News

How to use your credit card abroad
10 April 2007

Brits travelling abroad could do best to reserve a separate credit card specifically for use while overseas, price comparison site uSwitch.com has advised.

Since many banks and building societies charge customers for using their credit or debit cards to make withdrawals or conducts transactions while overseas, customers should also be vigilant about finding the best deal on the market.

'Your existing debit and credit cards may not always offer the best deals for overseas cash withdrawals and purchases, so some forward planning could avoid these charges altogether,' advised uSwitch's financial services director Nick White.

He commended the Nationwide debit card for refusing to impose charges on withdrawal, transaction or 'exchange-rate loading fees'.

Alternatively, customers could opt for a 2 in 1 Post Office card, which also excludes exchange-rate and transaction fees, Mr White suggested.

Paying by credit card while abroad has the advantage of giving UK customers cover under the Consumer Credit Act which enables them to recover the cost of unsatisfactory goods or services such as a hotel room or rental car purchased up to the value of £30,000.

© Adfero Ltd

Back to news homepage




Customer Service 0871 277 0090. Calls charged at 10p per minute for BT customers. Charges on other networks may vary. Hours: Mon - Fri 08:00 to 20:00, Sat and Sun 09:00 to 14:00.
Whether you're looking for cheap car rental in BarcelonaMalagaLas VegasSydney, or Paris, or cheap flights to AustraliaCyprusFranceItalyIrelandSpainTurkey, the USA and more, Opodo can help. Look out for our holidays to CanadaCubaDubai, the Dominican RepublicEgypt and Mexico. Stay in the loop with Opodo's travel news.
Payment methods: Visa / MasterCard / American Express / Switch / Delta.