Quote from earlier post:

"The question still stands: has anyone received WRITTEN change in T&C on Fidelity MBNA card affecting foreign transactions?"

I have a direct MBNA Visa card (not via Fidelity or other) and about two months ago received written notice that a 3% foreign surcharge would be instituted in late May. Too bad, as this used to be the only card I used outside the U.S.

In view of the new wave of credit card greed. the best solution is to use one or both of these:

1) ATM debit cards if your bank's terms are good -- ask them for precise details. Bad terms are a good reason to switch banks if you do much travel abroad.

2) This sounds like heresy, but the best solution can sometimes be good old-fashioned CASH. Of course all the ripoff "cambio" outlets on the streets everywhere must be avoided. But shop around at the name-brand national banks -- all it takes is to see how wide is the spread between "buying" and "selling" (the more narrow the better) and factor in the transaction fee if there is one. Tip when you're in London: By far the best money-saving exchange is to go to any of several branches of American Express, where the buy/sell spread is smallest on dollars, euros etc with no transaction fee and no minimum! Also, in some number of the developing countries outside the Eurozone with unstable currencies, the local shops, restaurants etc. might allow more for your bucks than the international banking system will.

The only sure rule for getting good value is caveat emptor, and know before you go.