COMPARE OVERSEAS SPENDING CREDIT CARDS

This card offers a 0% introductory period on purchases of 12 months, as well as 0% on balance transfers for 20 months. However, you must have a Nationwide FlexAccount and use this as your main current account to qualify for the offer. After the introductory periods finish, the card has a low APR of just 12.9%, but you should still try to clear your balance every month to avoid paying interest. Borrowers who wish to transfer a balance across to this card will be charged a 3.1% handling fee, with a minimum charge of £5. The card offers unlimited cashback of 0.5% on all sterling purchases, as well as unlimited commission-free purchases abroad, making it a good option for regular travellers. To be eligible to apply you must hold a FlexAccount with a Visa debit card (not cash card+) and have been paying in £750 (excluding internal transfers) a month for the last three months, or complete an account transfer to Nationwide (from a non-Nationwide account) using their account transfer service, or have done so in the last four months. For cashback, you must continue paying £750 or more into your FlexAccount each month (excluding internal transfers). You must also be aged 18 or over and have a gross income each year of more than £5,000. You must also not have missed three or more payments on any credit commitments in the last 12 months, or been rejected for a Nationwide credit card.

This card offers a six month interest-free period on purchases, which is not as long as some other purchase credit cards. However, it also has additional perks which make it particularly suitable for some people. One is that you can find out the annual percentage rate (APR) you’re likely to pay before applying. The card has a representative APR of 15.9% variable but Nationwide offers a wide range of rates, depending on your circumstances. Some customers may be offered an APR as low as 9.9% variable. You can find out what APR you’re likely to be given without leaving a footprint on your credit file. On top of that, it is one of the best cards for use overseas. As you spend with the card in the UK, you earn a certain amount of fee-free spending abroad enabling you to use it when travelling without extra charges. You earn this fee-free overseas allowance at a ratio of five to one, meaning if you spend £2,500 in the UK, you can spend £500 abroad without paying commission or overseas usage fees. However, even if you don’t use the card that much in the UK, it still has one of the lowest commission charges at just 2%. If you have existing credit card debt, you could be better opting for the balance transfer version of the Nationwide card. It offers an interest free period on balance transfers of 20 months. There’s a fee of 3.1%, with a minimum charge of £5 but you also get three months at 0% on new purchases.

This card charges no interest on balance transfers for the first 14 months, and no interest on purchases for the first three months. After that, the card has an APR of 16.9%. A 2.98% balance transfer fee applies when you move debts across from another card, and any transfers must be made within three months of taking out the card. One of the biggest perks of this card is that you don't have to pay any commission on purchases made abroad. There is also no cash advance fee when you buy travel money through the Post Office. When using your card abroad the exchange rate applied is set by MasterCard. The card comes with free purchase protection against accidental loss, damage or theft of almost everything paid for with your card for up to 90 days after you've made a purchase. You can purchase optional card protection if you want to at a cost of £25 – this means that if you or your family's cards are lost or stolen you can make one phone call to cancel and replace them. You must be over 18 and earn £15,000 or over to qualify for this card. You will not qualify for the card if you already hold a Post Office credit card or if you have been declined for the card in the last 6 months.

This card is a great choice for those who travel abroad regularly. It comes with a £5 monthly fee, but unlike most credit cards, when you use it abroad, there are no foreign transactions fees and no ATM withdrawal fees. When using your card abroad the exchange rate applied is set by MasterCard. This card is also different from most of its rivals because you will not be charged interest on cash withdrawals as long as you repay your statement balance in full. But one of the biggest perks of the card is that it comes with comprehensive travel insurance - a worldwide annual policy covering a family of up to six children. It includes winter sports which is easily worth the £60 that the year's monthly fees add up to. Despite the fact it’s a gold card, there's no minimum income requirement and the interest rate is 9.94%, almost half the average market rate. However, you will need a good credit score to qualify. The card also offers double Nectar points to Sainsbury’s shoppers. If you don’t travel abroad often and won’t make use of the perks on offer, then this card may not be right for you and you may be better off choosing a card with a long interest-free introductory rate on either purchases or balance transfers, or both.

This card offers 15 months interest-free introductory period on purchases, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a cheap deal on new borrowing. After 15 months, the card charges a typical representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 15.9% variable, so you should make sure you clear your debt within the interest-free period to avoid paying interest. As well as offering a lengthy interest-free period on purchases, you also collect points whenever you spend using the card. You earn one point for every £1 spent at M&S, and one point for every £2 spent elsewhere. Once you have 100 M&S points, you’ll get a £1 reward voucher to spend in store. Points are converted into vouchers four times a year and are valid for 15 months. The card also entitles you to buy M&S Travel Money with no cash advance or foreign exchange fees and you can access your account 24 hours a day online or by phone. To apply for an M&S Credit Card you must be a UK resident aged 18 or over and you cannot apply for a card if you have held a credit card with M&S Money within the past 12 months.