Registering CC Details

[haveabeer]

D

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Are Santander correct that if you use CC to pay OBC you pay charges on each transaction
They said that if the ship is registered outside the UK then charges will apply?

We have two Santander CC one of which is a Zero card it does not cost anything to use abroad so will use that

[Dancing Queen]

I can't be sure ( without checking ) but I always thought on my cc statement the charge was applied and was shown as P&O Cruises Southampton, I wouldn't imagine the banks would even be aware of how many transactions had been made, I would have thought it would just be put through as xxx as one amount.

[haveabeer]

That was my thoughts as well cant say have ever seen a charge on my crad but then again i pay it up
as soon as i get the bill

[Suekersh]

We have never had a credit card charge and always settle the on board account by credit card.

Sue

[david63]

What they may be trying to say, very badly, is that if the account is in a different currency than that of the CC then there will be a charge for the transaction - hence the advice that when using a CC abroad ask for the transaction to be in the same as that of the card.

[Kendhni]

What they may be trying to say, very badly, is that if the account is in a different currency than that of the CC then there will be a charge for the transaction - hence the advice that when using a CC abroad ask for the transaction to be in the same [currency] as that of the card.

I am not sure that is the best advice since that gives the seller the freedom to use whatever exchange rate they feel like to convert it into sterling. Sometimes letting your card supplier do it will give a better rate.

I got caught out by this by Thomas Cook when I booked some of their excursions. The advertised price was £175 x 2 = £350 but they first had to convert it to dollars and then to sterling .. and opted to use very unfavourable rates which meant that when it appeared on my credit card it was about 8% more expensive (almost £380). Ever since that, I refuse to book Thomas Cook tours and inform people at their orientation sessions of this practice.

Also I believe several cards (e.g. Halifax Clarity) will not put any loading on the exchange rate or add any charges for atm or spending in other countries. There is some very useful advice and a credit card checker here

[towny44]

Does this comment apply to the specific action of purchasing OBC with your card before your cruise, and the charge will therefore be made because it is essentially a money transaction, like buying foreign currency, rather than for purchasing goods.

[Andrea S]

On any cruise we have done with P&O the charge had been in sterling. We have booked excursions as well as the general charges for on board and on the final bill their has only been one final payment shown. This is what was shown on CC statement.
On a B to B we were charged twice. Each cruise incurring its own bill.
We were led to believe that, P&O do 'scans' to ensure there are sufficient funds in a persons account but I don't know how often they do this and it certainly shouldn't show up on any statement.
Obviously if you purchase something when ashore this will have to be converted to sterling and does incur a charge.

[Kendhni]

Does this comment apply to the specific action of purchasing OBC with your card before your cruise, and the charge will therefore be made because it is essentially a money transaction, like buying foreign currency, rather than for purchasing goods.

If you are entitled to peninsular discount then DO NOT buy OBC ... you do not get advantage of the discount

[Keechy]

I had a Santander Zero card and what a palaver that was. Make sure you tell them you are going abroad and which countries you are visiting in the correct chronological order. Then ask then to read it back. I had two letters in two nights from the purser saying my card had been declined and he was good enough to allow me to use the satellite phone to contact Santander. On the second occasion, the girl I spoke to told me they can't handle more than three countries at a time and the order of ports was incorrect. I would check this out as it may have changed.

I stopped using the card and in March, someone tested it out and put £20.00 onto two mobile phones! I must say that Santander were very much on the ball and it was sorted immediately but I cancelled the zero card as a precaution.

In the past I contacted P&O regarding on-board transactions and they told me they are treated as if made in the UK.

[haveabeer]

We have never told CC company before but last cruise our card was turned down after they re applied and it went through so I thought I do it properly but not that easy as you said ports of call in order and also was country was the ship registered in

[Kendhni]

I used to always inform my cc company when i was abroad but onthe last couple of times they have told me i do not have to ... But i still do

[Susan Watt]

I have an M & S credit card which we have used for cruising since 2007. We have never notified them and (touch wood) never had any problems.

[Manoverboard]

If you intend to use ATMs then always advise your Bank else you risk your card being retained by the ATM and / or getting a failed transaction regardless of available funds.

Barclaycard do NOT require to be advised but others do and especially those who issue cards without owning a Bank of their own ... ie somebody else processes their transactions.

[JenniC]

I always advise after having Amex declined and that embarrassing letter under the door it was due to our travel company at work booking a colleagues flights to Amsterdam on my card incorrectly on my card at the same time as we were on the GE.. Phone them and sorted it, but now always advise where we are going.