Free guide to using your credit cards overseas
Posted June 9th, 2009 The UK Cards association has released a guide for using your credit card overseas. It’s imaginatively called “Using your card overseas”, and it offers advice for Britons planning on taking an overseas holiday. The article was created due to the high volume of overseas purchases on UK cards – a total of £27.8bn in 2008 on standard and low rate credit cards.
The director of communications at the UK Cards Association, Sandra Quinn, said:
“Using your debit or credit card is a convenient and safe way to pay when you’re overseas. However, everyone should be aware that there may be fees or costs connected with using your card in a foreign cash machine or shop.
“Additionally, card criminals often look to catch us with our defences down when we are on holiday, so we need to take some simple, sensible precautions to help minimise the chances of becoming a victim of fraud.”
Some key tips in the guide include
- Only take cards with you that you intend to use; leave others in a secure place at home.
- Make sure you have your card company’s 24-hour contact telephone number.
- Make sure your card company has up-to-date contact details for you, including a mobile telephone number.
- If your cards are registered with a Card Protection Agency, ensure you have their contact telephone number and your policy number with you.
- Don’t let your card out of your sight, especially when using it in restaurants and bars.
- Don’t give your PIN to anyone – even if they claim to be from the police or your card company.
- Shield your PIN with your free hand when typing it into a keypad in a shop or at a cash machine.
- Consider wearing a concealed money belt to keep your cards, cash and traveller’s cheques safe.
- When you get back, check your card statements carefully for unfamiliar transactions.
- If there are any, report them to your card company as soon as possible.
Click here to download the guide.
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Comparison of Top 10 Credit Card Offers
| Credit Card | Card Details | Interest Rate | Cash Advance Rate | Balance Transfer Rate | Annual fee | Interest free days | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Halifax All in One Credit Card |
The Halifax All in One credit card offers a great introductory rate, and is perfect for saving you money now as well as in the future. | 15.9% APR | 27.95% p.a. (variable) | 0% for 9 months | No Annual Fee | 59 Days interest free |
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 Virgin Credit Card |
As well as a great rate, the Virgin Credit Card comes with:
|
16.6% APR (variable) | 27.9% p.a. (variable) | 0% for 16 Months (2.98% fee on balance transfers) | No Annual Fee | 50 days on card purchases |
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 Capital One Classic Visa |
This card is designed for people with bad credit ratings, this is why the rate is quite high. |
Typical 34.9% APR variable | 34.9% APR | 34.9% APR | No Annual Fee | 56 days for purchases. 0 days for balance transfers and cash. |
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As well as earning Flying Club miles which you can spend on brilliant rewards like flights, upgrades, car hire and more, a Virgin Atlantic Credit Card gives you up to 46 days interest free on card purchases. |
17.9% APR typical rate | 20.9% p.a. (variable) | 0% for 6 months (2% handling fee) | No Annual Fee | Up to 46 days on card purchases only. |
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The Virgin Prepaid MasterCard from Virgin Money is a prepaid Mastercard that you can add funds to, and use these funds for normal purchases. |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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5% cashback on purchases in your first three months (up to £4,000 of spend). Thereafter, earn 0.5% on the first £3,500, 1% on £3,501 to £10,000, and 1.5% after £10,001. |
18.9% p.a. | 27.9% p.a. | 18.9% p.a | No Annual Fee | 56 days for purchases. 0 days for balance transfers and cash. |
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Vanquis Visa Card is designed for people with no credit history or who have previously had bad debt. Representative 39.9% APR (variable) |
Representative 39.9% APR (variable) | 39.9% | N/A | No Annual Fee | Up to 56 days on card purchases only |
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The award winning prepaid card with no credit check or bank account needed. | Funds in your Account will not earn interest | Prepaid only - N/A | Prepaid only - N/A | £59.40 p.a. (£4.95/month) | Prepaid only - N/A |
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