Are all zero-fee travel cards equal?

System

eDicky wrote: »

You didn't seem very sure what cards you were using - why don't you tell us exactly what they are, and where you saw the rates they were giving? If you avoided DCC it's simply not possible that your cards obtained worse rates than a bureau (at the same time), unless they have non-sterling fees/loading.

I'm unaware of a charge free/forex loading free Maestro ever been issued in the UK - you'd be getting the MasterCard rate + charges by your bank.

Possibly some Maestro cards left from NI Banks and Clydesdale/Yorkshire - both of who charge .

WAYT

Heng_Leng wrote: »

I'm unaware of a charge free/forex loading free Maestro ever been issued in the UK - you'd be getting the MasterCard rate + charges by your bank.

Maestro cards were useful in the Netherlands in that you could use them in the ticket machines etc, where Visa and Mastercard debit would fail. But you would still get hit on the exchange rate

esuhl is clearly old school. We just need to help them to update their cards, if necessary.

johnmoney05

I think this Barclays platinum travel credit card is good?

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal

Topcashback is doing a cashback too, although my application was not tracked.

zagfles

johnmoney05 wrote: »

I think this Barclays platinum travel credit card is good?

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal

Topcashback is doing a cashback too, although my application was not tracked.

Yes it's a good card as it doesn't charge immediate interest on foreign ATM withdrawals like most cards do. Not till 2022 anyway. Disadvantage is it's VISA which has slightly worse exchange rates on average.

zagfles

WAYT wrote: »

There is no Maestro/Cirrus debit that is "commission free". The term "commission free" was phased out many moons ago. In fact there are likely no Maestro cards left in the UK. So you are probably referring to something that occurred many years ago.

This reminds me of a thread a few months ago where someone suggested using the black market to get currency in Bulgaria as he got much better rates that way than anywhere else.

Turns out he was talking about his experience in 1986 :rotfl:

eDicky

zagfles wrote: »

Yes it's a good card as it doesn't charge immediate interest on foreign ATM withdrawals like most cards do. Not till 2022 anyway. Disadvantage is it's VISA which has slightly worse exchange rates on average.

On the other hand the Barclaycard Platinum Travel is the only VISA card currently available amongst all the fee-free overseas credit/debit/prepaid cards, so it's useful to have in case you find yourself in a country or situation where MasterCard is not accepted. I don't consider the difference between the MasterCard and Visa rates to have any real significance.

Anyway, this is one example of 'not all zero fee travel cards being equal'. Another might be the Aqua Reward, which gives 0.5% cashback wherever it is used, if it still qualifies with it's fee for cash withdrawals.

zagfles

eDicky wrote: »

On the other hand the Barclaycard Platinum Travel is the only VISA card currently available amongst all the fee-free overseas credit/debit/prepaid cards, so it's useful to have in case you find yourself in a country or situation where MasterCard is not accepted.

Yes, or if there's problems with one of the payment systems.

I don't consider the difference between the MasterCard and Visa rates to have any real significance.

In Europe there doesn't seem to be much in it but outside Europe it seems there's a significant difference. When I went to NZ I had a fee free Nationwide VISA debit card and a Halifax Clarity, and it worked out slightly cheaper using the Clarity for cash even with paying a couple of weeks' interest!

System

With the exception of Barclaycard and Nationwide, Visa Credit cards are increasingly rare.

MasterCard is even making inroads into the debit market with almost all the new startups plus TSB, Clydesdale, Metro and Virgin Money.

adindas

WAYT wrote: »

Maestro cards were useful in the Netherlands in that you could use them in the ticket machines etc, where Visa and Mastercard debit would fail. But you would still get hit on the exchange rate

esuhl is clearly old school. We just need to help them to update their cards, if necessary.

Maestro is also used nationwide as the only acceptable card payment method in the vast majority of ticket machines for public transports in Germany.

I have seen numerous times clueless tourists trying to insert their credit cards several times in the ticket machines to purchase public transport ticket holding other people on the queue.

It is very inefficient as these clueless tourists will not give up easily and will try several times before realizing it that it does not work. Also if people can not buy the ticket and under time pressure they might be taking the chance boarding the train, traveling illegally without ticket.

Surprisingly that these developed nations are not even accept Visa / Master in the ticket machines in the airports, train stations. But in the shop, local market, many convenience stores, Visa/Masters are widely accepted.

chattychappy

adindas wrote: »

Surprisingly that these developed nations are not even accept Visa / Master in the ticket machines in the airports, train stations. But in the shop, local market, many convenience stores, Visa/Masters are widely accepted.

Yep I was surprised by this on my travels to Germany. I suppose shops, local markets and convenience stores have to compete for the business whereas railways are in a better position to dictate how you will go about your purchase.

A little off topic, but as of a few days ago, the machines at my local (major) railway station are still not taking the new pound coin. The nearby Sainsbury's and Tesco had their machines ready from day one.