Credit Card Charges
My Bank of America credit card just imposed a 3% charge on foreign purchases. We have become accustomed to cards imposing charges, but 3% seems excessive. Are there any major cards that still have no foreign-purchase charges?
Ron
DeWitt, MI USA 3/23/07
Send Private Message
I haven't really figured out how to get to this info, but I have read on some other travel boards that Capital One doesn't charge this much for foreign purchases. Might be worth investigation.
3% is standard with most credit card companies these days. Check out Rick's article about fees: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm
3% is excessive. That's why we take our Capital One card with us to Europe. Not only do they NOT impose a surcharge of their own, they eat the Visa charge of 1%.
I belong to a credit union in Seattle that does not charge extra for European charges.
3% IS indeed standard (excessive or not). Just hope its not more. As one of the other posters noted - CapitolOne has no fee (and apperently eats the 1% visa fee that even the other discounters charge). Unless you need the miles on another card - CapOne may be the way to go if you dont have a specific reason to use another card (I dont have a CapOne card myself tho- but probably should have at least 1)!
I got a CapitalOne card just for my trip. That way I can also easily keep track of how much I'm spending on the whole thing, since the card wouldn't be used for anything else.
Also, if you can get one that offers cash back, you will not only not pay any fees but you will earn 1% cash on everything and 25% bonus cash at the end of the year.
Just be careful that you let them know you're going away and for how long. I booked a bunch of international flights yesterday for my trip this summer and it kicked me out on the last one because we hadn't informed them of the charges (especially all in euros and pounds!). But that's nice because at least you have that security.
Seconding the Capital One users -- it's rare to find a card that doesn't at least charge Visa's 1% fee. My credit union passes on the Visa 1%, but no other charges. B of A and the others are a rip off -- it can make a big difference over the course of a trip!