Credit card use overseas?

the only 2 cards that don't charge for overseas purchases are nationwide and the post office. All of the others do, and quite highly!

THEY'LL GET YOU EVERY WAY

Most banks will charge for using either a credit or a debit card abroad. Either they will let you know with an additional fee or charge, or they will incorporate the "fee" into the exchange rate so that it is hidden.

I recently got a refund from a company which was good of them, but the credit card company charged both ways and I ended up losing quite a lot because of it. No good complaining as it is in their terms and conditions which are never read and change every few months anyway.

Nationwide charge no fee and you get the VISA exchange rate as opposed to the AMEX rate- better deal all round (around 4-5% more than AMEX for your pound). Best to use debit card if you can, but same with Nationwide credit card - you do get charged a fee on the credit card for cash withdrawls, but not the debit card

You get rewards for the credit card, but only for UK registered business transactions

Most credit cards can be used overseas at atms. Just know your pin. Be aware of the fact that your bank may charge you an additional fee for this service. Also, the exchange rate is not neccessarily the most competitive. The best way to be sure is to contact your bank. Look on the back of the card for thier phone number, as most customer service numers are located there.

Nearly all cards charge a currency conversion fee (which is usually about 3%, and very few -- like Capital One, and maybe MBNA, and one other or so -- only charge 1% to convert the currency). I haven't looked into Nationwide, so I don't know about them converting it for free -- although this does seem strange.

U.S. Credit cards AND debit cards both tend to charge the fees, so you just have to get one that charges the lowest fee possible. You could get a Capital One card that gives 1% REWARDS on purchases, so that would offset the currency conversion fee!!! I don't know if Nationwide would ALSO offer this (and doubt it)!

Ask your current card companies what they charge, but I bet you're often going to find that it is 3%!

You can also search the Internet or Bankrate.com for topics such as "currency conversion fee" or "best cards for foreign travel", and you get great articles such as this:

"Best Cards for Foreign Travel"

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20070514_cu...

or

"Currency Conversion Fees"

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20050624b1.asp

It truly is tough to beat the 1% fee, and mixing it with a rewards card is the best deal if you always pay off your monthly balance in full!

Hope this all helps!

The short answer is yes.

Once upon a time I thought American Express didn't charge a service fee for using it overseas, but it does, too.

Yes.. most banks charge a fee, except Capital One.

Check out the Nationwide as far as I know all their cards have no charges when used abroad.

Yeah, you are lucky, my bank charges £1.50 ...

As you may have seen on TV, only Nationwide does not charge for use abroad

Same as the Link fee charging cashcard machines isn't it - what a frackin liberty!!