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I am in Hawaii and went to Costco to fill up before returning my hire car. I couldn’t as none of my cards are visa. The don’t take Amex or MasterCard!
There are other organisations that don’t touch anything but Visa, notably the Olympics.
What is the best U.K. visa credit card. Ideally with no FX fees and free, unless there is some sort of mileage or points earning deals.
It’s never been an issue before as the last time I was here Costco still took Amex.
The best UK Visa based Credit Card, Hilton Barclaycard, sits in my wallet, but of course isn’t available to new applicants. After that it’s probably the Barclaycard Rewards Visa Card, which offers 0.25% on your everyday spending, plus no transaction fees when you’re abroad, Unfortunately, after that I’m struggling. In recent years the UK seems to have become more of a MasterCard market.
There is also Nationwide Member Credit Card, it is a Visa card with no fees when spending in foreign currency both online and abroad. You can just open a savings account to be eligible for it.
funny, there used to be a costco amex credit card…
As far as I’m aware Amex is still accepted at Costco in the UK.
@Harrier25 yes the UK does. @can2 in the US I believe Amex had an exclusive deal with Costco, that ended and I think moved to Chase(?) so they stopped accepting Amex and only take Visa.
If the OP gets the Barclays rewards Visa card, to note he will not be eligible for the Barclays avios card in the future.
Under these circumstances I’d rather pay cash and be done with it.
In the US it should be extremely extremely rare not to accept Amex nor MasterCFor the record I never bank with hsbc but I believe they have a non-reward Visa card.
For the record I never bank with hsbc but I believe they have a non-reward Visa card.
Non-reward credit cards suck!
I’ve always found it useful to have a Visa as well as Mastercard when travelling. Came in particularly handy last year in Kyrgyzstan where many establishments and ATMs did not accept Mastercards.
Barclaycard Rewards is good for both spending and cash withdrawals abroad, the obvious drawback being that it precludes you from the Avios cards. Other fee-free Visa options include Nationwide Members, Zopa, Tymit.
I know OP asked specifically about credit cards, but off the top of my head the following Visa Debits are also fee-free abroad: TSB Spend & Save Plus, Nationwide FlexPlus/FlexOne/FlexStudent/FlexGraduate, Cumberland Plus, Kroo (some restriction on free cash withdrawals coming later in the year).
I’m sure there are others.
The HSBC Global Money card is a Visa – saves needing to apply for a credit card. Easy to use
Under these circumstances I’d rather pay cash and be done with it.
In the US it should be extremely extremely rare not to accept Amex nor MasterCUnfortunately Costco gas stations dont take cash. One time in CA the pump wouldn’t accept any of my visa debit or credit cards. Attendant suggested I go into the store and pay cash for a costco gift card but even though I was on running on fumes at that point I decided to find somewhere else.
Vote for Bcard rewards from me, it’s been trouble free wherever I’ve used it in the world. Yes I’m a bit gutted I can’t get the bonus Avios on the new cards but the benefit has outweighed that and until a better free visa credit card with no forex comes along I’m sticking with it.
I’ve always found it useful to have a Visa as well as Mastercard when travelling. Came in particularly handy last year in Kyrgyzstan where many establishments and ATMs did not accept Mastercards.
Agreed. I found restaurants in Cyprus that were Visa only.
funny, there used to be a costco amex credit card…
Yes and it was big news at the time. Amex lost 8% of their revenue.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-american-express-costco-wholesale-idUKKBN0LG1LO20150212
UK Costco stores and other regions still take Amex, it was the US that was affected.
Rewards wise your personal UK Visa credit options are:
Asda (1% at Asda, 0.3% elsewhere)
Co-operative Bank Members card (1p for every £2 in Co-op foodstores, 1p for every £3.33 elsewhere)
Barclaycard Rewards (0.25% cashback + 0 FX)…uh, that’s it.
The latter is the only viable option for use outside the UK.
I presume US Costco filling stations take debit cards of any variety, right? (This was the case when you could only use Amex credit cards in the UK.) In that case Chase is doubtless your friend here.
Do Revolut still issue Visa cards?
Yes.
As far as I’m aware Amex is still accepted at Costco in the UK.
That’s the irony. They do but it’s visa or cash in store and strictly visa at the pumps here. Cost me a fortune, as Costco was $4:20 a gallon and I had to $5:09. When filling a US gas gussler that’s a significant hit.
There’s no irony. Two different countries for a while now.
That’s the irony.
Nothing ironic. It was a deliberate choice by Costco to negotiate better terms with Amex, but Amex walked away. Simple commercial decision. Nothing surprising.
From one of the reports at the time:
“Beginning on Monday all new spending will be accrued toward Visa and Citigroup, mainly because the two financial companies were willing to give much more revenue back to customers in cash, Tausche reported.
Visa and Citigroup will give 4% cash back in gas purchases versus AMEX’s 3%. The companies will give 3% cash back in travel and dining purchases compared to AMEX’s 2%. Visa and Citigroup will also give 2% cash back in all Costco purchases, higher than AMEX’s 1% and on all other purchases, Visa and Citigroup will give 1% back whereas AMEX gave nothing back, according to CNBC.”
I miss the Costco credit card 🙁
Dont forget MBNA Horizon for those lucky enough to have had BMI cards before 2018
No overseas fees and 0.5% cash back plus offers (smart rewards similar to Lloyd’s offers)
Kroo issues a Visa Debit card.
It has no foreign currency fees.
It pays 3.33% interest on current account balances, and if you go via Volderportal, you will get £15 for a successful application.
Very interesting. Thanks for the tip @Alex G.
Ca£hback also available via TopCa£hback.
Volderportal is TCB 🙂
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