Best credit card
Discussion
I'm sure this has been done before somewhere, but I was a bit peeved last year to discover that Capital One added charges for transactions in France. This hadn't happened before - but maybe it was reflected in a worse exchange rate then. I get 1% cashback but this was wiped out if not more by the charges.
Anyway, I shall be spending a fair bit in Canada, so wondered if there were better options. Or is it easiest to stay with Capital One, get the 1% and then lose it in fees?
Anyway, I shall be spending a fair bit in Canada, so wondered if there were better options. Or is it easiest to stay with Capital One, get the 1% and then lose it in fees?
Best 2 cards for overseas are Nationwide and Post Office (we have one of each) as they have no foreign currency transaction fees - cash withdrawls are charged I think with all the charges though.
However if take foreign money out from the post office Bureau de Change before I go I can use my post office card and it doesn't get counted as a cash transaction.
The actual exchange rates we get from the cards is usually better than the retail rates...
S.
However if take foreign money out from the post office Bureau de Change before I go I can use my post office card and it doesn't get counted as a cash transaction.
The actual exchange rates we get from the cards is usually better than the retail rates...
S.
I looked into this recently and discovered the Halifax Clarity credit card. It has no fees for purchases OR cash withdrawals when abroad and the exchange rates were very good when I used it in NY recently.
Interest is charged on cash withdrawals as soon as they are made (i.e. you don't get the same interest free period that you do with purchases) but my total interest charges came to 28p on withdrawals of around £500.
I couldn't find anything better for cash.
Interest is charged on cash withdrawals as soon as they are made (i.e. you don't get the same interest free period that you do with purchases) but my total interest charges came to 28p on withdrawals of around £500.
I couldn't find anything better for cash.
Halifax Clarity is the top performer.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-trav...
I've had one for several years now and only ever use it abroad when on work or pleasure trips. I use it the whole time to withdraw local currency and the fees are minimal. Any other transactions are processed at the Visa exchange rate so no nasty surprises with preferential exchange rates and foreign use fees (I'm looking at you Lloyds).
I struggle to get excited about credit cards but I can't recommend it enough for using it abroad. I've only ever had to contact the customer support line on two or three occasions and they were spot-on every time.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-trav...
I've had one for several years now and only ever use it abroad when on work or pleasure trips. I use it the whole time to withdraw local currency and the fees are minimal. Any other transactions are processed at the Visa exchange rate so no nasty surprises with preferential exchange rates and foreign use fees (I'm looking at you Lloyds).
I struggle to get excited about credit cards but I can't recommend it enough for using it abroad. I've only ever had to contact the customer support line on two or three occasions and they were spot-on every time.
Simpo Two said:
Though you have to compare 'no commission' with the exchange rate you get. The PO, for example, boasts 'Commission Free!' but has dire exchange rates. So they're just taking it another way.
Im not sure that the case as ive been using a post office credit card for holidays and have not noticed a poor exchange rate.According to the website if you have a post office Platinum Card the actual rate applied will be the daily MasterCard exchange rate which is 0.649 (dollars) with zero fees. Obviously cash withdrawals abroad is to be avoided on this card.
Crossflow Kid said:
RicksAlfas said:
Halifax Clarity for foreign use.
+1 etc....
+2+1 etc....
Used one on our States-side road trip last year for everything
Actually I just tried. The online application had two mutually impossible options and when I rang them to ask, the bloke on the phone said he could process my application there - then said it would take him 20 minutes to read me the small print. So I bailed out and will try again when I'm sufficiently bored!
Oh, and they have no e-mail address: http://www.halifax.co.uk/contactus/contactushome.a...
Twitter and even Sign Language but no f
king e-mail 
Oh, and they have no e-mail address: http://www.halifax.co.uk/contactus/contactushome.a...
Twitter and even Sign Language but no f
king e-mail Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 19th February 19:18
just to add another vote for the halifax clarity card
I've had mine for 4 years now and got it specifically for a holiday in Florida,
it gave me a far better exchange rate than anyone on the high street was offering + it meant I got an extra month or so before having to pay up.
We are off to the Italy and the south of France this summer and I intend to use it for the majority of our spending and just rely on taking a small amount of cash to use when needed.
I've had mine for 4 years now and got it specifically for a holiday in Florida,
it gave me a far better exchange rate than anyone on the high street was offering + it meant I got an extra month or so before having to pay up.
We are off to the Italy and the south of France this summer and I intend to use it for the majority of our spending and just rely on taking a small amount of cash to use when needed.
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