Guide To Using Your Credit Card Abroad

A UK credit card payment association has launched a free guide to using your plastic safely while on holiday. Consumers in the UK spends more than £20 billion on plastic overseas figures reveal, and the organisation warned that such spending is bound to attract crooks.

"More and more each year our cards rank alongside passports and sun cream as holiday essentials," said the director of communications.

Chip and pin has reduced some of the risks of theft, but card holders who don't follow simple security tips such as checking statements and keeping cards concealed are leaving themselves vulnerable, she cautioned.

Using your debit or credit card is a convenient and safe way to pay when you’re overseas. However, everyone should be aware that there may be fees or costs connected with using your card in a foreign cash machine or shop. Additionally, card criminals often look to catch us with our defences down when we are on holiday, so we need to take some simple, sensible precautions to help minimise the chances of becoming a victim of fraud.

Top tips to prevent credit card crime:

•    Make sure your card company has up-to-date contact details for you - including a mobile telephone number.
•    Make sure you have the 24-hour contact telephone numbers for each of your cards.
•    Make sure the credit limit on your card is sufficient for the spending you intend to make.
•    Safeguard your PIN at all times. Don’t give it to anyone - even if they claim to be from the police or your bank.
•    Shield your PIN with your free hand when typing it.
•    Consider taking more than one card with you as well as some local currency in case you need another payment method to fall back on.

Comprehensive travel insurance remains the most simple and effective method of maintaining security abroad, however. You can get great deals by looking online. It is important, however, to check the small print and ensure the policy covers all the activities you are planning while away.

If you would like to know more about credit cards why not ask AnswerBank Business and Finance.