Nationwide Credit Card

grumbler

eagle wrote:

...unfortunately I currently bank with LTSB - it's just too much hassle for me to leave right now.

You don't have to leave - just open one more account. It is a prejudice to have only one account.

Of course the LTSB gold account debit card that I use to withdraw cash abroad also docks me 2.75% each time I go

Plus 2% (min.£2.50) for any cash withdrawal. Nationwide CC charge only 1.5% (min.£1.50). I never use any CCs, even NW one to withdraw cash though.

That definitely is a good reason to get one. Is this the same with the Classic / Cash back reward card?

YES

I normally buy breakable goods and things like this on one of my Platinum cards (with other providers)

Most of cards offer FREE purchase cover for loss, theft or damages. Do you understand that FREE extended warranty is something different?

eagle

grumbler wrote:

You don't have to leave - just open one more account. It is a prejudice to have only one account.

Yes, I know. However, this looks bad and rather time-consuming when it comes to tax forms and so on.

Plus 2% (min.£2.50) for any cash withdrawal. Nationwide CC charge only 1.5% (min.£1.50). I never use any CCs, even NW one to withdraw cash though.

If you read my post again, it does say that I was referring to a debit card with regards to cash withdrawals.

Most of cards offer FREE purchase cover for loss, theft or damages. Do you understand that FREE extended warranty is something different?

Oh, brother! Of course I am aware of that. Why is it you always assume that other posters have a smaller IQ than their shoe size?

grumbler

eagle wrote:

If you read my post again, it does say that I was referring to a debit card with regards to cash withdrawals....Oh, brother! Of course I am aware of that. Why is it you always assume that other posters have a smaller IQ than their shoe size?

I am sorry! I did not mean to offend you. It was just 'GOLD' that mislead me. Usually 'GOLD' is used with credit cards not current accounts. And I don't think that all 'Platinum' cards offer free extended warranty.

kazd

I use my Nationwide Flex Account for my business which is seasonal. I keep enough money in there to cover my NI contributions and then load it when we are going abroad on holiday. I also have a Nationwide Gold Credit Card which we use exclusively for holidays. If buying duty free at the airport then we still use our Amex (2% cashback) or Capital One (1%). The Nationwide CC is strictly for use overseas.

eagle

grumbler wrote:

I am sorry! I did not mean to offend you. It was just 'GOLD' that mislead me. Usually 'GOLD' is used with credit cards not current accounts. And I don't think that all 'Platinum' cards offer free extended warranty.

Oh, yes you are quite right. My current account is indeed the Gold account, which gives me a Gold debit card. It just means I get some sort of travel insurance when I buy flight tickets with my debit card. Plus I get free AA car cover and mobile phone insurance.

Sorry. didn't mean to imply that all Platinum cards offer extended warranties. Having read my post again I think it should have said that some cards have free extended warranty.

mhoc

Two things I like about my NW cc, probally the same as many others.

Firstly I can check my account on line so I can see how much I've spent and where. Secondly I pay the whole of my bill gets paid each month by DD straight form my flexaccount.

Mary

GlennTheBaker

I have been an avid reader of the MSE site for some time now and I have followed a lot of the advice given on these forums. I bank with First Direct but am in the process of switching to Alliance and Leicester. I have opened a Nationwide FlexAccount solely for foreign transactions - either in person when on holiday or when buying DVD's etc from USA and Canada. I also opened a Nationwide Credit Card account as a backup for foreign transactions.

I don't have any credit card debt but applied for a Capital One No Hassle Platinum Card for its low purchase APR. Unfortunately, they declined but I managed to get MBNA to drop the APR on my existing Mastercard to 9.9% which isn't bad.

As someone earlier on in the thread said, customer apathy makes the banks billions of pounds a year and I would rather I didn't contribute!

student100

Re: proof of ID, if you apply online to Nationwide you don't need to send any. This is because as the required 2 pieces of evidence they use: 1. The fact that your name and address on the electoral roll (found through the credit search) match those you gave, and 2. the fact that you have to sign and return an application form that they mail to your home address proves that your address is correct (since the form obviously got there...).

At least that's what happened when I opened both a NW flexaccount and credit card online recently.


Also I would add that the best Nationwide CC to get solely to use abroad is the Comic Relief one. Assuming you don't want a short-term 0% offer (since you want to keep this card for spending abroad for more than 6 months) then you don't want the Classic. And the Cashback doesn't pay cashback on foreign transactions anyway, so there's no benefit there, and the interest free period is 46 days not 56 as with the other cards. Which leaves the Comic Relief card - 0.5% of every purchase (including those made abroad as far as I can tell) goes to Comic Relief, and you get the benefit of the 56 day interest free period.

Wig

I was just going to warn you about the cashback card, student100 has all ready had a go.

I got the cashback version last month, only after applying did I see that they only give you 46 days interest free period, which means you have to settle your account really quickly.

I just got the statement today - 1st June - payment due date 11th June. "If paying by cheque please allow up to 7 working days for payment to clear." Between today and the 11th there are only 7 working days! I have to say I will prolly change this card to a comic relief one after the initial 6 months. The amount of time given to settle ones account is just rediculous.

Regarding the benefits of the NW card used abroad, it's not only when you purchase foriegn currency it every payment you make with your card abroad for all purchaces, so the 2.75% which you won't have to pay could add up to a small saving - obviously not a huge saving - but it will be cheaper (alledgedly) to use NW abroad than your other cards.

regarding the exchange rates used. That poster above says they use the standard rates of exchange, is probably true. When I am on hols in June I intend to buy two identical amounts from the same shop on the same day using my NW card and my Barclaycard. Then I'll see what happens on the statements.

Regarding platinum cards Barclaycard Platinum does not offer extended warranty - at least I don't think so. Barclays Connect(debit) Platinum offers 2 years extended warranty

pin

The exchange rate used is the exchange rate Visa uses. For foreign non Euro (or European, not sure) transactions Visa adds on 1% (Visa does this for all its cards). For Euro (or European not sure) Visa does not load anything. It is then up to the card company (i.e. MBNA, Barclaycard, etc) to add any more foreign loading.