Recent research carried out by Santander revealed that an estimated £49m is expected to be wasted on unnecessary extra charges this summer with credit and debit cards. We want to help you to avoid hidden credit and debit card charges abroad! Credit cards can offer you extra protection and provide an alternative to carrying large amounts of cash. According to Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis, the best credit cards to use abroad are: Post Office Platinum MasterCard, Santander Zero MasterCard, Nationwide BS Gold Visa, Saga Platinum Visa and Halifax Clarity.
Pre-paid credit cards are also a great alternative if you are looking for added security; you can top up the cards with cash and for a small charge, most issuers will replace the card if its funds are lost or stolen.
What to look out for when choosing credit and debit cards to use abroad:
- The ‘load’ fee on top of the exchange rate – you can be charged up to 2.75% every time that the card is used.
- Interest charges that apply even when the balance is paid off in full.
- Cash withdrawal fees on top of the above ‘load’ fee when using an ATM – these can be around 2.5%.
- Additional ‘penalty fees’ each time you use the card. Halifax, RBS, NatWest and Lloyds TSB all have additional fees.
We recommend that you visit the website of the card issuer and use a money advice website such as Money Saving Expert for up to date information. Please also remember that if you are hiring a car with us, the main driver will need a credit card to secure the hire of the vehicle. Pre-paid cards and debit cards will not be accepted for this. See our terms and conditions for further information.
