Using Chase Freedom Internationally

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

Heading over to London at the end of next month. Restaurant spending will likely be the bulk of our spend, and luckily, that's one of the 5% categories for Chase next quarter.... Since Freedom has a forex fee (3%) using it on resto purchases would still net roughly 2% cash back, right?

My only card without a foreign transaction fee right now is Cap1 Quicksilver with a measly limit (well below what we'd spend on 2-3 meals during our trip), so I was primarily going to use it for smaller purchases like coffee and other incidentals. Other option is an AMEX EveryDay or a Citi AA Platinum Select, but still have the foreign transaction fee there.

Can't wait to app for CSP later this year!

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

Here is a wild question for you. Do the merchant codes work overseas?

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

That's what I've been unable to fully deduce... I would *think* so and it seems that way. Read the Chase T&C's and can't find anything to contrary.

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

Does your Freedom have a chip? I believe all of Western Europe is on the Chip and Pin/Signature system.

lg8302ch · ‎03-27-2015

@Anonymous wrote:
That's what I've been unable to fully deduce... I would *think* so and it seems that way. Read the Chase T&C's and can't find anything to contrary.

I was curious last year and did a test run with Discover and Freedom at the same gas station in Europe. While Discover perfectly worked for the 5% the charges on Freedom even showing gas station in the merchant code gave me 1% and subject to FTF. I have not tested any other category but thought of trying the grocery and see how that would do. I have tested Amex and can confirm that for sure does not work. It is US supermarkets only. If you have a card with no FTF I would recommend to use that one. I think any Cap1 card would do better without the rewards if you can forget the FTF.

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

It doesn't, but I've never had an issue using non-chip cards at places like restaurants or actually merchants. Only times i've needed to use a chip card at vending-type machines: train stations, etc.

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
That's what I've been unable to fully deduce... I would *think* so and it seems that way. Read the Chase T&C's and can't find anything to contrary.
I was curious last year and did a test run with Discover and Freedom at the same gas station in Europe. While Discover perfectly worked for the 5% the charges on Freedom even showing gas station in the merchant code gave me 1% and subject to FTF. I have not tested any other category but thought of trying the grocery and see how that would do. I have tested Amex and can confirm that for sure does not work. It is US supermarkets only. If you have a card with no FTF I would recommend to use that one. I think any Cap1 card would do better without the rewards if you can forget the FTF.

Thanks. Only problem with that is that the Cap1 is new and has a relatively crummy credit limit compared to the amount of spending we'll likely do, so I'm going to end up paying some FTFs somewhere along the line.

lg8302ch · ‎03-27-2015

@Anonymous wrote:
Does your Freedom have a chip? I believe all of Western Europe is on the Chip and Pin/Signature system.

This is correct but you can process all standard cards with the swipe / signature option. You just need to know where to enter the card when you want to swipe.

lg8302ch · ‎03-27-2015

Which cards do you have?

Anonymous · ‎03-27-2015

@lg8302ch wrote:
Which cards do you have?

Chase Freedom, Amex EveryDay, Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, Cap1 QS, Barclays Apple Rewards... Oh, and J.Crew and Amazon store cards!