I'm clearly not 'getting' the Barclaycard fees abroad thing.

B0bbyEwing

So I Googled & was under the impression the Barclaycard card didn't charge you anything (so long as you paid off in full). There was another site I was reading but I'll link the MSE site to the card: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/eligibility/credit-cards/search/?selectedProductId=CC_BCARD_REWARDS_NONINSTANT&goal=CC_OVERSEAS

I guess we can't link outside of MSE-land so I read this other article saying you'll get charged for using it...

"Fees for using your Barclaycard abroad

While you can use your Barclaycard overseas, there may be additional fees to pay.

According to the Barclaycard website, each purchase abroad using your card will cost you an additional non-sterling fee of 2.99%1.

This means it might be more cost effective to withdraw cash from an ATM.

However, a cash transaction fee, also 2.99% (with a minimum fee of £2.99)1 also applies when using an ATM to withdraw foreign currency so you’ll need to work out which option is best for you."

So are you getting charged or are you not? I can only imagine I've just understood it wrong, which wouldn't be the first time.

We're off to France in a few months so want to get an appropriate card in place in good time.

HillStreetBlues

There are many Barclaycards  the Reward one  has no fees abroad.

Nebulous2

I've an old cashback Barclaycard, and it has foreign fees. 

There are more options now than there used to be for fee-free transactions, but I still like my Halifax Clarity. Everything else has chopped / changed / blown hot and cold, but Halifax has been consistent for years. The only downside is interest is charged on cash advances (ATM withdrawals.) 

Some debit cards are now worth looking at as well. Chase was paying 1% cashback until fairly recently. That has gone,  but they still offer fee-free transactions. 

As usual - have a back-up. I go abroad with 3 options for fee-free withdrawals, just in case anything happens to any of them. Having a card blocked can cause havoc, so having other options is always sensible. 

daveyjp

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

Is the way to understand the confusing picture.

grumpy_codger

B0bbyEwing said:

So I Googled & was under the impression... 

I read this other article saying...

Just go directly to Barclaycard - https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards

Ctrl+F 'abroad' 

Only one result - Barclaycard Rewards

No fees abroad

You’ll be able to withdraw cash from an ATM or buy your souvenirs without any charges and benefit from Visa’s competitive exchange rate.

km1500

As others have said, whether you get charged fees for using it abroad depends on which Barclaycard you have.

eskbanker

B0bbyEwing said:

I guess we can't link outside of MSE-land so I read this other article saying you'll get charged for using it...

There's no issue with linking to relevant non-MSE sites, but, as above, the Barclaycard site is clearly the source for definitive information about their products, rather than any third party ones.

They do publish a generic page about foreign fees, but with a footnote clarifying the exceptions for certain cards:

Fees for using your card abroad

• If you buy something with your card while your abroad, you’ll pay one single, non-sterling purchase fee of 2.99% every time you use it
• If you withdraw foreign currency using your card, you will just be charged a cash transaction fee of 2.99% (minimum fee of £2.99)
• These fees apply to most of our cards, but there are some exceptions, so check your terms and conditions[1]

[...]

1 The 2.99% purchase fee might not apply if you have a Barclaycard Platinum Travel, Barclaycard Platinum Cashback Plus or Barclaycard Rewards card, or if we've recently offered you a lower promotional fee by letter or email. This will also tell you the end date for the promotion.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/help-and-support/spending-abroad

B0bbyEwing

Thanks. I was looking at the wrong card obviously.

To be perfectly honest, what I did was wonder if there was something MSE hadn't covered. I usually come to this site for anything financial but I thought let's try somewhere else to see if there's something better that's been missed.

I followed links & clearly ended up in the wrong spot.

prowla

Also beware of transactions being converted to £ at POS rather than paid in local currency.

NoodleDoodleMan

B0bbyEwing said:

Thanks. I was looking at the wrong card obviously.

To be perfectly honest, what I did was wonder if there was something MSE hadn't covered. I usually come to this site for anything financial but I thought let's try somewhere else to see if there's something better that's been missed.

I followed links & clearly ended up in the wrong spot.

I'm sure you'll be aware that there other UK credit cards for foreign travel which are fee free for goods and services - but not for withdrawing cash ?

The Barclaycard Rewards is the only one with that benefit - as you mention, as long as the balance is paid in full when the next statement is due to be settled.