Barclaycard Platinum and FX fees?

DonnieH · 17 July 2018 at 1:38PM

Hi All

I have a Barclaycard Platinum card and noticed various travel sites suggesting the Barclaycard Platinum Travel card as a good card for goign abroad as there are no charges for non-sterling transactions currently.

I looked at the Barlcaycard website and the travelcard page shows a card exactly like the one I have.

I sent a message to Barclaycard CS who have come back with various information but also this....

'....5. Besides this, if you use your card abroad you will be charged a non-sterling transaction fee of up to 3%. '

Doesn't make sense to me and I wonder if the rep simply doesn't understand what I was asking.

Anyone know if there is a difference between the two cards (they look the same) for foreign transactions?

Thanks

stevenhp1987 · 17 July 2018 at 2:17PM

The Barclaycard Platinum Travel card is just a regular Barclaycard Platinum card but with a 0% Foreign Exchange Fee promotion applied to it. It's much the same way they do cards with 0% balance transfer offers or purchase offers - just a regular platinum card with a 0% offer on it.

If you didn't sign up to the Travel card, then you will pay 2.99% fee on foreign spend.

D_M_E · 17 July 2018 at 7:40PM

Also be aware that on top of the Barclaycard fee there is a separate fee levied by the machine operator as well.

Allow 5% for total and all fees charged and you should get a bit of change out of that.

DonnieH · 17 July 2018 at 8:36PM

Thanks. Have binned them off and asked for the account to be closed as didn't use that card anyway.

Will take a look at the Halifax card.

Regarding the machine operator fee....that's only if I choose their conversion rate in sterling isn't it so I choose the local currency then 0% fees?

eDicky · 17 July 2018 at 9:02PM

D_M_E wrote: »

Also be aware that on top of the Barclaycard fee there is a separate fee levied by the machine operator as well.

What do you mean?

DonnieH · 17 July 2018 at 11:16PM

eDicky wrote: »

What do you mean?

Think he means a charge by the ATM owner. Heard some are around a quid or so.

D_M_E · 17 July 2018 at 11:23PM

DonnieH - yes, that's right - I've had a fixed fee for some and a small percentage for others and I've also had one - so far - which charged no fee.

As I said, the total, including the card issuer's charges, came to just under 5% so I allowed the 5% of transaction to cover all the fees and charges.

chattychappy · 18 July 2018 at 10:15AM

ATMs can levy a local charge, but that is pretty much regardless of which card you use. In general, the places I go to (bits of Asia, bits of Europe) don't charge a local fee.

The standard Barclaycard does have the advantage of treating ATM withdrawals a bit like purchases. You do get charged 3% up front, but then they don't charge interest provided you pay it off when you get the statement. That's not a bad deal.

zagfles · 18 July 2018 at 10:20AM

The travel card is fee free for purchases and cash withdrawals abroad until 2022.

Barclaycard Platinum and FX fees?

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