The UK Cards Association and ABTA, the travel association, have published a consumer advice guide – Using your card overseas – that provides the latest tips and useful information for holidaymakers and business travellers who are planning to use their cards abroad this summer.
Latest statistics from The UK Cards Association show that overseas transactions on UK-issued cards amounted to just under three per cent of all card transactions last year, with 303 million separate purchases and cash withdrawals. Britons abroad spent £17.7 billion on credit and debit card purchases and withdrew £7.8 billion out of cash machines. This was an eight per cent decrease on the 2008 total of £27.8 billion.
The advice guide can be downloaded at www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk. It provides useful information regarding the types of charges you may incur when withdrawing cash at a cash machine or when making a card purchase overseas, and includes tips on what to do before, during and after your trip abroad to minimise the chances of being a victim of fraud.
Melanie Johnson, Chair of The UK Cards Association, says: “Thanks to their flexibility and convenience cards have become our preferred travel companion. Although card spending abroad was down slightly last year – no doubt due to the economic downturn – their use has grown almost threefold over the past decade.
“If you are planning to go abroad with a card this summer it pays to do some quick checks. The ‘Using your card overseas’ guide will help ensure that everyone knows how to use their cards safely and is fully aware of any costs involved.”
If you are travelling overseas this year, either on holiday or on a business trip, the following key advice (taken from the new Guide) can help ensure that using your cards is a hassle-free experience:
* Only take cards with you that you intend to use; leave others in a secure place at home.
* Make sure you have your card company’s 24-hour contact telephone number.
* Make sure your card company has up-to-date contact details for you, including a mobile telephone number.
* If your cards are registered with a card protection agency, ensure you have their contact telephone number and your policy number with you.
* Don’t let your card out of your sight, especially when using it in restaurants and bars.
* Don’t give your PIN to anyone – even if they claim to be from the police or your card company.
* Shield your PIN with your free hand when typing it into a keypad in a shop or at a cash machine.
John DeVial, ABTA Head of Communications says: “Paying with plastic continues to be a popular choice for holidaymakers and business travellers going abroad. The advice in this guide provides UK consumers with useful information that can help ensure a safe and stress-free time overseas.”
