![]() One of the big drawbacks is that they often don’t offer 0% deals on purchases, which means that unless you clear your balance each month, you’ll pay interest on all your holiday spending. However, credit cards for travel won’t be the most suitable option for everyone. That's because the exchange rate you're getting is about the best you can find as a member of the public - with the Visa and Mastercard rates almost identical to those currency traders use for international transactions.Īnother major benefit is that you get automatic purchase protection on things you buy worth more than £100 and up to £30,000 thanks to UK credit card laws. The Home Trust Preferred Visa credit card always uses the currency exchange rate set by Visa International, providing transparency and giving you the comfort that the currency exchange rate you will be charged is in line with most other cards.Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees are often the cheapest way to buy something while abroad. ![]() So, while it may appear on the surface that you're saving money by not paying foreign transaction fees, what cards that set their own exchange rates may be doing is just shifting their foreign transaction fees by baking some or all of these fees into the spread or mark-up they charge on currency exchange rates. However, some other no foreign transaction fee credit cards set their own exchange rate, which is often not transparent and includes a significantly higher spread or mark-up than the major credit card networks. Most credit cards, including the Home Trust Preferred Visa card, use the exchange rates set by major credit card networks (Visa, MasterCard or Amex). When choosing a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, one thing to watch out for is the exchange rate they use when converting your foreign currency transactions. Not all "No Foreign Transaction Fee" Credit Cards are Created Equal It's also important to be aware that not all credit cards with no foreign transaction fee are created equal. The Home Trust Preferred Visa is one of the few no foreign transaction fee credit cards available in Canada, saving you money on every purchase you make in a currency other than Canadian dollars, whether you're travelling or shopping online. How to save with a "No Foreign Transaction Fee" credit cardĪs the name suggests, no foreign transaction fee credit cards do not charge a transaction fee on foreign transactions. So, for example, if your credit card charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee and you were to make a $1,000 purchase in USD on your Canadian dollar credit card, you would be charged a $25 foreign transaction fee for that purchase in addition to the spread or mark-up your credit card charges on its currency exchange rate. The fee is equal to a percentage of the amount of any transaction you make in a foreign currency and is typically 2.5%. Foreign Transaction Fees: Most Canadian credit cards also charge what is commonly referred to as a foreign transaction fee on purchases made in any currency other than CAD.Regardless of who your credit card issuer is, the exchange rate they charge you will always include a spread or mark-up over the actual exchange rate set by the relevant country's central bank (i.e. ![]() When determining this exchange rate, most - but not all - credit cards use the exchange rate set by the credit card network (i.e. Visa, MasterCard or Amex), which fluctuates regularly. ![]() Exchange Rate Spread: All credit cards convert foreign currency transactions using a specified exchange rate.Credit card currency exchange rates & foreign transaction fees explainedĬredit cards can charge you for foreign currency transactions in two ways: Use your Home Trust Preferred Visa on purchases made in foreign currencies without added foreign transaction fees 1, whether you’re spending while abroad or shopping online at home.
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