How much are Barclaycard foreign transaction fees?

To calculate a foreign transaction fee, simply multiply the percentage your credit card charges for the fee by the total of your international purchase. Foreign transaction fees are typically around 3% of each transaction, and that amount is added to your purchase. While 3% may not seem like a huge price to pay, these fees can add up over many transactions, whether you’re shopping on foreign soil or through a website based outside of the U.S.... read full answer

When you’re charged a foreign transaction fee, you’re essentially paying a combination of surcharges assessed by both the credit card network and the issuer. The credit card issuer, however, ultimately decides whether to levy the fee. If a credit card does not charge a foreign transaction fee, it’s because the issuer is absorbing the credit card network’s percentage of the fee rather than passing the cost on to their customers.

If a credit card charges a foreign transaction fee, it will be listed under the fees section in the card’s terms and conditions.

The Barclays credit card exchange rate is the exchange rate quoted by Visa or Mastercard plus a foreign transaction fee between 0% and 3%. The network’s exchange rate will vary based on the date of the purchase, and the card network that’s used will depend on which Barclays credit card you have. The foreign transaction fee will also vary by card.... read full answer

Visa and Mastercard publish their exchange rates daily, while Discover and American Express don’t publish them at all. Some reports say that Mastercard tends to offer marginally better exchange rates than the others, but with so much volatility in the rates, this isn’t always the case. All in all, the differences in these exchange rates are negligible, and shouldn’t determine which Barclays card you carry.

Ideally, though, you should always use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee when purchasing from international merchants. As long as you get a card with no foreign transaction fee and avoid dynamic currency conversion, the exchange rates you’ll pay on international spending with a credit card will be much lower than those you’d get converting cash with banks, credit unions, or airport currency exchange services.

The best way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a debit or credit card that waives such fees while traveling abroad. About 25% of the available credit card offers on the market don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Plus, those cards are available to people of all credit levels, so there’s really no reason to pay the extra charge when you travel abroad.... read full answer

1. Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fee.

Foreign transaction fees are charged by credit card companies and the surcharge could add as much as 4% to purchases made outside the U.S. These fees also apply to online purchases processed through international merchants. If a card charges a foreign transaction fee, it will be listed in the card’s terms and conditions.

The 10 largest credit card companies all offer at least some cards without foreign transaction fees. Plus, some issuers don’t charge these fees on any of their credit cards. Using credit cards with no foreign fees rather than cash is also a convenient, inexpensive way to avoid having to convert physical currency while traveling abroad.

2. Understand that foreign fees can be an issue even when you’re not traveling.

You don’t have to be in another country to get hit with a foreign transaction fee. If you do business online or by phone through a merchant based outside of the U.S., make sure you pay for your purchase with a no foreign fee credit card to sidestep the surcharge. If you use a card with a foreign fee, you’ll be charged this fee on top of your transaction, the same as you would if you had made the purchase at a physical location abroad.

3. Have a no foreign fee debit card handy.

You may not be able to use credit cards for all your purchases abroad, so having a debit card will allow you to get cash in the local currency when you need it. Many debit cards also charge foreign transaction fees, though. So, make sure to bring a Visa or Mastercard debit card with no foreign fee when you head out of the country.

4. Avoid converting currency at airport kiosks.

Converting your cash at an airport kiosk outside of the U.S. may be convenient, but that convenience will cost you. Currency conversions at airport-based exchange stations come with extraordinarily high fees and less-than-favorable exchange rates.

Instead, use a no foreign transaction fee credit card for most of your purchases, and a no foreign fee debit card to withdraw physical currency. These options are very convenient, and each allows you to take advantage of low Visa and Mastercard currency conversion rates automatically.

5. Do not accept offers for dynamic currency conversion.

Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) is a practice in which foreign merchants may offer to charge your purchase in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. You should never accept these offers because if the merchant converts your payment for you, they may set their own high exchange rate to increase their profits.

With that, you know the basics of how to avoid unnecessary costs when spending money internationally. If you already have a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees, there’s not much you can do to avoid them, except for not using the card abroad. Consider applying for a travel credit card with good ongoing rewards and no foreign transaction fees, instead. There are plenty of options to choose from.