash you are withdrawing and how determined you are to watch the pennies!