Check if your card charges foreign transaction fees

[StillGoing]

Go about half way down the page, put in your card details to find out how much your bank are charging you for spending abroad.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#debit

 

[1967bowesj]

Go about half way down the page, put in your card details to find out how much your bank are charging you for spending abroad.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#debit

Never use a bank card, use ones designed for travel

 

[Figaro]

I know without looking my Lloyds Club card (debit card) charge for foreign use so it never comes out
Revolut every time for me

 

[Bailey58]

Nationwide and Clarity for me, and I use Revolut too, but I know the answer without looking as all seasoned travellers should but a useful link nonetheless.

 

[philann]

Barclaycard rewards card, no foreign transaction fees for us

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[Odd-no-more]

Revolut as main card, Nationwide credit card as back up. The NW is the only card that doesn't have fees abroad although it does charge for cash withdrawals

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Halifax Clarity for credit
First Direct for debit
Both are fee free including cash withdrawal on the debit card (the machine may have a transaction fee though).

 

[carolyn]

Luckily we still have our Santander zero credit card but I don’t think they offer any fee free credit cards to new customers now.

Most things you can get away with debit cards and things like Revolut and Starling but booking flights and I think most car hire still want a credit card.

 

[kieranplatt]

HSBC Global Money doesn't feature in the review but is better than them all. Really good exchange rate, no fee.

 

[carolyn]

HSBC Global Money doesn't feature in the review but is better than them all. Really good exchange rate, no fee.

You have to have a HSBC normal account to get it. I’ve just had a look at the Ts&Cs so that’s why it won’t be on Martin Lewis’ list.

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[Just smiffy]

Used to use revolut but only use Chase now, everywhere….

 

[wram49]

Used to use revolut but only use Chase now, everywhere….

Same here I use chase everywhere to get the cash back. It appears there are more and more banks abroad charging a transaction fee for withdrawing cash than there used to be, so you need to try quite a few sometimes to find one that doesn't have a charge. I'd used chase at a bank in Zagreb last year and there was no warning on the ATM that there was a charge, so my wife used it also. Checked the app afterwards and noticed they had charged me a transaction fee, contacted chase via the app and got it refunded.

 

[Just smiffy]

Same here I use chase everywhere to get the cash back. It appears there are more and more banks abroad charging a transaction fee for withdrawing cash than there used to be, so you need to try quite a few sometimes to find one that doesn't have a charge. I'd used chase at a bank in Zagreb last year and there was no warning on the ATM that there was a charge, so my wife used it also. Checked the app afterwards and noticed they had charged me a transaction fee, contacted chase via the app and got it refunded.

I keep most of my money in a savings account on the app and just transfer as and when needed as it easy quick and instant so getting the best interest over the month…

Customer service has been great for me too, a few inquiries were sorted very quickly…

 

[Garry - June]

We use Revolut a lot but a year or two ago our bank First Direct did away with all overseas transaction charges and also gives a near perfect exchange rate as well... only fee we might have to pay is the actual ATM machine fee which nobody can avoid if the machine charges that.

 

[Brains]

I have never had a personal credit card.
(Too many friends got into very serious financial trouble in our early 20's, it put me off Credit Cards for life.)

I use a debit card in the UK to pay in pounds.
I use a Starling card abroad to pay in €uro's, which I top up once or twice a year when the rates are in my favour.
I avoid using cash.

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[Barryh]

Barclaycard rewards card, no foreign transaction fees for us

Same here. No fees whatsoever, including cash withdrawals, provided you pay it off In full on the due date.

 

[Brains]

Banks have to make money.
If they don't, they go out of business.
All transactions have a cost, someone somewhere has to pay.

Any bank that is offering a 'free' service, is simply taking from Peter to pay Paul.
If you are the recipient, you will be paying for the service at some point in the chain.

As I've said before anyone that thinks their bank does not change for currency conversion is nieve.
The only question is how much they are charging, and some banks really do rip off their loyal customers.

 

[swemmy666]

Use revolut for tap payments, transfers to fellow travellers, currensea for ATM withdrawls

 

[Barryh]

Banks have to make money.
If they don't, they go out of business.
All transactions have a cost, someone somewhere has to pay.

Any bank that is offering a 'free' service, is simply taking from Peter to pay Paul.
If you are the recipient, you will be paying for the service at some point in the chain.

As I've said before anyone that thinks their bank does not change for currency conversion is nieve.
The only question is how much they are charging, and some banks really do rip off their loyal customers.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, with me being naive and all that.

 

[Palough]

I have never had a personal credit card.
(Too many friends got into very serious financial trouble in our early 20's, it put me off Credit Cards for life.)

I use a debit card in the UK to pay in pounds.
I use a Starling card abroad to pay in €uro's, which I top up once or twice a year when the rates are in my favour.
I avoid using cash.

I've only used Wise since being scalped by the CBA bank with exorbitant fees and "pi**" poor exchange rates in Russia/Mongolia in 2018 on their travel card

Even get monthly interest credited for funds on the Wise Card.

But recently joined ActivoBank, no monthly account fees, no withdrawl ATM fees, zero fees anywhere, end of story

They are a part of Millenium Bank, but I will continue to use Wise as the main transaction medium as their phone up help line is amazingly good and never had any trouble with the card

Lost the Wise card one time on the road travelling and had a new physical card in 2 days, and used the Wise virtual card in the meantime

Works for me

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[Brains]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, with me being naive and all that.

You may not be, but there are a few others on this forum who are convinced "their" bank does currency conversion for free.

 

[Barryh]

I’ve no reason to love Barclays, but this really is a great card to use.

 

[CazPaul]

Banks have to make money.
If they don't, they go out of business.
All transactions have a cost, someone somewhere has to pay.

Any bank that is offering a 'free' service, is simply taking from Peter to pay Paul.
If you are the recipient, you will be paying for the service at some point in the chain.

As I've said before anyone that thinks their bank does not change for currency conversion is nieve.
The only question is how much they are charging, and some banks really do rip off their loyal customers.

Someone will be paying for the service somewhere in the chain, but not necessarily you.

I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order Mr Preview.

 

[StillGoing]

I have never had a personal credit card.
(Too many friends got into very serious financial trouble in our early 20's, it put me off Credit Cards for life.)

I use a debit card in the UK to pay in pounds.
I use a Starling card abroad to pay in €uro's, which I top up once or twice a year when the rates are in my favour.
I avoid using cash.

If used properly, a credit card gives you a fantastic level of consumer protection that is not available with a debit card. I use a credit card just for that benefit and pay it off in full each month.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/section75-protect-your-purchases/

 

[StillGoing]

I have a Santander debit card for use in Santander ATMs in Spain (including the Canaries) and Portugal. There are no ATM charges and it has a good exchange rate (MSE approved!). The basic Santander bank account is free to open and operate.

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[pjay]

I use a Chase debit card for day to day stuff and Halifax Clarity credit card for bigger purchases.

Pete

 

[Hymer Tony B]

I know without looking my Lloyds Club card (debit card) charge for foreign use so it never comes out
Revolut every time for me

I,m with Lloyds. You can pay monthly fee when abroad to get better rates. I use Currensea when abroad now, better than Lloyds. Also with currensea get message straight away telling you what you've spent in Euros and the Sterling cost to your account

I know without looking my Lloyds Club card (debit card) charge for foreign use so it never comes out
Revolut every time for me

 

[carolyn]

I,m with Lloyds. You can pay monthly fee when abroad to get better rates. I use Currensea when abroad now, better than Lloyds. Also with currensea get message straight away telling you what you've spent in Euros and the Sterling cost to your account




View attachment 999479

We have a Club Lloyds Premier Account and I think it’s the debit card that’s free to use abroad but not the credit card. Having said that we’ve been afraid to try it as we’ve so many other options that we know work!

We keep it for the travel insurance which is very good once you’ve acquired a few illnesses and covers up to 80. Not that we’re even close yet. Trips 62 worldwide incl cruises USA and Caribbean. That’s multiple trips not like the new Natiowide.

 

[Speve]

Revolut as main card, Nationwide credit card as back up. The NW is the only card that doesn't have fees abroad although it does charge for cash withdrawals

Jaja credit card don’t charge either

 

[nicholsong]

Go about half way down the page, put in your card details to find out how much your bank are charging you for spending abroad.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#debit

They had a fault when I triesdjustnow ;Try again later- maybe.

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