BANKING_Holidaymakers must watch out for higher charges on overseas

Holidaymakers are being urged to watch out for "foreign card usage" fees when they use their plastic overseas this summer.

The warning has come from Nationwide Building Society, which estimates that travellers lost more than [pound]326m in these "unnecessary" loading fees on their credit cards while abroad last year. Most lenders charge a loading fee of 2.75 per cent when spending abroad, and most levy a flat fee each time a debit card is used, as well. Nationwide, which offers its customers free card use abroad, is warning consumers to be alert to charge increases. Lloyds TSB, for example, has recently announced that it is to increase the charge on its debit card from 2.75 per cent to 2.99 per cent.

NatWest has increased the charge on its debit card from 2.65 per cent to 2.75 per cent for each overseas transaction, and has increased its flat purchase fee from 75p to [pound]1.25.

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