Using your cards abroad

Worried about bringing large sums of cash abroad? There are lots of advantages to taking your debit card instead.

Simple precautions when travelling can ensure that you get the most of your card and your cash, and leave you worry-free to concentrate on more important things – like enjoying your well-deserved holiday.

Choosing the right type of card for your needs is a great place to start. Using your debit card to withdraw local cash from overseas ATMs will generally offer a better exchange rate than you would get at a currency exchange office. You also have the reassurance that if you should lose your card, your bank is only a phone call away.

Debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo can also be used for purchases in shops, restaurants and hotels around the world, freeing your foreign banknotes up for smaller, on-the-go purchases.

Credit cards can also useful for making large purchases abroad and can be a great backup in an emergency. Enquire with your bank if there are any fees for using the card overseas.

Check if your bank is a member of the Global Alliance – if they are, you’ll be able to use your debit card in partner banks’ cash machines worldwide, with no transaction charges (other charges will apply). Overseas cash machines work the same way as they do in the UK and will either display English instructions when you insert your card or allow you to choose an English-language option.

When you're abroad, take the same common sense precautions when using ATMs as you would at home.

Don't allow yourself to be distracted, make sure the keypad is protected from prying eyes when entering your PIN and never write your PIN down. If you suspect the machine’s card slot has been tampered with, find a different ATM to use. Also be wary of your surroundings when using ATMs and withdrawing cash, especially at night.

Remember to always keep your debit and credit cards in a safe place close to your body when you’re out and about. A bum bag or a hidden money belt is a sensible, secure place for them. Make sure you can reach your cards easily without hassle, and that the bag zips up securely, so nothing can fall out. It’s also a good idea to keep another card in a separate, secure place for emergencies, in case your main cards are lost or stolen.

Using your card overseas should generally be safe and easy, but you should still keep an eye out for potential scams and card–related frauds.

Keep in mind that these scams are not everyday occurrences, and they're really quite unlikely to happen to you, and if you’re as sensible with your cards and cash on your travels as you are at home, you’ll be able concentrate on what's really important – relaxing and enjoying your holiday.

• Fraudsters take advantage of the fact that people often don’t check their bills carefully to add extra noughts onto the end of the total, turning that €90 dinner into a €900 meal. By the time you get your monthly bill, you’re thousands of miles away and often little can be done about it. Be sure to always carefully check both your bill and the charge card docket for the total amount you’re paying. If you see any irregularities, bring them to the attention of the manager, and ask him or her to cancel the first docket, run up a new one and go over it with you in person.
• Tourists are particularly vulnerable to the common trick of double charging: a vendor pretends to have made an error on the bill and asks you to sign again, so you end up paying twice. If you get this request, ask to see a printed cancellation of the first docket. If the vendor is using a manual card machine, tear up all copies of the first docket before a new one is run.
• Some thieves use sophisticated technology to ‘skim’ the data off the magnetic strip of your card and use the information to make a new card from it. To prevent this, always know where your cards are (don’t leave any behind in the hotel room unless locked in a safe), and avoid giving your card to a server or shop worker who wants to take it away out of your sight. Ask to pay at the till so you can see how your card is being handled during the transaction, and ask for it back as soon as the vendor has finished with it. Keep your purchase receipts in a safe place and compare them against your statement when you get home from your holiday – and if you spot any problems contact your card issuer immediately.

Using your bank cards abroad, in combination with cash, gives you flexibility with managing your holiday money. A debit card lets you to withdraw cash at ATMs and pay for purchases like you would with a credit card, but with your own money. Credit cards are a good emergency back-up, and handy when you come across that pricey souvenir that you just have to have.