 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Sorry but I suffer from utter financial retardation. I have very little experience with this sort of thing, I just get paid and spend it.
BUT, I have a problem. I received a letter in February saying that my credit card was being cancelled due to lack of use (about two years) which is a problem as I was planning to use it to cover fuel, tolls and any emergencies that might arise while driving around Europe.
A quick trip to the bank informs me that the cancellation process takes six months (how can it possibly take six months to do anything these days?) and that I can not renew or replace my credit card during that period.
So what options do I have? Open an account at another bank? Try one of these supermarket credit cards? How long does all this take? I leave on the 10th of June.
It won't be used for any big purchases and will probably be destroyed when I get home.
I've never done a road-trip like this and I'm starting to flap a little bit with all the details!
You're pretty unlikely to get anything before then I'd say - best bet is probably to go to a bank and get one of theirs, set up a current account if necessary. Nationwide are interest free for 18 months, Barclaycard for 25 months IIRC.
Any CC provider will consider an application - you don't have to bank with the provider.
Go on Moneysupermarket.com or the like and try and find one with interest free on purchases for the first however many months and look to clear it within that time and bin it - they sometimes offer such things to entice new card holders.
If not look for the one with the cheapest interest rates.
Decision is usually online and you could squeeze it through by 10 June. Find one you like and perhaps speak to the company, explain the situation and see if they can get one out to you in time.
Cheers
Danny B
Talk to MBNA they will probably get one to you pretty quickly.
Halifax and Nationwide do cards that you dont pay a charge for using abroad but doubt you'd get them in time before you go.
The Post Office also has a credit card that does not charge for transactions whilst abroad.
CC customer website is useless though.
Phone the bank and tell them not to be so stupid or you will move your account. Either way it sounds like you will clear debts each month so look cor a card with low overseas charges and/or cashback on purchases. Intrest rates wont matter.