Travel card options

TobyCG

Olenna said:

TobyCG said:

I ended up getting the Halifax Clarity credit card too so, with the Chase debit card, I think that'll cover me

Is it just me or are the credit limits being thrown out these days nuts?  I currently have £59k of credit across my cards which is just insane.  No wonder half the country are up to their eyeballs in debt!

The obvious thing to point out is that you may have issues if Mastercard does down on your travels.
Given it's the US, acceptance isn't likely to be a problem unlike somewhere more exotic.

I'd suggest you take a Visa or Amex with you too even it's not fee free. 

I have an Amex and my HSBC debit card is VISA.

Olenna

NoodleDoodleMan said:

If Mastercard becomes unservicable in the USA - we are all in big trouble.

Not really, I'd just use my Visa or Benjies 

JimmyinLondon

I am planning to go abroad twice this year, checked the MSE app, found Barclaycard Rewards Card as a recommended card for use abroad. 
I'm a Barclays Premier account holder for  25+ years.  I have a Rewards card so checked the credit limit, £250.  Seemed ridiculous.  Went to the app to try to increase.  Not able to, only able to decrease it. 
 Phoned Barclaycard.  Was told that I cannot raise my credit limit, even after speaking with a supervisor. 
I have other credit cards ie. Halifax Clarity and Virgin Atlantic, both of which have a large credit limit. 
Over the years I have never defaulted on a credit card payment.  It appears that Barclays don't want customers to use their Rewards card. Anyone else experienced this situation?. 

NoodleDoodleMan

Olenna said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

If Mastercard becomes unservicable in the USA - we are all in big trouble.

Not really, I'd just use my Visa or Benjies 

That wasn't my point - if Mastercard goes down in the USA then it'll have repercussions everywhere.

JimmyinLondon

My point is that with a credit limit of £250, what's the point of having 'that' credit card anywhere, never mind abroad?

Nasqueron

JimmyinLondon said:

My point is that with a credit limit of £250, what's the point of having 'that' credit card anywhere, never mind abroad?

small spending e.g. for a taxi or a meal, you can pay it off as well to free up credit

TobyCG

JimmyinLondon said:

I am planning to go abroad twice this year, checked the MSE app, found Barclaycard Rewards Card as a recommended card for use abroad. 
I'm a Barclays Premier account holder for  25+ years.  I have a Rewards card so checked the credit limit, £250.  Seemed ridiculous.  Went to the app to try to increase.  Not able to, only able to decrease it. 
 Phoned Barclaycard.  Was told that I cannot raise my credit limit, even after speaking with a supervisor. 
I have other credit cards ie. Halifax Clarity and Virgin Atlantic, both of which have a large credit limit. 
Over the years I have never defaulted on a credit card payment.  It appears that Barclays don't want customers to use their Rewards card. Anyone else experienced this situation?. 

Not exactly but I posted a while back about how I'd had a 'regular' Barclaycard for 20+ years and put £10-20k a year through it but they refused to let me change the card to a Rewards card, which would have been ideal for travel purposes.

I cancelled my account in December and will never go back.  If this is how they treat loyal customers, screw them.