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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.

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