Bummed by the Banks

[SueEllen]

Halifax Clarity credit card in particular: no charges for purchases or cash anywhere in the world. The ATM itself may charge, and for cash you wil pay interest from the day you take it out, but it still beats the hell out of any other card I've found; especially outside the EZ.

Nationwide debit card used to be better, at least inside the EU, but now it has a fee; still better than most cards though. Nationwide credit card has no fee on purchases ISTR (and so is better than the debit card there) but has the usual CC fee on cash so not good there.

Mostly right about Halifax Clarity credit card.

If you are in London and the South East get yourself a Metrobank account. Their debit card is fee free in Europe. You just need to go into a "store" with ID and you can get an account there and then with a card and online banking details. You then rarely need to go into a "store" again.

In regards to credit cards never use them to draw cash out of the ATM. Use it to pay stuff in shops, pay bills in restaurants etc in the local currency.

There are a few credit cards that are fee free for this - Halifax Clarity, Metrobank Credit card, Nationwide Select Credit Card and Post Office Credit card. Only Halifax Clarity and Nationwide Select are for worldwide spending.

[I just need to test it]

Cash advance fee? (usually applies when using a credit card rather than a debit card to get cash)

Visa Debit

[SueEllen]

Visa Debit

Most of the mainstream banks charge you a fee for using a debit card abroad regardless of whether it's Visa or MasterCard.

[I just need to test it]

Yeah. My bank charged £4 and change. Visa charged £5.97.

[stek]

Nationwide Flex Plus - tenner a month - but with (fairly ordinary) breakdown, travel insurance etc, plus some other stuff, no charges for withdrawals anywhere in World, not sure if exchange rate is most favourable but life too short for checking every tick...

Got when I was working in EU don't really need it now but what the hell....

[SueEllen]

Nationwide Flex Plus - tenner a month - but with (fairly ordinary) breakdown, travel insurance etc, plus some other stuff, no charges for withdrawals anywhere in World, not sure if exchange rate is most favourable but life too short for checking every tick...

Got when I was working in EU don't really need it now but what the hell....

I got a Metrobank account for spending in Europe and it was free. Didn't need the other stuff.

To be honest a simple internet search for a well known money saving website would provide all the information you need for spending in Europe and Worldwide. I did leave out Saga Cards as I'm not in that age group.

[expat]

Mostly right about Halifax Clarity credit card.

....

Mostly? Which bit did I not get right? Serious question.