Make that call to avoid holiday nightmare

People heading overseas are organised enough to ensure they have a passport but many of them are running the risk of not being able to pay for anything while they are there.

One in nine people either had credit card transactions denied or weren't allowed to take cash out while they were overseas this year.

Peter Harrison, of price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, said: "Telling your bank you are heading abroad should be on everyone's checklist before they go.

"It takes very little time to do and can save you big problems and unnecessary stress while overseas.

"It is staggering to think only 31 per cent of people who went abroad this year told their credit or debit card provider they were doing so."

The survey commissioned by moneysupermarket.com also found only 28 per cent of people used a credit or debit card that doesn't charge fees for overseas transactions.

Peter Harrison added: "It is surprising to see the bulk of the UK population still doing nothing about having to pay fees for simply using a card while abroad.

"Seventy-seven per cent of those who used one of these cards say they aren't happy paying fees. It remains to be seen though if their annoyance will turn to action."

A Nationwide debit card doesn't charge an overseas fee, while credit cards from the Post Office, Thomas Cook and Nationwide also don't charge a fee for purchases abroad.

Peter Harrison added: "If you have a high-interest current account, such as from Abbey or Alliance & Leicester, there's no harm in opening a Nationwide current account specifically for your trips away.

"It's the same with credit cards where, for example, you might have a zero per cent card from Halifax for your UK purchases and a Post Office card for overseas."