M&S Credit Card for buying Currency

planteria

just picked up some USD for a friend, from M&S as they requested..
the best rate is apparently reserved for those paying with an M&S card.
but are they actually good value?
and how important is it to have an M&S card? i currently have both Debit Card and Credit Card with them, but was only planning to be temporary, to take advantage of deals.
if worth retaining i will do so, and open a Regular Saver too, but are there better rates elsewhere?

planteria

anyone sing MSFX's praises?

redux

No idea. Compare the exchange rate, and go from there?

I'd be surprised if it would be outstanding as the best, but maybe not too bad, and convenient.

Personally I'd probably just use a cash machine once abroad, with Kalixa prepaid debit card. From what I've read, other people use Halifax Clarity as that also has no exchange rate loading, and no cash advance fee, just interest straight away, which you can stop by transferring some in online a day or two later.

vacheron

We've used them a few times and got the preferential rates for using the M&S CC.

They still aren't the best rates out there, but they're pretty good (especially for smaller sums where the P&P eats into ordering online)

Their website shows both preferential and ordinary rates. Just use that and then compare with the best using the MSE travelmoney site here:

planteria

thanks.. does somewhere else spring to mind from which you can collect the cash, there and then, in most towns, at a comparable/better rate?

vacheron

planteria wrote: »

thanks.. does somewhere else spring to mind from which you can collect the cash, there and then, in most towns, at a comparable/better rate?

We changed a lot of Euros once (about £9,000 worth) so naturally did a bit of shopping around first.

When asked in a travel agent (Hays Travel IIRC) in Newcastle and the Currency Manager there gave us her card and said if we ever wanted to change money in the future to call her last and she'll beat the best price we were quoted from elsewhere. To her credit, when we have been shopping around in town she has done so, so there is discretion available in addition to the rates on the boards.

Could be worth a walk down your local travel agent street and asking too.

grumbler

planteria wrote: »

thanks.. does somewhere else spring to mind from which you can collect the cash, there and then, in most towns, at a comparable/better rate?

Why bother with cash at all - unless you can't get a good card for using abroad?

planteria

fair question grumbler, but in parts of Africa that we knock around hard cash paper is the way to trade

grumbler

Do you know that, reportedly, with a correct card you can get the best rate by withdrawing € in some UK airports?
And why this 'collect there and then' requirement? What's wrong with home delivery?

chuckley

I've never seen M&S at the top of any exchange table, not even top 5.

All cards are relative though. I personally don't see much benefit in the Halifax Clarity whereas MSE will say it's the 'best ever card for overseas'.

Judge it all based on your needs/convenience.

grumbler

chuckley wrote: »

All cards are relative though.

What do you mean?

I personally don't see much benefit in the Halifax Clarity whereas MSE will say it's the 'best ever card for overseas'.

Don't see or don't bother to save?
That said, there are a few other cards that are no worse than Clarity. One is even better for purchases.