Use a credit card abroad - you have to pay attention to that

If you would like to use your credit card abroad, you should inform yourself beforehand about the fees and acceptance of the card. We will show you what you have to be aware of.

Use credit card abroad: payment costs

• If you pay with your credit card in other EU countries, you do not have to worry about the costs. As in Germany, there are no fees for this.
• However, the situation is different in the rest of the world: depending on the country, you pay a fee of 1 to 2 percent of the sales paid.

Use credit card abroad: withdrawal costs

• If you want to withdraw money in other EU countries, this is usually not free. Often 2 to 4 percent of the amount is booked as costs, but at least 5 to 7.50 euros.
• Outside the EU, costs increase again depending on the country. Few banks completely waive a fee for withdrawals abroad.

Tips and important information on using credit cards abroad

• If the credit card is used relatively often abroad, this can lead to a block for security reasons. Despite presenting your identity card, it may happen that your card will no longer be accepted in the shop.
• You should therefore not rely solely on your credit card. Cash as well as the use of the EC card abroad are also helpful and generally also much cheaper.
• Before leaving, also check the credit card's credit limit. If you are traveling to more unusual countries, you should first check whether your credit card is accepted at all.
• Tip: If your credit card is stolen, you should act as soon as possible. If you make a note of the number of the emergency call, just in case, you do not have to worry about the misuse of your card.

In the next practical tip, we will show you what to look out for when paying online with a credit card.