Best card for foreign use (Nationwide Building Society)

Member Name: NFH.

Product:	Nationwide Building Society
Date:	09/10/02 (805 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No commission abroad, Download directly into MS Money, Cashback

Disadvantages: Hassle to rectify disputed transactions

As someone else has already mentioned, this is a very good card for using abroad, because Nationwide don't charge any commission for retail transactions abroad. Nationwide has a slight edge over another card issuer charging no commission abroad (Liverpool Victoria/Frizzell) in that Nationwide's fees for cash advances are very low (0.5%, min 50p).

Another very good feature of Nationwide is the ability to download statements directly into Microsoft Money without even visiting the web site. You don't need a Nationwide bank account to do this, and it is particularly useful for foreign transactions when you don't yet know the GBP amount that has been charged to your card.

One of the few disadvantages to this card has been the lack of perks (cashback, airmiles etc), but Nationwide have just launched cashback cards - 0.5% with 1% for the first 6 months.

Be careful when retailers swipe your card though, as Nationwide will make you do all the donkey work if there's a disputed transaction. They make you write letters confirming everything, rather than sending you a simple form to fill in.

I use my Nationwide Visa card as backup when UK retailers don't take Amex and will feel even happier doing so now that Nationwide are offering cashback.

I would highly recommend this card to anyone who uses credit cards abroad.

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