Currency Cards

[Ned Nederlander]

I usually just use my debit card abroad, I know it'll rack up charges but I've kinda just accepted it - currency cards have tweaked my interest though and with a few trips lined up I thought I might give one a try.

Are they worth it?

Zing & Revolut are being recommended by the moneysavingexpert site - anyone using them?

[latapythelegend]

11 minutes ago, Ned Nederlander said:

I usually just use my debit card abroad, I know it'll rack up charges but I've kinda just accepted it - currency cards have tweaked my interest though and with a few trips lined up I thought I might give one a try.

Are they worth it?

Zing & Revolut are being recommended by the moneysavingexpert site - anyone using them?

I opened a Revlout account back in May and used the card when in Germnay for the Euros and it has been brilliant. Very easy to track spending and switch currencies easily. You can use it either fully contactless or pay a small fee and get a card sent out. 

[Melanius Mullarkey]

Seconded for Revolut. Piece of piss. 

[PB1994]

Aye, Revolut is great.

[itzdrk]

I use revolut and rate it.  

You can set up a wee savings thing in there for holidays and use it while away. 

#1 thing with these cards is there can be charges for withdrawing cash, whether it be because you have exceeded the free limit or whatever. So making sure you use a cash machine that doesn't charge you is important cause paying two different companies go lift your money isn't cool!

[welshbairn]

Another warning is don't convert sterling into foreign currencies at the weekend on Revolut, there's a charge of 1% between 5pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday New York time. Also any exchanges over £1000 in a month get charged 1%. Cash withdrawals over £200 (I think over a month) get charged 2% so best to use chip and pin as much as possible, I sometimes get cash Euros elsewhere before I leave. A handy thing is you can keep multiple currencies on the one card, think I've still got enough for a half pint in Norwegian Kronor.

[Jamie_B]

I have a Chase card - no fees abroad and very easy to set up/use/track spending etc. No need to convert currency in the app or whatever either, just load some cash into it and use it as you would at home and it does it all for you.

[flyingscot]

Is there any advantage in Revolut over just using Chase/Starling debit cards? Sure the rates might be marginally different (interbank/mastercard) but I think the debit seems easier to use.  

[yoda]

49 minutes ago, flyingscot said:

Is there any advantage in Revolut over just using Chase/Starling debit cards? Sure the rates might be marginally different (interbank/mastercard) but I think the debit seems easier to use.  

Revolut has a cool feature of being able to split the bill with other Revolut users. It's useful if you're out as a group but obviously relies on everyone else using Revolut. It's also easier to request money from others as I think you just need a phone number to send a request (or that certainly used to be the case).

I've much preferred using my Starling debit card when travelling alone. Any marginal gains from currency exchange rates are more than balanced out by the convenience of just using my normal debit card.

Edited August 26 by yoda

[welshbairn]

I found Revolut handy for buying and selling tickets during the Euros.

[welshbairn]

59 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

I have a Chase card - no fees abroad and very easy to set up/use/track spending etc. No need to convert currency in the app or whatever either, just load some cash into it and use it as you would at home and it does it all for you.

Is Chase your main bank or do link your main bank to the card so you can load it up?

[Savage Henry]

I used Currensea, which just takes a direct debit out of my regular bank account.  Got a much better exchange rate, and zero charges.  The convenience was the big selling point, and I’d say it’s a great option if you just want to use your regular account.

 

edit: I should say this is was in Denmark and Sweden, which are as close to cash free societies as it’s possible to get.  

Edited August 26 by Savage Henry

[Jamie_B]

1 hour ago, welshbairn said:

Is Chase your main bank or do link your main bank to the card so you can load it up?

I still get my wages paid and my direct debits taken from my long standing high street bank, but I use Chase as my main current account and savings now - their savings rates are better and you get 1% cashback on all purchases if you pay in a certain amount every month.

Basically when I get paid I leave enough in my old account to cover the bills and transfer the rest over to Chase.

[PSJ.84]

Monzo for me when I’m abroad. Never had any issues with it and would recommend it - find the ability to split bills with others a godsend, though I appreciate they’re probably not the only ones to offer that. 

[Arch Stanton]

Revolut allow the equivalent of £200 per month fee free ATM withdrawals, after that they charge 1%.

They also only allow the equivalent of £1000 of foreign currency transactions before they start to impose charges.

Revolut is great for a few days away but for anything longer best to open a Chase or Starling Bank account .

[Cyclizine]

I initially got a Starling account for using abroad, but it rapidly became my primary account. Now have a full four accounts - current account, joint current account, Euro account and my business account. I had a Monzo account before, which had a nicer (as in more colourful) app, but the advantage of Starling is they don't limit overseas transaction amounts.

[O_Kahn]

On 26/08/2024 at 14:11, Ned Nederlander said:

I usually just use my debit card abroad, I know it'll rack up charges but I've kinda just accepted it - currency cards have tweaked my interest though and with a few trips lined up I thought I might give one a try.

Are they worth it?

Zing & Revolut are being recommended by the moneysavingexpert site - anyone using them?

Halifax Clarity Credit card - no fees for purchases and a very good exchange rate in my experience of the last 3 years.

[19QOS19]

On 26/08/2024 at 16:03, yoda said:

Revolut has a cool feature of being able to split the bill with other Revolut users. It's useful if you're out as a group but obviously relies on everyone else using Revolut.

 

20 hours ago, PSJ.84 said:

Monzo for me when I’m abroad. Never had any issues with it and would recommend it - find the ability to split bills with others a godsend, though I appreciate they’re probably not the only ones to offer that. 

I'm possibly being stupid but what does this mean? 

[yoda]

1 minute ago, 19QOS19 said:

 

I'm possibly being stupid but what does this mean? 

On Revolut, after you've paid you can select a "split bill" option and then send this on to selected Revolut contacts. The app pings them a request for their share of the bill and they either accept (sending you the cash) or decline.

 

[The Holiday Song]

3 hours ago, O_Kahn said:

Halifax Clarity Credit card - no fees for purchases and a very good exchange rate in my experience of the last 3 years.

This was going to be my suggestion too. Was the option that was most recommended when looked into ten or so years ago, and my partner still uses it for exact reasons O_Kahn states.