Don’t get overcharged when you are having your time of the year!
We know payments and we are happily sharing the smartest things you should and shouldn’t do when traveling around the world.
Enjoy our handy tips to enhance your vacation, travel and experience with iCard.
Use iCard Visa debit card to avoid hidden fees
Here’s an option for you: Don’t be the mainstream tourist when traveling, unless you want to be charged more fees than a rational mind would accept.
Traditional card issuers can and will take advantage of your relaxed state with unreasonable exchange rates and additional fees for foreign transactions.
How do you make sure you budgeted properly?
iCard’s no-monthly-fees Standard plan and fixed-ATM-fee card are perfect for you at home or anywhere because you know exactly how much you should expect to pay.
And if you spend with your card in a currency we do not support as a separate account in your digital wallet, then you can check our favourable foreign exchange rates, which are updated on a daily basis.
Choose currency conversion at iCard rates
Did you know that it can cost you between 10% and 20% if you are not careful how you pay with your card?
You should be aware of the so-called “dynamic currency conversions”, which could be at highly unfavourable exchange rates of some local payment processors.
For example, 100.00 EUR gift you buy for someone special can cost you close to 120.00 EUR with you realizing it only when it’s too late.
Always opt for a transaction that lets your home money institution (in this case iCard) do the currency conversion.
Careful with high ATM fees
Same insane conversion rates can apply to your ATM transactions.
In addition, cash machines can even charge you a flat fee per withdrawal.
This is usually the case at airports or tourist shop at well-known destinations.
Your best bet is to cancel the transaction and look for another ATM that will not be as hasty getting your money as the one you can see here.
Freeze your cards when not needed
Tourist destinations are usually the preferred spot for scammers because your guard can go down when you look around all the beautiful scenery, buildings and palm trees during your holiday.
iCard gives you the option to block your payment cards.
If you lose your card or it gets copied by a scammer, you will get an “unsuccessful transaction” notification even when it’s frozen (available on Android with plan Standard, coming soon on iPhones). If this happens, you need to contact us as soon as possible.
Take advantage of this method of protecting yourself, but make sure you are connected to the internet so you can unfreeze your payment card on demand.
Pay with your Android phone
Mobile payments are considered the safest payment method.
Even more so when you choose fingerprint to unlock your iCard digital wallet app and your “TAP & PAY” function (mobile payments are available on Android and Apple pay is coming soon).
With smartphone payments on contactless POS terminals, you pre-approve the payment and never need to enter a PIN code.
There’s a pretty good reason you are always advised to cover your hand when inputting your code to get your cash.
Enjoy your travels and get in the queue for the upcoming iCard Visa Infinite card, which unlocks a whole new dimension of travel benefits, for a surprisingly affordable monthly fee.
Going abroad?
Take iCard along!
