Best card for foreign exchange?
#1921
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
I know many people who have canceled AMEX due to horrendous customer service issues. The annual fees are just the tip of the iceberg. http://amexsux.com
I've used CapOne for 11 years traveling internationally and never had an issue or a declined transaction.
Looking forward to conducting a head-to-head between CapOne and Chase BA in Mexico next week.
#1922
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Best for what, reaming its customers?
I know many people who have canceled AMEX due to horrendous customer service issues. The annual fees are just the tip of the iceberg. http://amexsux.com
I know many people who have canceled AMEX due to horrendous customer service issues. The annual fees are just the tip of the iceberg. http://amexsux.com
#1923
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott // WN, AA, BA, UA, AS // Avis
Posts: 1,314
What a great thread. Took me a while to get through many of the key posts, but so worth it!
Thanks to FT, I plan to have 2-3 international trips per year now, and realized I needed a 0% Forex card, and one with no annual fee since the only time it will get use is when I'm out of country... No need to go anywhere else, FT has all the answers!
Applied for a Capital One Visa Cash Rewards card, instant online approval with a $3k line, a bit smaller than I had hoped for, but should be sufficient to cover each trip in their entirety.
Thanks to FT, I plan to have 2-3 international trips per year now, and realized I needed a 0% Forex card, and one with no annual fee since the only time it will get use is when I'm out of country... No need to go anywhere else, FT has all the answers!
Applied for a Capital One Visa Cash Rewards card, instant online approval with a $3k line, a bit smaller than I had hoped for, but should be sufficient to cover each trip in their entirety.
#1924
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: West Africa
Programs: Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 204
Also just approved for a Cap One VentureOne (1.25% cash back, no annual fee) for my international purchases. Approved instantly for $5k. This will probably become my primary card (since I live overseas for work) -- still waiting to see what the PenFed Amex deal will look like after the current promo ends.
#1925
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
For folks who have a premier banking relationship with Bank of America, there are no ATM or foreign exchange fees for withdrawing cash or using their debit card. HSBC promises the same for their Premier customer, but here are the results of a test I did in China earlier this month:
I did two sets of simultaneous transactions at the same time, one with HSBC and another with Bank of America, to see if there were “hidden” charges. Here are the results:
First transaction: Credit card purchase of 800 yuan: HSBC statement shows $120.44, Bank of America $120.38. Very close.
Second transaction: ATM withdrawal at HSBC-owned ATM machine of 2500 yuan: HSBC account shows a debit of $378.90, Bank of America $376.15. This surprised me. Maybe HSBC is using a different conversion rate?
I did two sets of simultaneous transactions at the same time, one with HSBC and another with Bank of America, to see if there were “hidden” charges. Here are the results:
First transaction: Credit card purchase of 800 yuan: HSBC statement shows $120.44, Bank of America $120.38. Very close.
Second transaction: ATM withdrawal at HSBC-owned ATM machine of 2500 yuan: HSBC account shows a debit of $378.90, Bank of America $376.15. This surprised me. Maybe HSBC is using a different conversion rate?
#1926
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
In your experience, do you see any advantage of the Stanford credit card over of the former Schwab credit card? Or any advantage of the Stanford debit card over the two Schwab debit cards (black for savings, white for checking)? Or would Stanford just serve as a backup in case FIA starts acting up?
If this policy is still in effect, it's a major pain, enough for me to continue to avoid them. I don't know if this applies to credit or pure debit cards as well.
#1927
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 110
HSBC was using a different rate depends on when the transaction posted.
#1928
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
#1929
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Brazil and Australia
Programs: AA EP; Formerly an Over-Entitled UA 1K MM until I wised-up and left UA for AA.
Posts: 208
I live near Stanford and got the Stanford FCU ATM card because of its low costs a few years ago. Then they sent a notice that to use the card on international trips, it would be necessary to call them before EACH trip and tell them about my intentions. I asked for blanket permission and they denied it, so I closed the account.
If this policy is still in effect, it's a major pain, enough for me to continue to avoid them. I don't know if this applies to credit or pure debit cards as well.
If this policy is still in effect, it's a major pain, enough for me to continue to avoid them. I don't know if this applies to credit or pure debit cards as well.
#1930
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LAX-TPE-LAX
Programs: No more status...just doing my best in burning my points/miles.
Posts: 2,003
For folks who have a premier banking relationship with Bank of America, there are no ATM or foreign exchange fees for withdrawing cash or using their debit card. HSBC promises the same for their Premier customer, but here are the results of a test I did in China earlier this month:
#1931
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 252
For folks who have a premier banking relationship with Bank of America, there are no ATM or foreign exchange fees for withdrawing cash or using their debit card. HSBC promises the same for their Premier customer, but here are the results of a test I did in China earlier this month:
I did two sets of simultaneous transactions at the same time, one with HSBC and another with Bank of America, to see if there were “hidden” charges. Here are the results:
First transaction: Credit card purchase of 800 yuan: HSBC statement shows $120.44, Bank of America $120.38. Very close.
Second transaction: ATM withdrawal at HSBC-owned ATM machine of 2500 yuan: HSBC account shows a debit of $378.90, Bank of America $376.15. This surprised me. Maybe HSBC is using a different conversion rate?
I did two sets of simultaneous transactions at the same time, one with HSBC and another with Bank of America, to see if there were “hidden” charges. Here are the results:
First transaction: Credit card purchase of 800 yuan: HSBC statement shows $120.44, Bank of America $120.38. Very close.
Second transaction: ATM withdrawal at HSBC-owned ATM machine of 2500 yuan: HSBC account shows a debit of $378.90, Bank of America $376.15. This surprised me. Maybe HSBC is using a different conversion rate?
#1932
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 7
iPhone App
I developed an iPhone app called Wallet Dilemma that helps you compare your credit cards for foreign transactions.
It pulls the exchange rates directly from Visa, MasterCard and American Express and has a database with 100+ cards from 40+banks in the US!
No more hidden fees, no more guessing, know exactly how much will be debited from your account!
You can check out Wallet Dilemma in the App Store : http://bit.ly/WDilemma
It pulls the exchange rates directly from Visa, MasterCard and American Express and has a database with 100+ cards from 40+banks in the US!
No more hidden fees, no more guessing, know exactly how much will be debited from your account!
You can check out Wallet Dilemma in the App Store : http://bit.ly/WDilemma
#1933
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
HSBC's foreign exchange rates are not as good as other banks. That's the reason you see the difference. Question for your ATM withdrawal. Did you withdraw 2500 Yuan from the same HSBC ATM using HSBC ATM card first and then BofA ATM card next? Have you tried to withdraw cash from the China Construction Bank ATM using your BofA ATM card?
#1934
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
#1935
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Scarsdale, NY USA; LT PLT AA; AA 3 mm (4 mm will never happen); Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver, AA is clueless why I fly
Posts: 754
While (on the surface) this appears to be a very useful app, is it appropriate to be hawking a product here that you are selling?
[QUOTE=nilsou]I developed an iPhone app called Wallet Dilemma that helps you compare your credit cards for foreign transactions. [QUOTE]
[QUOTE=nilsou]I developed an iPhone app called Wallet Dilemma that helps you compare your credit cards for foreign transactions. [QUOTE]