Apacs issues advice for overseas card use

UK payments association Apacs has offered advice to customers regarding the use of their credit and debit cards abroad.

The online guide offers a variety of tips for holidaymakers, including the safest way to use your card and the best way to ensure you are getting the best deal when using your card to withdraw cash or make a purchase.

Fraud committed on UK cards overseas is still a very serious problem, despite having fallen for the fourth consecutive year.

Last year it was measured at £82.8 million, compared to £138.4 million high that was noted in 2001.

“More and more each year our cards rank alongside our passports and suncream as holiday essentials. After all, we spent nearly £21 billion abroad last year and this figure is set to increase in 2006,” said Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs.

“It’s important that cardholders follow the simple advice set out in our guide and use their cards safely when they are abroad.”

It is estimated that of the £20.8 billion spent by UK consumers on domestically issued cards while abroad last year – £20.4 billion of this was on purchases and £343 million was withdrawn from cash machines.