Easter holidaymakers are hopping mad over foreign usage fees

Nationwide Building Society is urging Easter holidaymakers across the country not to make the same mistake as last year by incurring unnecessary charges for using their cards abroad.

Last Easter over 15 million UK holidaymakers travelled to Europe and wasted nearly £16 million in foreign usage charges on credit and debit cards.

This Easter, people heading abroad for a week of sun or for a city break should make the switch to one of Nationwide’s credit or debit cards, that all offer free card use abroad. Last Easter Nationwide saved its customers almost £1 million by not charging them for using their cards abroad.

With 24 hour access to over one million VISA ATMs worldwide, Nationwide’s cardholders have easy access to their money. There are now more than 24 million VISA outlets across the world, including shops, restaurants, hotels and car hire companies. Holidaymakers do not have to exchange money prior to travelling and can avoid the hassle of exchanging travellers’ cheques. Nationwide is the only current account provider not to charge its customers for using their debit cards in ATMs abroad and therefore offers a free and easy way of withdrawing cash.

Jeremy Wood, divisional director at Nationwide, said: “People who are planning to go abroad this Easter should be aware of the hidden charges that most card providers impose which are both costly and unnecessary. Anyone using a Nationwide debit or credit card will not be charged any foreign usage fees on purchases and will therefore have extra money to enjoy while on holiday.”