Credit card For trip to America- do I change current accounts?

mini_lidi

I am going to America in November and would like to take a credit card which is going to cost me a fortune to use over there.
Currently I am with Halifax and have my current account and credit card with them. I rang and asked regarding getting the Clarity card but they would only give me a £500 allowance which won't be enough for the trip (plan to by most Xmas presents etx)

So do I change my current account I Nationwide so I can get there Select credit card which seems almost 2nd best after the Clarity card etc. I just checked my credit rating again on experian and its high 900s so I assume I would get approved with them.

Any advice would be great. Thank you in advance :beer:

Candyapple

Why change your bank account if you don't need to?
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards

Try here:
http://www.creation.co.uk/credit-cards/creation-everyday-credit-card

eskbanker

I assume that "would like to take a credit card which is going to cost me a fortune to use over there" is missing a small but crucial 'not'!

Although your current account provider is usually a good place to start when looking for credit, this only really applies in the context of having built up history with that institution, so changing current account provider won't really help, especially for a trip that's only two months away.

As is usually said on here, ignore the score published by credit agencies as it's effectively meaningless, but you could try eligibility checkers such as the MSE one to soft search on likely providers.

Finally, bear in mind that if you're planning on bringing more than £390 worth of goods back to the UK then you'd need to declare this to HMRC for customs duty....

SuperHan

MBNA have a new Everyday card that has no foreign exchange loading on it and no charge for cash withdrawals. They are usually good at offering high credit limits too.

That's probably better than the Nationwide card for you.

Alternatively, there are things like Revolut which seem to be getting some traction and positive feedback.

Voyager2002

You've got the Clarity and you've got on-line banking... So the low credit limit would only matter if you needed to spend more than 500 pounds in one go.

Keep track of your spending, and whenever you are getting anywhere near the 500 pound limit log in to your bank account and make a faster payment to bring the balance down close to zero. Faster payments take about two hours to reach them, so then your spending power will have been renewed, and you will be saving on interest charges as well.

NB some people plan to put their accounts into credit so that they will have lots of money to spend while away, but technically this is against the T and Cs of most card providers.

Ben8282

What will you do if you switch your current account then get declined for the Nationwide card or it is approved with a lower limit than what you have?

Paul_1977

I took my normal debit card, and had no issues.

Its America you know.

Its not expensive really, except in tourist spots as always.

Take the subway, etc.

I would advise taking the majority of your money in cash dollars, although it depends how long you are going for.

SuperHan

Paul_1977 wrote: »

I would advise taking the majority of your money in cash dollars, although it depends how long you are going for.

This is poor money saving advice.

It is cheaper to pay by a specialist credit card in dollars, or to withdraw cash from specialist credit cards from US ATMs as you will get a better exchange rate.

Debit cards are known for having ridiculously high loading or transaction fees, so are not a sensible option for use abroad.

There is no debate that the OP's debit card won't be widely accepted in the US, it's just that it most definitely not the most cost efficient way!

Paul_1977

You need cash money, because something could happen, maybe your cards stop working etc.

I always take cash money, I took about $600 which is not a lot.

At the time I went, I struggled to get a credit card, so cash was the safest option, and still is, in my opinion. I have heard horror stories, use a combination of both cash and cards.

Always have cash to hand!!!!

SuperHan

Paul_1977 wrote: »

You need cash money, because something could happen, maybe your cards stop working etc.

I always take cash money, I took about $600 which is not a lot.

At the time I went, I struggled to get a credit card, so cash was the safest option, and still is, in my opinion. I have heard horror stories, use a combination of both cash and cards.

Always have cash to hand!!!!

I still wouldn't take the majority in cash. There is a much higher risk of that getting lost/stolen than all of your cards not working.

I'm going to the US in a couple of weeks - I'll be taking just $300 with me, but between us we will have 2 x Clarity Cards, a Supercard, a Revolut card, a Lloyds credit card, my MBNA American Express and our debit cards (to be used in that order).

Paul_1977

I don't plan like that, I have cash and I have a card I can use.:D

I don't go the US that often anyway.