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Credit Cards Abroad

The true cost of paying by plastic

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If you use your credit card on holiday, by keeping an eye on your APR* means you could have less to pay back when you return from your holiday assuming you don’t pay the balance off in one go.

The Bank of Scotland One credit card for instance has an APR on purchases abroad of 9.90% yet Marks & Spencer &MORE and Nationwide BS Classic cards which both charge 17.90% on purchases.

ATM withdrawal fees range from 1.5% to 3% and minimum charges start at £2. Capital One credit card users face the highest minimum charge – a whopping £5 is the price they will pay for getting cash out overseas.

BarclayCard Platinum credit card holders may find their card accepted everywhere but they will be charged a hefty 27.90% on cash withdrawals. Travelling with an HSBC Premier credit card is a better option with a low interest rate of 11.9%.

See our table below for on overview of who offers the best value.
August 2007. Researched by cheapflights.co.uk

*Annual Percentage Rate

Credit card company	APR on purchases (In addition, transactions subject to conversion fee usually in the region of 2.75%)	ATM cash withdrawal fee	Interest rate for cash withdrawals (Often these incur a much higher rate of interest than normal transactions.)	Emergency number
American Express Platinum	15.90%	3% (min £3)	25.90%	+44 127 3696 933
Bank of Ireland Standard	16.90%	1.5% (min £3)	19.16%	+353 56 775 7007
Bank of Scotland One	9.90%	2.5% (min £3)	22.95%	+44 845 300 0344
Barclaycard Platinum	14.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	27.90%	+44 160 4230 230
British Airways American Express	15.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	23.60%	+44 808 100 2255
Capital One	15.90%	3% (min £5)	25.90%	+44 115 993 8002
First Direct Gold	16.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	21.90%	+44 113 234 5678
HSBC	15.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	21.90%	+44 144 2422 929
HSBC Premier	11.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	11.90%	+44 144 2422 929
Lloyds TSB Platinum	15.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	24.90%	+44 1702 278 270
Marks & Spencer &MORE	17.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	20.90%	+44 1244 879 080
Nationwide BS Classic	17.90%	2% (min £2)	21.90%	+44 126 8 567 213
Nationwide BS Gold	15.90%	2% (min £2)	18.90%	+44 126 8 567 213
Natwest Classic	13.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	24.90%	+44 1423 700 545
Saga	16.90%	2% (min £2)	21.90%	+44 126 8 298 807
Sainsburys Bank Advantage	13.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	19.95%	+44 131 549 8040
Sainsburys Bank Platinum	15.90%	2.5% (min £2.50)	19.95%	+44 131 549 8040
Tesco Clubcard Credit card	16.90%	2% (min £2)	22.48%	+44 845 300 4278

22 August 2007

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