Advise for credit card transactions for overseas purchases

People say email can be intercepted .... dunno how practical to the user. Why don't you just Skype call them after putting some money credit into your account - 3c a minute is it?

Dunno about specific issues. But generally with CCs. When you buy over the Internet - you are charged maybe a small 2.5% in my experience with my country and my bank for the currency conversion commission and depending on the card, in my country again, some of the cards that have cheaper fees might have less favourable foreign exchange rates so some people view is that the more expensive cards (for average people) is maybe better. But if you are just the v occasional user I imagine it would be cheaper to use the cheaper cards with the less favourable FX rate.

Also depending on the merchant (Air Asia here), do they charge an administration fee or a credit card processing fee? In some countries again mine, even the national airline does - and my example it's a Star Alliance carrier. I believe some hotel website do that too, doesn't Agoda do that?

But generally these fees might be indifferent to debit cards. Debit cards of course is a in frequent use card, so maybe some debit cards have more fees attached, like each transaction you do there is a bank fee, again each time you access the ATM and these fees for the lower usage cards might be a bit higher than normal CCs. You just have to compare.

Edited by: Rayonline

Regarding the AirAsia purchases, it depends on the currency you paid in. If you paid in pounds sterling, then no, there shouldn't be any fees imposed by the bank, but if you payed in a foreign currency, then yes, there will.

Sending your credit card details by email is quite risky and if I were you, I would avoid it if you can. However, this is not the first time I have heard of (trustworthy) hotels asking for credit card details via email. Once I even had the hotel photocopy my credit card when I checked in! Thankfully the hotel I was staying at was trustworthy and they kept my credit card details safe (to my knowledge).

Are you 100% certain that you cant book online? Have you tried hostels.com?

As I said, try avoid sending your details as best as you can. If that's not possible, at least you have insurance against credit card fraud.

Let me know if you need any more info

Please send me your credit card details including name and cw number. I'll take care of it for you!

is it recommended to send your credit card details by email

Definitely NOT. Ring them and provide the info over the phone/skype.

thanks all, i've emailed them to ask if i can pay over the phone

I agree that there's a risk of email interception. But one way to minimize that risk (and I have used this occasionally myself) is to send several separate emails, each with a segment of the CC number and expiry (e.g., 1 email for each 4 numbers in a Visa card). Send them an introductory email telling them what you'll be doing. The chances of all your emails being intercepted and synchronized is near zero, I'm told. (Does anyone here have evidence to the contrary?)
Lee