ACK! I was wondering when the axe would fall on my MBNA credit card, but it finally fell. Today. I got my size 3 font new credit card agreement notice, printed on a lousy ink jet, mind you, so all was pretty blurry and smudged.

So...in my own minutiae protest, I will use my MBNA credit card for my trip, up to June 30, 2006 - the last date my card will be fee-free (that's right, no fee). After which I will begin to grudgingly use my brand new Capital One No Hassel Rewards card for the remainder of my trip.

And that ends my little rant. Stepping off soap box now.

So what's the big deal? You obviously were expecting this and have a new card. When my cards pulled the same thing I got a Capital One and now I use that card all the time to the exclusion of the others. Why even use the MBNA at all? Let them know you are pulling the plug on them. If enough people do that maybe, just maybe, they will take notice.

I've had bad experiences with Capital One. My card's first incarnation was supposed to have no annual fees, but since they deemed that I didn't use my card enough, they charged me a $39 annual fee. When I protested, and they didn't budge, I cancelled my card.

6 months earlier to my cancellation, they didn't deal with my credit card fraud very well, trying to sock me with a $50 liability, even though they admit they should have called me when they first noticed weird transactions like $10k cash withdrawal, and many $Ks of strange purchases like sports memorabilia and loads of toys. I fought them tooth and nail, and they finally relented on the $50 charge after 3 months.

So, for the very poor customer service I experienced, I hesitate going back to Capital One, and the reason for my whining.

I just use my debit card, for only the Visa 1%.

Travelnut, is your debit card with a credit union? I have a debit card through my credit union (out of state though) ... and the ladies that work there aren't so 'on the ball' so I'm hesitant in using the debit card abroad. I do have my good old Wachovia Bank debit card, which I'm sure charges 2% on top of the Visa 1%. I am also thinking of joining Navy Federal Credit Union but they do charge a fee for using the debit card in ATM's other than Navy affiliated ones. So many decisions and none of them really good.

With this latest jolt, totally expected once MBNA casts its lot with Bank of America, that leaves only Capital One (no fee) and USAA (1% passed along) as not rip off banks with this.

And most of them have the gall to even charge the 3% or whatever if you are a victim of the dynamic currency conversion scam.

Hi all,

You might want to consider American Express. They charge 2% as a currency exchange fee, but no additional fees.

Unfortunately, not everyone takes AMEX.

Trying to choose the most ethical, service-oriented and trustworthy credit card company is like trying to choose the "best" security line at the aiport.

Word. This thread is closed, as there is not more appropriate response than what j_999_9 has said.

True j_999_9. However, I don't aim so high with credit card companies. I'm looking to see if what they take from me is somewhere near parity to what I want from them. And I don't have very high standards with that regard.

LaClaire: with your new move, what credit card are you using when you newly move to Barcelona? Or do you already have a Spain-based credit card? Just curious...

Hmm. . . banking info revealed on-line?. . . I guess you guys are trustworthy.

I have a Spanish bank account that takes care of all of my spending money and such, however I do keep my US debit card at home in case there are any emergencies. Also, if I collect any money from clients in the US, they deposit there, thus losing less on the exchange.

I don't really use a credit card because I don't have any purchases that require it. However, I have an MBNA emergency card, as well as AMEX and Visa. The MBNA card is the only one that has ever caused me troubles abroad.

I've just noticed the fees for my MBNA card. Which Capital One and USAA cards have no fees? Is there only one for each issuer?

Thanks.

Someone posted very recently that USAA no longer issues cards for those outside the 'fold'.

Usually, if you go online and pretend to apply for a card -but- click on the link to read 'terms and agreement', you can often discover what the foreign currency conversion fee is going to be (since banks now have to disclose it as a separate line item).

I recently acquired a AAA Visa Platinum (MBNA !) that assesses only the 1% Visa fee.

I actually have rec'd excellent service with MBNA and have a kept a card with them for years.

The problem is that MBNA was acquired by Bank of America which is one of the worst near criminal banks in the country when it comes to these fees which our law makers could declre illegal if they weren't in bed with the banks.

Anyway they have imposed this near criminal immoral (because the banks do not actually convert the currency) on all the MBNA cards that used to just pass along the 1% visa/mc fee (who actually do the conversion) and I doubt if the AAA card will be immune from these fee hungry near criminals for much longer.

I pay for 80% or more of my trips using cash with my Compass Bank visa check-card, which assesses the 1% visa fee on ATM withdrawals. Purchases using this card add on another 1%, so 2% total.

So would Capital One be the only real option? Could someone comment on which cards do not charge the fee?

Thanks.

Robespierre got his thru a brokerage firm...

I prefer Capitol One, but I recently talked to AAA MBNA. Even with BofA taking over, AAA, by contract, remains at a 1% conversion fee. Not sure how long the contract lasts, but that's the way it is now.

Funny, my AAA MBNA has twice the credit li mit of my Capitol One, but why would anyone want to run up that kind of charge on a credit card.

Curious

My husband and I have been with Wachovia bank for years and just recently switched to Commerce Bank due to 'no atm fees'. They initially charge us and then we received a refund of those fees back in our account.

HSBC is great and no fees