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Moving to the UK – Credit Card Advice
Moving to the UK for work, and trying to figure out a good credit card strategy for everyday spend. I currently use the Chase Sapphire preferred as my main card, but I feel like I would be losing money in exchange rate fees if I’m paying it from a UK bank account, so I’m trying to decide on a UK based card to supplement it.
It seems like most of my options don’t have as many bonus categories, and are mainly earning avios. I’m looking at either the Preferred Rewards Gold Amex or the SPG cards just because those points would be more flexible. Anyone have any advice or experience with the options in the UK?
Thanks,
Phil
Phil W – will you be able to keep an address and bank account in the US? Have your CC account tied to that bank account?
[QUOTE=”MidSouth Skier, post: 7815, member: 184″]Phil W – will you be able to keep an address and bank account in the US? Have your CC account tied to that bank account?[/QUOTE]
Yea, I’m still keeping my bank account open in the US, and it’ll be tied to an address here as well.
So can’t you continue to pay your CC bill from your US account? The CSP doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
You’re right that the SPG card has a lot more airline partners but no bonus categories (except SPG hotels).
The Gold card does have bonus categories that are mostly different from the CSP and different transfer partners as well.
[QUOTE=”MidSouth Skier, post: 7817, member: 184″]So can’t you continue to pay your CC bill from your US account? The CSP doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
You’re right that the SPG card has a lot more airline partners but no bonus categories (except SPG hotels).
The Gold card does have bonus categories that are mostly different from the CSP and different transfer partners as well.[/QUOTE]
I can continue to use it yea, I’m just a little concerned that I’ll be losing money in the currency exchange process of paying a US credit card (in dollars) from a UK bank account (in GBP). That’s why I’m looking into cards that are denominated in GBP, though a little disappointed with the options.
[USER=854]@Phil W[/USER]
Card in Europe is in general much worse than the US.
Have you looked into banks that might do low cost currency exchange and wire transfers? If not in the UK I think there are some in Luxembourg or Andorra that specialized in transfers like this? Or at least claim to.
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