Can my son use MY credit card while he's studying abroad?
Nov 25th, 2006, 05:15 PM
#21
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Ended up getting a joint checking acct. with my son at TD Banknorth. Their current promotion here in Pennsylvania is Free ATM usage worldwide. They do not assess a fee for use of any U.S. bank's ATM, and they will reimburse the fee assessed by the other bank. For overseas transactions, TD Banknorth does not charge a fee, but will not reimburse the overseas bank's fee. I'm still deciding on which credit card is best. And of course I lectured my son on the evils of profligate spending while he's off having fun and mom's home paying the bills (especially with the exchange rate so terrible right now!)Thank you all for your great advice. --Leslie
Nov 25th, 2006, 07:02 PM
#22
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My daughter is currently studying abroad. She has 2 credit cards in her own name that we got just for this year. One has a $1000 limit and she carries that one with her. The other has a $500 limit and she keeps that hidden in her locked apartment. She also has an ATM card, which I add $$$ to for her. We have the credit card bills come here and I pay them. We photocopied BOTH sides of all of her cards and her passport and I am joint on her bank account so I can handle problems that arise. We did not think to call her credit cards ahead, but I would recommend that you alert them to his plans and also ask them to note on his account records that YOU are also authorized to answer for him. My daughter's card was calling due to charges in so many countries wondering if it was credit card fraud and it was kind of a mess to clear up...we have since added that note to her accounts!
She also took some Euros with her for the first few days...just in case her ATM card wouldn't work for some reason. She is finding only very major resturant, hotles and shops accept credit cards, so her ATM is working out best. She got a cell phone through piccellwireless; her program recommended that. Good luck! It has been lonesome but exciting for us! We are going over to spend Xmas with her.
She also took some Euros with her for the first few days...just in case her ATM card wouldn't work for some reason. She is finding only very major resturant, hotles and shops accept credit cards, so her ATM is working out best. She got a cell phone through piccellwireless; her program recommended that. Good luck! It has been lonesome but exciting for us! We are going over to spend Xmas with her.
Nov 25th, 2006, 09:19 PM
#24
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As someone who flys overseas everyweek for work and has two kids who have done a year of study abroad each-I thought that I would chime in. EVERYONE who goes overseas needs two different ATM cards and two different credit cards. When my kids were studying overseas the past couple years,they each had their own low limit credit card along with a extra credit card (with their name on it) from our family account. Then they each had a low limit ATM account along with their own ATM account from our credit union(they we could add funds to). This worked out very well for not only living overseas but their weekend/spring break trips to other foreign countries.My son was robbed in Torino Italy on a bus from a soccer game and lost everything with the wallet. Fortunately, he had the two extra ATM and credit cards back at his apartment till we could send replacements which took over a week.
I,myself have run into numerous times overseas when one of my ATM accounts do not work and fortunately, I had the other card to use. Personally, with all the extra fees these days to credit cards-I usually try and pay cash for everything over there.London is going to be VERY difficult to not spend money in. I would highly recommend that he get the 5 pound telephone cards from any tobacco/newstand shop and use those to call him even if he gets a cell phone over there. Most of the phone cards have about 200-300 minutes back to the states and they can be used from any hotel,pay phone,etc.I use them everyweek and they are more economical than getting something like T Mobile or Cingular phones for over there.Be sure to photocopy all his important stuff-a copy to you and one for himself. Get him a couple decent "broad view" (
Western Europe,England,etc.)guidebooks like Lonely Planet so he can have a miniguide and info for some of the places he might travel to on the weekends.(Both my kids took a few books and used them quite a bit.) London (because of the language and culture) will be easy for him to transition into. Have fun!
I,myself have run into numerous times overseas when one of my ATM accounts do not work and fortunately, I had the other card to use. Personally, with all the extra fees these days to credit cards-I usually try and pay cash for everything over there.London is going to be VERY difficult to not spend money in. I would highly recommend that he get the 5 pound telephone cards from any tobacco/newstand shop and use those to call him even if he gets a cell phone over there. Most of the phone cards have about 200-300 minutes back to the states and they can be used from any hotel,pay phone,etc.I use them everyweek and they are more economical than getting something like T Mobile or Cingular phones for over there.Be sure to photocopy all his important stuff-a copy to you and one for himself. Get him a couple decent "broad view" (
Western Europe,England,etc.)guidebooks like Lonely Planet so he can have a miniguide and info for some of the places he might travel to on the weekends.(Both my kids took a few books and used them quite a bit.) London (because of the language and culture) will be easy for him to transition into. Have fun!
Nov 25th, 2006, 09:53 PM
#25
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I forgot to mention this; my daughter has a cell phone, but we speak via the internet on skype.com...the cell phone is for travels and emergencies. It is more expensive.
dutyfree; I wish I had spoken to you before we began this year!
dutyfree; I wish I had spoken to you before we began this year!
Nov 26th, 2006, 07:41 AM
#26
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My daughter and son are both in college. I set them up with a Visa Debit card through my bank. That way I can keep tabs on them and I can instantly deposit funds if they REALLY need it. My daughter also set up her own bank account at a local bank, where she deposits excess scholarship funds. That is her "independence account", I have no control over it, and don't want any.
This works really well.
Dave
This works really well.
Dave
Nov 26th, 2006, 01:37 PM
#27
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WAAAH, the children have eaten everything in sight and headed back to their colleges. Thanks to all for your input. AuntAnnie--my son will set me up with Skype when he's home for Christmas break. Do you know if the PiccellWireless deal is a good one, or if there are better mobile phone deals to be had once my son gets to London? (I should probably post this as a separate query...) Thanks. --Leslie
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:32 PM
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Hi Leslie
Just want to chime in on the cell phone ("mobile" in the UK) question. I did a lot of research before I went for a month in the UK last year. (And found a lot of good info by searching this forum!)
Much the best deal was to buy a mobile in the UK -- I got a basic Nokia for 25 GBP. You can buy them easily from stores on every High Street. You then buy a card to fund the calls -- say for 10 or 20 GBP -- and use the "pay as you go" system. Calls (local and overseas) were very inexpensive, and you can "top up" at most grocery stores, gas stations, main train stations etc. I chose Orange because their network was best in the area I was staying in -- it all worked very well, and was a cost-effective solution. If he's traveling in other countries, all he would need is a new SIM card.
I wish there was a system like that here -- no more 2-year contracts or zillions of minutes that I'll never use...
Just want to chime in on the cell phone ("mobile" in the UK) question. I did a lot of research before I went for a month in the UK last year. (And found a lot of good info by searching this forum!)
Much the best deal was to buy a mobile in the UK -- I got a basic Nokia for 25 GBP. You can buy them easily from stores on every High Street. You then buy a card to fund the calls -- say for 10 or 20 GBP -- and use the "pay as you go" system. Calls (local and overseas) were very inexpensive, and you can "top up" at most grocery stores, gas stations, main train stations etc. I chose Orange because their network was best in the area I was staying in -- it all worked very well, and was a cost-effective solution. If he's traveling in other countries, all he would need is a new SIM card.
I wish there was a system like that here -- no more 2-year contracts or zillions of minutes that I'll never use...
Nov 26th, 2006, 04:44 PM
#29
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Thanks SB Travlr. Your suggestion sounds good. I was concerned about PicCell phone/service because the company's literature and website don't seem to spell out the exact costs. My son plans to be overseas for 5 months, about a month of which is to be spent traveling around Europe. Sounds like buying an inexpensive phone/SIM cards may be cheaper than the rental fees. --Leslie
Nov 27th, 2006, 12:12 AM
#30
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Lesliec1, I agree that a cheap mobile and payg card from a UK provider is the way to go. Furthermore, it may even be best for him to use it during his month travelling around Europe if he won't be making many calls. He would just need to insure that international roaming is authorized before leaving the UK.
The other alternatives would be to buy a new sim card in each country he is visting, which could get expensive (and he would have a new phone number each time), or to get one of those international sim cards which have been discussed in other Fodor's threads.
There are four main providers in the UK: Vodafone, O2, Orange, and T-Mobile. I am on Vodafone, which has a special deal for international calls in most European countries: it's called Vodafone Passport, and you pay 75p (about $1.40) for each call, plus the normal UK charges. Not valid for calls to the US, though. The other companies have their own deals for int'l charges.
The other alternatives would be to buy a new sim card in each country he is visting, which could get expensive (and he would have a new phone number each time), or to get one of those international sim cards which have been discussed in other Fodor's threads.
There are four main providers in the UK: Vodafone, O2, Orange, and T-Mobile. I am on Vodafone, which has a special deal for international calls in most European countries: it's called Vodafone Passport, and you pay 75p (about $1.40) for each call, plus the normal UK charges. Not valid for calls to the US, though. The other companies have their own deals for int'l charges.
Nov 27th, 2006, 05:06 PM
#31
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Heimdall, thanks for your information about international SIM cards. My son will arrive in London 2 or 3 days before his program begins, so he should have some time to shop around for the cell plan that best suits his needs and budget. --Leslie
Nov 27th, 2006, 07:47 PM
#32
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Hi Lesliec1!
My cupboards are bare, too!
Piccellwireless charged us (I believe...it was a while ago...)
$39.99 for the phone and hook-up. They shipped ot to us free. She has no monthly charge and no charge for incoming calls. She pays for calls she dials. So far we have paid about $80 since August (total-excluding the initial $39.99) She called us en route from Iceland, London and the hostel she stayed in until she got her apartment. Now she just uses it to call her other friends who are studying in Germany and we talk on skype. I truthfully don't know if other plans are cheaper, just telling what I know about piccell. I did ask about renting a phone for myself when we go visit and the price for an adult was much higher.
My cupboards are bare, too!
Piccellwireless charged us (I believe...it was a while ago...)
$39.99 for the phone and hook-up. They shipped ot to us free. She has no monthly charge and no charge for incoming calls. She pays for calls she dials. So far we have paid about $80 since August (total-excluding the initial $39.99) She called us en route from Iceland, London and the hostel she stayed in until she got her apartment. Now she just uses it to call her other friends who are studying in Germany and we talk on skype. I truthfully don't know if other plans are cheaper, just telling what I know about piccell. I did ask about renting a phone for myself when we go visit and the price for an adult was much higher.
