How to best use credit cards travelling abroad to avoid surprises like excessive fees or, worse still, scams and ray? Here are 10 tips for not having bad surprises with credit cards in travel trip.
Index of Article
How to use credit cards on the road
1. Check your bank before you leave.
Not all cards active in Italy can be used abroad. Before you go better check with the institution that issued the card if it is valid in the country where you are headed, not to find yourself in the embarrassing situation of finding you over the border without money.
If you travel toabroad, make sure you can securely access your accounts outside deItaly. It's a good idea. Hold on the PIN always always on hand.
Some readers of foreign cards, in fact, richiedon the use ofel PIN to complete the operation with credit card. The best thing is memorize merlo for avoid writing it on a sheet of paper or keep it in the wallet, with the risk of losing it.
2. In case of withdrawal, better ccredit art or ATM?
With both you can pay and withdraw cash, but pay attention to commissions on withdrawals. For credit card average around 4%, for the ATM are about 2%, but often there is a limit of daily use or monthly: check it to not vent!
Taking cash with the credit card in the ATMs abroad can cost much expensive, definitely more than transaction with credit card in a store or restaurant, so value every time if you want.
The best thing to do is information on the extent of these commissions the credit card issuer before departure, so as not to have surprises and, in case, to have enough cash for daily expenses.
3. Payments with credit cards on holiday: which differences?
There are no big differences, for payments at trade exercises in the Sepa countries there are usually no fees, but there may be additional costs linked to change.
For limit to maximum every complication in management of current account while you're traveling, use a prepaid card. This way you can set up a precise budget and you won't risk venting.
At the same time, you will not always be ask if there is enough money on the current account to cover all the expenditure of the period, including any bills, since not Come on. moneyto the account.
4. Theft, cloning or loss, what to do?
Do not waste time and immediately call the bank to block the lost card and turn it off. If the stolen card is used before the complaint of the theft, it can be charged up to a maximum of 150 euros. The money may be deducted after reporting, however, will be refunded entirely. The safety on the road No price!
Pay attention to the Wi-Fi networks you connect toi, avoid public services and, hereand this is not possible, search to navigate connectedI Yesand or use a virtual private network (VPN).
It also upgrades your security software, operating system and applications to get the best defenses against viruses, malware and other online threats.
5. Should I change the cash at the airport?
No. Generally, using the local currency card abroad allows you to obtain a more advantageous exchange rate than those offered by the exchange offices at the airport. You should change the least amount of currency possible before you leave and use that money only where the card is not accepted.
6. Better. the local currency.
In case of payment or withdrawal in extra-euro area, if required, it is better to pay in local currency instead of in your currency, so as to avoid hidden fees related to change.
Many card or bank issuers will charge a foreign transaction fee or even national charges involving a foreign bank. In many cases, you can avoid charges for foreign transactions by charging your purchases in euro by the trader.
7. With the app, all under control.
Download the app of your bank before leaving so that you can monitor payments and costs in real time.
At home you probably know how much you spend in food, entertainment and transportation. All this changes when you're traveling, generating confusion on the budget and excessive credit card debt.
The antidote better in these cases is downloadKing on theI do. smartphone an app for monitoring the specific budget for travel, type Trabee pocket or Splitwise, which also allows you to keep trace of the expenses that you share with any travel companions.
Another good idea is using tools that help protect transactions of the card from fraud. Telephone localization services, aFor example, I am capable of track Card transactions carried out in an unusual place, it detectsI am activityand.
Just make sure your bank and the company credit card have your email address and your mobile number so you can be reached while traveling.
8. An SMS can save the situation.
Alternatively (or in addition) you can also activate an alert service with your bank that immediately alerts you via SMS in case of use of the card, to always have full control of the situation.
9. Continue to monitor the accounts even after the holiday.
Although everything went smoothly during the trip, check out any unauthorized charges and anomalies that may appear even after different time. In case, immediately inform your bank to resolve the problem.
10. What card to give children travelling alone?
The prepaid card is the best solution: it guarantees the same practicality of the ATM with the advantage of having a limited plafond, so as to protect you from any loss or mad expenses.
The article was realized with the collaboration of the experts of Easy.it, comparison of financial products.
