Back up in case problem with credit card

[bernard301]

Originally Posted by Burgmeister

I take my Clarity card but also have a Revolut (my wife also has each of these in separate accounts so that's 4 cards available). I will also take the rest of my cards for absolute emergencies (Barclaycard, Nationwide, VA card, AMEX, IHG and a Curve). Whilst they may not be the cheapest way to get money (although Curve now is FX transaction free) if it's a real emergency then that is of little relevence.

I will also have numerous debit cards but they would be the last to be used whilst overseas

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I find it interesting that you would consider the Curve card an emergency card in preference to the Clarity Card due to the additional security features available to it and the better (predominantly) interbank exchange rate not to mention the loss of points earning on either the IHG or VA cards. The new payment protection they include also seems to be on a par, if not better than s.75 protection provided by the credit card companies

[stupet11]

1.MBNA Horizon - no foreign fees and 0.5 % cashback on spends.
2.Halifax Clarity - used to be card of choice.
3.Starling debit card - just because 0% fees, may as well come for trip - easy to transfer from my day to day currency aaccount to that.
4.Virgin Credit Card (more for use UK - as have booked car hire / parking / hotels etc on it)

Nationwide debit will come with me, but won't use - have for travel insurance.

Have a currency card, FX I find, that bought via Groupon as got £50 for £35 or something similar, and prob have some actual dollars lying around from previous years we struggle to use / forget to use! each year.

Clarity got stopped couple of years ago - unusual spend - in August for 5th year running, buying groceries! Took 30 mins phone call to sort, that they refunded and paid compensation for on top.

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by bernard301

I find it interesting that you would consider the Curve card an emergency card in preference to the Clarity Card due to the additional security features available to it and the better (predominantly) interbank exchange rate not to mention the loss of points earning on either the IHG or VA cards. The new payment protection they include also seems to be on a par, if not better than s.75 protection provided by the credit card companies

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Yes, the Curve has some advantages for sure. My primary spending card is Revolut - it just seems to work and you can convert into USD when you see a rate you like. The Clarity card is used when there will be a hold put on it (Hotels, car hire etc).

I use Curve at home but it does have an annual limit. You are right that I will be missing out on my IHG points but, if there are any transaction issues I find it easier dealing with one possible failure point (the card provider) rather than 2 (the card provider and the intermediary card) while I am overseas and on holiday. There are many reasons why someone woudl use Curve as their "goto" overseas card, but I'm just not as comfortable with it as I am with my 2 preferential cards.

Curve does not use a better rate than either Revolut or Clarity. All 3 use the Mastercard rate (which is better than the Visa rate) so I won't be missing out there.

Edit: Of course, Curve also has a £500 monthly limit on fee free overseas spending.

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by Andybear

My Halifax Clarity credit card is for use only abroad. As a back up I take my day to day credit card and a small amount of cash.

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Exactly what I do.

[Burgmeister]

Originally Posted by stupet11

1.MBNA Horizon - no foreign fees and 0.5 % cashback on spends.
2.Halifax Clarity - used to be card of choice.
3.Starling debit card - just because 0% fees, may as well come for trip - easy to transfer from my day to day currency aaccount to that.
4.Virgin Credit Card (more for use UK - as have booked car hire / parking / hotels etc on it)

Nationwide debit will come with me, but won't use - have for travel insurance.

Have a currency card, FX I find, that bought via Groupon as got £50 for £35 or something similar, and prob have some actual dollars lying around from previous years we struggle to use / forget to use! each year.

Clarity got stopped couple of years ago - unusual spend - in August for 5th year running, buying groceries! Took 30 mins phone call to sort, that they refunded and paid compensation for on top.

See more...

We have Horizon cards but on our first trip overseas to use them my wife's was frozen on her second transaction. Haven't bothered with them since. It will stay in my wallet though so it may, or may not, get used.

[amf]

We have several fee free overseas cards which are only used for foreign currency spending -

Clarity - self and wife
PO - self and wife
Barclaycard Platinum - self. This doesn't charge interest on overseas ATM withdrawals if statement paid in full by due date.

[scooby99]

I would not recommend your Halifax debit card; MSE site has it down as one of the top cards to avoid using overseas due to the fees charged.

We use the Halifax Clarity credit card overseas & cash then 3 other credit cards as backup; our Halifax debit card would be our absolute last resort.

[archibald]

We have a separate Post office credit card each, a bit of cash, then DH Barclaycard as emergency back up, but also have family in Florida to fall back on if things went really wrong.

[NewtoOrlando]

We take a small amount of cash, clarity card and a revolut currency card. Also have my usual debit card and daily credit card incase of any other issues. All vases are covered that way, you just never know!

[ERICSMUM]

I take my bank account debit card BUT I would only ever use it in a dire emergency if I couldn’t use credit cards.

Reason is (most ?) debit cards give full access to the contents of my bank account so scammers would take my money.

Scams on credit cards are effectively using the CC company’s money. I take a 2nd CC as back up in case the main one is scammed, blocked, lost or stolen.

Perhaps I’m over-cautious but I travel solo.