Best debit / credit card for shopping on US/EU sites

littlewillow87

I do a lot of online shopping and found some deals on US/EU sites are much better than the UK sites. Does anyone know what is the best debit/credit card for shopping on foreign sites that has good exchange rates / doesn't charge high currency conversion fee please?
Could i pay by paypal and what is the rate of paypal comparing with say HSBC credit card?
Many thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

One that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees, such as Halifax Clarity, would be a good choice.

bris

Don't forget the customs charges on goods outside the EU.


US goods are not much cheaper, if at all when you factor in this simple fact and you also have no consumer rights buying from these countries.

PeacefulWaters

bris wrote: »

Don't forget the customs charges on goods outside the EU.


US goods are not much cheaper, if at all when you factor in this simple fact and you also have no consumer rights buying from these countries.

Other countries do have consumer rights. Not necessarily identical to the UK. Backed up by S75 protection for purchases over £100.

bolton_joe

Surprisingly enough, the aqua cards come out trumps. No foreign exchange fees and no load! (difference in exchange rates)

Main downside is you start with a low limit (other threads say 250-500) but you get big increases quickly and you can always make faster payments!

eDicky

To take full advantage of cheaper deals on foreign shopping websites you need to pay directly with one of the range of cards recommended for foreign travel, making sure that you pay in the foreign currency. Beware of using PayPal as it's hard to avoid them taking pounds and converting at their own adverse rates.

Aqua Reward is fee-free for non-sterling purchases and gives 0.5% cashback. Travelex Supercard enables any regular Visa or MasterCard to be used fee-free. Revolut gives a virtual card for online use as soon as you sign up on the app. Etc etc..:

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

Import duty may be payable on non-EU orders over a certain threshold (£125?).

Norscbu

Does anyone know how I can get a Revolut card without paying the (expensive) delivery fee? (standard account)

eDicky

Norscbu wrote: »

Does anyone know how I can get a Revolut card without paying the (expensive) delivery fee? (standard account)

Revolut gives a virtual card for online use as soon as you sign up on the app, without fee. The plastic card costs £5 including UK delivery. They used to send it for free but too many people were ordering one and never putting it to use, which is their main (or only) revenue.

littlewillow87

eDicky wrote: »

Revolut gives a virtual card for online use as soon as you sign up on the app, without fee. The plastic card costs £5 including UK delivery. They used to send it for free but too many people were ordering one and never putting it to use, which is their main (or only) revenue.

Is Revolut fee-free like Aqua card?
So basically Aqua, Halifax Clarity and Revolut are good? I will look into them.

Norscbu

eDicky wrote: »

Revolut gives a virtual card for online use as soon as you sign up on the app, without fee. The plastic card costs £5 including UK delivery. They used to send it for free but too many people were ordering one and never putting it to use, which is their main (or only) revenue.

Can understand that, but Monzo's solution might have been better, where you have to load up £100 to get the card. it would be a good option at least, perhaps offer both ways. I bit the bullet however. You do get nice packaging... lol.

eDicky

littlewillow87 wrote: »

Is Revolut fee-free like Aqua card?
So basically Aqua, Halifax Clarity and Revolut are good? I will look into them.

Revolut is indeed fee-free for non-sterling purchases, and gives the perfect interbank rate (slightly off on weekends when FX markets are closed). This rate is usually marginally better than the MasterCard rate used by most credit cards, but the difference is not really significant. You can also exchange your GBP to USD or EUR at any time and hold them in your account if you want to fix the rate at that moment.