Fees for using cards abroad

NoodleDoodleMan

AFAIK, the MetroBank credit card is also fee free at ATMs as well as for goods and services within SEPA.

It's regularly advertised as such for use in "Europe" - but that can be misleading as Turkey is often considered to be in Europe for travel insurance cover, although it is not in SEPA.

Marchitiello

I second the debate in favour of Chase Debit Card vs Forex Free Credit Cards, at least until the 1% Cashback  applies and/or to be used for cash withdrawal.

i have several Forex Free cards in my travel wallet, namely Santander Zero, Barclaycard Rewards, MBNA Horizon Cashback as well as few Debit Cards that have  country specific benefits (Fineco UK EUR Debit Card for travels to Italy, Santander Select Debit Card for Spain, East Coast US - back up to Chase now, South America, and Chase UK).

Chase UK is simply the better option overall. As stated in another thread, what I have done is to use a Credit Card at Hotel Check In to put a hold on the card, but then swapped and charged Chase debit card at check out. The Cashback on hotel and restaurant spend alone would not be negligible against a Barclaycard Rewards, so I also recommend for the OP to get a Chase Bank Account before his holiday 

dmilne99

Contrary to what the MSE website states, Barclaycard DO make charges for use abroad I'm afraid. I just used mine instead of my usual Halifax Clarity Mastercard and got charged for several transactions in restaurants and supermarkets.
Halifax Clarity Mastercard has always been good for me for the past several years
I won't be using the Barcalycard abroad again!
DO beware

Marchitiello

dmilne99 said:

Contrary to what the MSE website states, Barclaycard DO make charges for use abroad I'm afraid. I just used mine instead of my usual Halifax Clarity Mastercard and got charged for several transactions in restaurants and supermarkets.
Halifax Clarity Mastercard has always been good for me for the past several years
I won't be using the Barcalycard abroad again!
DO beware

Which Barclaycard do you have? Only the Rewards Card is forex free, all the others carry and have always carried fees for foreign currency transactions 

NoodleDoodleMan

Marchitiello said:

dmilne99 said:

Contrary to what the MSE website states, Barclaycard DO make charges for use abroad I'm afraid. I just used mine instead of my usual Halifax Clarity Mastercard and got charged for several transactions in restaurants and supermarkets.
Halifax Clarity Mastercard has always been good for me for the past several years
I won't be using the Barcalycard abroad again!
DO beware

Which Barclaycard do you have? Only the Rewards Card is forex free, all the others carry and have always carried fees for foreign currency transactions 

Correct.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards

cymruchris

dmilne99 said:

Contrary to what the MSE website states, Barclaycard DO make charges for use abroad I'm afraid. I just used mine instead of my usual Halifax Clarity Mastercard and got charged for several transactions in restaurants and supermarkets.
Halifax Clarity Mastercard has always been good for me for the past several years
I won't be using the Barcalycard abroad again!
DO beware

I used my Barclaycard Rewards card in Germany recently - I made purchases including fuel at various petrol stations, restaurant meals and tourist activities, as well as a cash withdrawal in Euros. I didn't get charged interest or fees on anything. I did however get a 'warning' on my CRA files that I shouldn't withdraw cash on a credit card. (Something that's frowned upon for day to day spending). You must have a BC platinum/forward/avios card? For those, the fee-free interest-free option doesn't exist. 

wiseonesomeofthetime

Used my Barclaycard Rewards card in Belgium last month. No additional FX fees. Just straight conversion.

NoodleDoodleMan

cymruchris said:

dmilne99 said:

Contrary to what the MSE website states, Barclaycard DO make charges for use abroad I'm afraid. I just used mine instead of my usual Halifax Clarity Mastercard and got charged for several transactions in restaurants and supermarkets.
Halifax Clarity Mastercard has always been good for me for the past several years
I won't be using the Barcalycard abroad again!
DO beware

I used my Barclaycard Rewards card in Germany recently - I made purchases including fuel at various petrol stations, restaurant meals and tourist activities, as well as a cash withdrawal in Euros. I didn't get charged interest or fees on anything. I did however get a 'warning' on my CRA files that I shouldn't withdraw cash on a credit card. (Something that's frowned upon for day to day spending). You must have a BC platinum/forward/avios card? For those, the fee-free interest-free option doesn't exist. 

I wonder what Barclaycard think of that caution in respect of the Rewards card ?

Withdrawing cash is a core attraction to having that card.