Westpac Credit Cards - how good are they to use abroad

[wilma]

Does anyone know if Westpac Altitude Credit Card charge transaction fees when used outside of Australia? I am not talking of using the credit card to withdraw money from ATM. I am only referring to using the credit card to purchase items. Thanks.

 

[albatross710]

Does anyone know if Westpac Altitude Credit Card charge transaction fees when used outside of Australia? I am not talking of using the credit card to withdraw money from ATM. I am only referring to using the credit card to purchase items. Thanks.

I have traveled to Europe with the Altitude card and find it convenient to use.

I generally take two cards though.

Westpac Altitude Visa: Which I use for purchases and hotels.

Some overseas ATMs have been known to treat an attempted withdrawal of cash from the linked savings account as a Cash Advance from the credit card account. That is why I also carry:

Westpac Handycard: Which will give me access when I want to withdraw cash for a couple of days to reduce the exposure to the the $5 fixed dollar amount per transaction. ie I don't use it for eftpos type transactions for milk, grocieries. Also, note that Westpac have partner banks which do not charge the $5 fee, see this link to see if you can avoid the fee in your chosen countries. Westpac Internet -Accessing your accounts overseas


For the exact transaction rates, check with Westpac for your version of the Altitude card.

Other tips:
I have a separate set of cards which I carry when travelling overseas. I don't use them in Australia so it is easy to detect unauthorised transactions. I change the PINs when I arrive home. If you have some time before you travel, consider obtaining an alternate card through one of the various intro offers that float around for a 12 month fee-free card.

When travelling with my partner who normally has supplementary cards I make sure that we are each carrying separate bank cards. If one of us loses our valuables, it doesn't also cancel the other persons linked cards.

 

[wilma]

Thank you very much. I will use my Westpac credit card then rather than my Barcaly creditcard. The last time I was abroad I used my Barclaycard rather than my Westpac. It was a big mistake because for every transaction, Barclaycard charges 2.5% transaction fee.

 

[oz_mark]

Westpac charges 2% on foreign currency purchases (except for Altitude Amex and Altitude gold Amex which is 1.5%), and in addition pass on the scheme charges as follows

Visa Worldwide Service Assessment Fee - 1.0%
MasterCard Issuer Cross Border Assessment - 0.8%
MasterCard Currency Conversion Assessment - 0.2%
American Express Foreign Exchange Conversion Fee - 1.5%.

 

[wilma]

Hi Oz_mark. Thanks for the info. Do you mean to say that when I use my Westpac Amex abroad for purchasing goods I will be paying 2% plus additional 1.5%? Cheers.

 

[albatross710]

Hi Oz_mark. Thanks for the info. Do you mean to say that when I use my Westpac Amex abroad for purchasing goods I will be paying 2% plus additional 1.5%? Cheers.

My understanding is that both charges come through.

The calculation also needs to consider the actual exchange rate being used for the transaction. Consider that so call "fee free" exchanges have a much worse exchange rate.