Can I use my card abroad?

Using a credit card abroad is an easy way to make purchases of any kind as it saves you from carrying large amounts of cash around.

It is not the same as using a credit card in the UK however, as there are two extra charges to be levied. First is the commission charge that will be added to the purchase, this will vary between credit card companies but you can expect it to be something like 2.75%. Also your money will need to be converted from the foreign currency into English pounds, and your credit card company may charge a higher rate than a bureau de change. Certainly, the cheapest way to get your money abroad is to change the money before leaving the UK – many exchange bureaus do not charge commission, you can always use your bank or the post office, whoever offers the best deal.

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For peace of mind, it is probably a good idea to let your credit card issuer know that you will be using your credit card abroad, just in case you have problems with temporary "referrals". A referral asks the retailer to check with the card company before the next transaction is accepted, and some foreign retailers do not understand the difference between a referral and a blocked or declined card - so they refuse to accept the card. Add the language barrier into the equation and it’s very difficult to sort the situation out. This is a rare occurrence however if you are going to be depending on the credit card for purchases when abroad it might be a good idea to ring your credit card issuer first so they are aware.