Travel credit cards

[I might be Eric]

I'm looking at getting a credit card which doesn't charge for transactions when abroad.
Looking at this one from the Halifax  www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards#halifax

Anyone got any knowledge if these are worth getting or not?

"Need-to-knows

There's no fee for cash withdrawals, though you'll be charged interest at 18.9% representative APR even if you pay it off in full. So it works out at about £1.50/month for each £100 withdrawn (if you get this APR).

You can minimise this cost: you’re only charged interest until you’ve fully repaid the balance, so if you pay off the withdrawal amount as soon as you can (via internet banking while abroad, or when you return home) you can minimise interest.

You don’t get charged interest on spending abroad, provided you pay this off in full by the date shown on your statement.

The rate you'll get is set by Mastercard, which you can check here – it tends to be higher than Visa's rate making this the top card for spending.

This rate is only for the Clarity credit card, not Halifax's own travel money bureau, which generally offers lower exchange rates.

Some poorer credit scorers will either get 21.9% or 25.9% APR, which will make cash withdrawal interest more expensive."


I always pay my balance off in full each month so I never pay any interest in the UK but my current card charges for every transaction abroad. I have a decent credit rating

thanks in advance

[Jamie-Bins]

I am currently with Barclaycard and at the moment they have a deal where you can pay 0% on cash transfers to your bank account with a small fee 1.9%

For example if you transferred £300 of your credit card available balance to your bank it would cost you £305.70 and you would pay 0% interest until December 2016, however this offer shows it expires at the end of this month so you would need to be quick.

[I might be Eric]

Mar 21, 2016 19:29:57 GMT Jamie-Bins said:

I am currently with Barclaycard and at the moment they have a deal where you can pay 0% on cash transfers to your bank account with a small fee 1.9%

For example if you transferred £300 of your credit card available balance to your bank it would cost you £305.70 and you would pay 0% interest until December 2016, however this offer shows it expires at the end of this month so you would need to be quick.

thanks for that info - what does it charge for transactions abroad? 

[Jamie-Bins]

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

all barclaycard abroad info on that link, easier than typing it all out....

[I might be Eric]

Mar 21, 2016 20:14:53 GMT Jamie-Bins said:

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

all barclaycard abroad info on that link, easier than typing it all out....

2.99% on every transaction - would prove too costly for me!  thanks for the info

[mregg]

TBH Halifax clarity can't be beaten. Pretty much proven everywhere!

I personally have a Supercard. I can link any card to it.
However it stops working June 7th as the Pilot ends

www.supercard.io/

[manulike]

Go with the Halifax Clarity Card. Had it for 5 or 6 year now.
No annual fee. No transaction charges anywhere in the world nor "foreign currency conversion fee".
I bought a Slovakia v Russia ticket on it in January on the open public portal and needed to refund it last week.
I actually made 10p profit on the deal... Not much, but with BarclayCard I would have lost about £4 when buying and another £4 when being refunded.

Note that the Halifax Clarity id only free when making transactions (either when abroad or in foreign currency when buying online) - but IT IS NOT FREE when making ATM bank withdrawals. Think its a flat £3 charge regardless of amount you withdraw. But not sure...

There are Top-Up Cards for Europe, where you buy a currency on set day and you get a piece of plastic to use that currency with. Ran by MasterCard or Visa etc, and comes with their safeguards for replacement if stolen etc.

I only looked into it today, so it looks like the card is free, if you buy all the currency when the rate is good (and it sure as hell will be rubbish 2 weeks before the referendum!) its probably ok.
From the cards i looked at, there is still an ATM withdrawal fee - a flat £2 or so, but they claim you can get "cash advances" from supermarkets and large stores... free of charge...

[I might be Eric]

thanks - just applied for one and got the ok straight away! Hopefully come through soon as taking Mrs Eric to Spain in two weeks

[manulike]

Mine arrived within 4 or 5 days when i applied - 5 or 6 years ago.
My brother got one around 15 December for his Xmas holiday in Miami and his arrive TWO DAYS later!

[prestatyn4457]

Fingers crossed it arrives for you. I use mine every time I go abroad and notice how much I'm saving in transaction fees and unfavourable conversion rates. Enjoy Spain cos you deffo going to enjoy France